March Break Event at the Museum of Natural History

During this year's March break, visitors are invited to take An Asian Adventure at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. The museum has created an oriental bio-region, complete with wildlife and diverse habitats.

This experience is possible with the help of the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton. Visitors can go eye-to-eye with such Asian animals as live white-handed gibbons, red golden pheasants, sulphur-crested cockatoos, reeves muntjac, a Chinese water monitor lizard, and Burmese pythons.

Throughout the week, visitors can enjoy special Asian cultural performances and musical shows by the Wilderbeats, a popular children's entertainment group. Also on display will be baby animals courtesy of 4H clubs in Hants County, and live chicks hatching in the Ag Zone -- a display on Agriculture Awareness by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Nova Scotia Herpetoculture Society will display live native and exotic reptiles, snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles and more.

"An Asian Adventure is an event that the whole family can enjoy," said interpretation manager Alex Wilson. "In fact, the March break experience at the museum is the hottest show in town for kids on their spring break. It has proven to be the destination of choice for many metro residents and those visiting the city."

"The Asian-Pacific region will be represented by exiting and seldom seen specimens from the museum collection," said museum director Calum Ewing. "Visitors will see exotic shells, gemstones, a flying fox (bat) skeleton and a Mongolian hadrosaur dinosaur egg that is said to be 65 to 100 million years old."

Visitors are invited to bring their cameras and take photos with full-sized cut-outs of an Asian elephant or a giant panda. This year's Asian theme presents a multi-faceted program that touches on global issues like the conservation, biodiversity and fascinating eco-regions of other parts of the world.

"The museum enjoys presenting a fun-filled theme week that is engaging and an entertaining event for all ages," said Mr. Wilson. "For most of the year we present messages about the natural history of Nova Scotia. March break allows us to explore the world beyond our province."

An Asian Adventure runs from Saturday, March 13 to Sunday, March 21 at the museum, located at 1747 Summer St. Special admission prices will be in effect: $5 per person; $14 per family (1 adult and children); $19 per family (2 adults and children); children under the age of two are admitted free.

Preview day for An Asian Adventure is Friday, March 12, and regular admission applies.