Now it’s the end of the rainy season. A river begins to recede, leaving an abundance of life on its muddy banks. A crocodile snaps at an impala, while a huge, mud caked cape buffalo eyes the observers and a wart hog looks up, interrupted while drinking from a pool of water.

These scenes of African savanna habitats are the focus of two new displays in the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Museum of Natural History. A grand opening for the exhibits will be held Saturday, Feb. 26 beginning at 2 p.m. in the lobby of the Learning Resources Center (library) on the corner of Portage and Reserve Streets.

"With the expanded area for the African exhibits and a display about the Menominee Clans still under development, the educational role of the museum has been greatly enhanced," said Justus Paul, dean of the College of Letters and Science. "Our museum should become one of the major tourist attractions in Central Wisconsin and its educational role for schools throughout the area will become even more significant."

Paul will speak at the event along with UWSP Chancellor Thomas George and Woody Bishop, a major contributor to the exhibits. Other major contributors, Mike Okray, Zachary Bishop and Helen Godfrey, also will be present. Ed Marks, curator of education for the museum, will recount how the exhibits were constructed and talk about the ecology of the savanna.

The event is free and open to the public. There is never any fee to tour the museum which is open Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. There is metered parking available in two lots across the street from the Learning Resources Center in lot "R" on Portage Street and in lot "Z" on Reserve Street.

It took Marks about one and one-half years to build the exhibits with the assistance of students. After researching the habitats of the two settings, he spent about 100 hours each painting two 50-foot long landscapes for backdrops behind the recently donated taxidermy specimens showcased in the displays. Marks used lighting as well as color to depict the dry season. He also has done all the carpentry in the museum.

In consultation with Bob Freckmann, professor of biology, Marks collected brush and grasses in Portage County and altered them to visually resemble native African plants. He created boulders from molds he made at the County Concrete quarry east of Stevens Point and tinted local soil to reflect the African dry season habitat. The river scene contains soil from the Okray Family Farms. Observant viewers of the display will see a dwarf mongoose peeking out of a termite hill.

Both displays include insects, butterflies and a few reptiles. The camouflaged creatures are a reward for those who are willing to look closely at the ecosystems depicted.