North Carolina ZOO

The North Carolina Zoo near Asheboro, North Carolina has 1,700 animals of more than 250 species, primarily representing Africa, Asia, and North America. It is only one of two state-supported zoos in the United States, with 500 acres of the total 2800 acres developed, making it the world's largest natural habitat zoo. 

In 1967, the North Carolina legislature created the NC Zoological Garden Study Commission to examine the feasibility of a state zoo.  Construction of the North Carolina Zoo began in 1974 with the official opening date of August 13, 1976. The first animals, two Galapagos tortoises arrived in 1973 and an Interim Zoo was opened in 1974.

Ground was broken for the Africa section in the spring of 1976, and the grand opening of the original five habitats took place in the summer of 1980. The Zoo is home to a multitude of habitats, including chimpanzees, giraffes, gorillas, zebras, and elephants.

Throughout the 1980s, the habitats of the African region opened. In 1993, the first of the North America habitats was completed, home to the animals and habitats of the Sonora Desert. The final North American region opened in 1996. The Groundbreaking for the Asia section was in 2022.

Over 1 million visitors visited the zoo in 2023. For more information visit the Zoo web page at https://www.nczoo.org/