North Carolina Zoo

North Carolina Zoo
Main Entrance Sign
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35°37′46″N 79°45′52″W / 35.6295°N 79.7645°W / 35.6295; -79.7645
Date openedAugust 13, 1974
LocationAsheboro, North Carolina, United States
Land area2,600 acres (1,100 ha) total
500 acres (200 ha) developed
No. of animals1,800+[1]
No. of species250[1]
Annual visitors1+ million[3]
MembershipsAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums,[2] NC Zoo Society
Major exhibitsRocky Coast, Kitera Forest, Forest Glade, Desert, Watani Grasslands Reserve, Northwoods, Streamside, Cypress Swamp
Websitehttps://www.nczoo.org

The North Carolina Zoo, formerly the North Carolina Zoological Park, is a zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, housing 1,700 animals of more than 250 species, primarily representing Africa and North America. It is one of two state-supported zoos in the United States, with the other being the Minnesota Zoo.[4] With 500 acres (2.0 km2) developed, it is the world's largest natural habitat zoo. The North Carolina Zoo is a part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.[5]

The Zoo is 75 miles (121 km) west of Raleigh, 25 miles (40 km) south of Greensboro, and 75 miles (121 km) northeast of Charlotte. The zoo is open 363 days a year (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas) and in 2023 received over one million visitors for the first time. The North Carolina Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

  1. ^ a b "Animals". Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ^ "AZA-Accredited Members". Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
  3. ^ Franks, Manning. "North Carolina Zoo hits a million visitors in 2023". WFMY News2.
  4. ^ Matt Hickman (April 2022). "The Minnesota Zoo kicks off transformation of defunct monorail track into elevated pedestrian loop". The Architect's Newspaper.
  5. ^ "About the Zoo | North Carolina Zoo". www.nczoo.org. Retrieved September 26, 2019.