North Carolina Zoo

North Carolina Zoo The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro is the world's largest natural habitat zoo, with over 2,800 acres.
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Celebrating our Golden Anniversary of 50 wild years! 1947-2024 ✨

World's largest natural habitat zoo. At the North Carolina Zoo, connect with wildlife from two different continents as you explore 500 acres of animals in natural habitats. Walk from Africa’s grasslands to North America’s Arctic coast. Escape to the forests and streams of North Carolina’s beautiful Central Piedmont. Located at the f

oot of the Uwharrie Mountains, the Zoo is just outside the charming southern town of Asheboro. Discover more than 1,700 animals and 52,000 plants along five miles of shaded pathways.

10/13/2025

Today on Indigenous Peoples' Day we honor the rich cultural heritage, contributions, and achievements of American Indian people.

The North Carolina Zoo is situated on the ancestral homelands of many American Indian tribes who lived, cared for, and traveled through the region for thousands of years. We honor and acknowledge them as the first stewards of this land.

We respectfully acknowledge the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi, Sappony, and Waccamaw Siouan and honor the enduring presence, vibrance, and diversity of contemporary Indigenous communities.

This footage was taken at the American Indian Cultural Showcase this month at Solar Pointe, where guests had the opportunity to see traditional dancing, singing and participate in arts and crafts. We would like to thank those who supported this event! A special thank you to Guilford Native American Association.

So…our recent video of a female bison and our bull elk, Tommy, goofing off on the Prairie habitat went viral. And natura...
10/11/2025

So…our recent video of a female bison and our bull elk, Tommy, goofing off on the Prairie habitat went viral. And naturally, the internet did its thing: cue the "this is AI" accusations. So, we wanted to clear the air…

First off, welcome to all our new followers! 👋 We’re the North Carolina Zoo, located in Asheboro, NC. More importantly, we are the largest natural habitat zoo in the WORLD with over 2,800 acres!

We’re home to over 1,700 animals, and just to be perfectly clear… we do not use AI to fake animal videos! We have no reason nor want to create fake videos.

Now, about THAT video. Our social media team was just in the right place at the right time with one person filming, another snapping pics (you can even hear the camera shutter in the background if you listen closely). The result? A playful little face-off between two species that live together in the same habitat.

About Tommy, our bull elk. He’s a decent size, but is actually on the smaller side for a bull elk. And the bison? All female, many still juvenile, which means they’re naturally smaller than the big ol’ male bison you might be imagining. So yes, the size difference is real.

Our bison and elk share the Prairie habitat year-round, just like they would in the wild. They’re familiar with each other, and what you saw was sparring, not serious fighting.

If you still don’t believe us, visit the Zoo and come see for yourself!

The North Carolina Zoo is proud to have played a leading role in a national initiative that earned the 2025 The Associat...
10/09/2025

The North Carolina Zoo is proud to have played a leading role in a national initiative that earned the 2025 The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Advocacy Impact Award!

Shining a LIGHT on the problem: this initiative came out of a concern that new federal energy efficiency standards (while generally very positive) threatened to ban specialized lighting vital to the health and well-being of reptiles and amphibians that rely on carefully controlled light for survival.

Recognizing the serious implications, the North Carolina Zoo partnered with Audubon Nature Institute and AZA’s Government Affairs team to provide essential information to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In several meetings and discussions with the DOE and industry representatives, the North Carolina Zoo and Audubon Zoo provided technical details about the biology, husbandry and specific lighting needs of reptiles and amphibians, shared concerns, and evaluated more than 1,000 exempted lamps for suitability as potential alternatives. As a result of the discussions and information presented, the DOE paused enforcement of the new lighting rules for animal care settings.

This initiative forged new relationships with DOE and lighting manufacturers which will benefit the zoo and aquarium community in many ways for years to come. By establishing an open line of communication with DOE, sharing and emphasizing our specialized animal care needs, and demonstrating the technical knowledge and expertise of zoos and aquariums, the community is now in a much better position to be considered and consulted on future legislation and regulatory action, thereby strengthening our preparedness and resilience to change. This victory ensures zoos and aquariums across the country can continue to provide the specialized environments animals require to thrive, while also supporting the development of future lighting technologies that meet both energy standards and animal care requirements. 💡❤️🐍

This award reflects the North Carolina Zoo’s continued leadership in animal welfare and commitment to protecting species of all shapes and sizes. 🌎

10/08/2025

“Look at me, I’m an elk!” - the bison, probably 😂🦬🦌

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with us at the Zoo! Join us in honoring the vibrant cultures and traditions t...
10/07/2025

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with us at the Zoo! Join us in honoring the vibrant cultures and traditions that enrich our community by participating in the Beloved Pet Ofrenda from November 1-8. 🌼🐾

This is a special time to remember and celebrate pets who have passed on. Bring a 4”x 6” photo of your beloved pets to the Ofrenda in the North America Plaza. Learn more about Dia de los Mu***os, a beautiful tradition that honors loved ones who have gone before us. Let’s come together to share stories, celebrate life, and cherish the memories of our beloved pets! 🐶❤️🐱

¡Celebra el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana con nosotros en el Zoológico! Acompáñanos a honrar las vibrantes culturas y tradiciones que enriquecen a nuestra comunidad participando en la Ofrenda de Mascotas Queridas del 1 al 8 de noviembre. 🌼🐾

Este es un momento especial para recordar y celebrar a las mascotas fallecidas. Trae una foto de 4”x 6” de tus queridas mascotas a la Ofrenda en la Plaza Norteamérica. Aprende más sobre el Día de los Mu***os, una hermosa tradición que honra a los seres queridos que nos precedieron. ¡Unámonos para compartir historias, celebrar la vida y guardar los recuerdos de nuestras queridas mascotas! 🐶❤️🐱

Animals rely heavily on body language to communicate, both with each other and with humans. Many animals don't use vocal...
10/03/2025

Animals rely heavily on body language to communicate, both with each other and with humans. Many animals don't use vocalizations the way humans do nor are the vocalizations fully understood, nonverbal cues are essential to understanding how they feel, what they want, and how they interact with their environment. Here is some insight on how different animals at the Zoo communicate with body language in honor of National Body Language Day!

🦍 Primates are especially expressive and often use gestures, facial expressions and posture to communicate. Direct eye contact can be a challenge or threat especially in gorillas, which is why gorillas don’t like to make eye contact. Keep this in mind the next time you visit our bachelor troop of gorillas!

🐘 Elephants are extremely social and although their body language may seem subtle to us, it is powerful between them. Elephants use vibrations to communication through a method called seismic communication. They detect these vibrations through their body, specifically their feet and trunk. Ear flapping can be used to signal excitement, agitation or simply to help regulate temperature.

🐍 Snakes may be less expressive to the human eye, but they still use body language. When snakes flick their tongue, they are exploring their environment and gathering scent information. Coiling is an example of body language that can be interpreted different ways. It can be a defense position or it can simply be a resting and relaxing position for warmth and security.

Communicating through body language is very useful but it’s important to always consider the context of the situation when trying to interpret an animal's body language.

We are heartbroken to hear the news of Dr. Jane Goodall’s passing at 91 years old. She dedicated her entire life advocat...
10/01/2025

We are heartbroken to hear the news of Dr. Jane Goodall’s passing at 91 years old. She dedicated her entire life advocating for chimpanzees and wildlife all across the globe. She was an extraordinary advocate for wildlife conservation.

Dr. Goodall made several visits to the North Carolina Zoo in the 1980s. The Zoo was a participant in Dr. Jane Goodall’s study on chimpanzee behavior, “CHIMPANZOO” that compared chimp behavior in the wild to the behavior of chimps under human care across the US.

In 2023, a baby chimp born here at the Zoo was named Gombe to honor Dr. Jane Goodall and her extraordinary work for chimpanzees in the jungles of Gombe National Park in Tanzania. 🫶

Her legacy will continue to inspire generations to protect our planet’s precious wildlife. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and colleagues.

As September ends, we bid farewell to our Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden for the season! 🦋 A heartfelt thank you to every...
09/30/2025

As September ends, we bid farewell to our Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden for the season! 🦋 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited and learned about the importance of these beautiful pollinators. Until next year! 🌼 ✨

Celebrate World Rivers Day by recognizing the eastern hellbender, a large aquatic salamander found in cool, clear stream...
09/28/2025

Celebrate World Rivers Day by recognizing the eastern hellbender, a large aquatic salamander found in cool, clear streams across 15 states! Hellbenders rely on clean water to breathe and live under large rocks. Sadly, their numbers are declining due to habitat destruction and water quality issues. You can help keep our rivers clean and hellbenders healthy by picking up after yourself and not disturbing their shelter by moving large rocks while enjoying rivers and lakes. ♻️ Together, we can help these unique salamanders thrive! 💙

The boys are here to show you that snakes don’t have to be scary! We hope this series has taught you something new about...
09/28/2025

The boys are here to show you that snakes don’t have to be scary! We hope this series has taught you something new about these unique reptiles! Our goal is to show you that snakes play an essential role in nature. Don’t fret because our series continues… 🐍✨

Test your knowledge and comment the species of snakes in these photos! 💬 Here's a hint....there are 3️⃣ different species.

Address

4401 Zoo Pkwy
Asheboro, NC
27205

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(800) 488-0444

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