Located about 75 miles west of Raleigh in Asheboro, the North Carolina Zoo is nationally recognized as one of the nation’s finest zoos. It was the first American zoo designed from its inception around the “natural habitat” philosophy--presenting animals and plants in exhibits that closely resemble the habitats in which they would be found in the wild.

Among the most popular exhibits are those that display polar bears, sea lions, river otters, alligators, elephants, gorillas, baboons, rhinoceros, giraffes, and zebras. The 37-acre African Plains exhibit alone is as large as many entire zoos. The 11-acre Prairie exhibit in the North American region showcases the zoo’s collection of bison and elk.

In 2004, the zoo opened the Australia Walkabout. This 1.5-acre exhibit showcases Australian animals and shows their relationships to their habitats and their links to aboriginal Australian cultures. The Walkabout features red kangaroos, wallabies and emus as well as other exotic Australian bird and reptile species.

The North Carolina Zoo was the nation’s first state-supported zoo and remains among the nation’s largest walk-through natural-habitat zoos. Its African and North American exhibit regions span more than 500 acres with more than five miles of walkways. Another 900 acres are available for future development on this scenic site in the Uwharrie Mountains, considered by geologists to be one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges. These beautiful hills are still called “mountains,” but the tallest point on zoo grounds is Purgatory Mountain at 937 feet above sea level.

One of the zoo’s primary missions is to make visitors aware of the connections between humans and the world’s animals, plants, and natural resources. Interpretive galleries and individual signs provide a wealth of information to make visits more enjoyable and educational.