The North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro, NC

For Over Fifty Years

Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

What we do

The North Carolina Zoo protects wildlife and wild places and inspires people to join us in conserving the natural world.

Giraffa camelopardalis

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What's New at the Zoo

Something NEW and exciting is always happening at the world's largest natural habitat zoo.

• Air Hike Ropes Course

• Kidzone

Air Hike Ropes Course

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Kidzone

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Plan Your Visit

Today at the Zoo

Feeding Times

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Garden Friends Playground

Open daily

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Air Hike Ropes Course

10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Last entry 3:00 p.m.

Weather Permitting

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Every day

Connect with us

Instagram @NCZoo

Stay in touch with the Zoo! Follow us on social media for updates on everything from our wildlife conservation efforts to your favorite animals. Share your photos, stories, and videos with us as we celebrate 50 WILD years in 2024.

Visit the Zoo's Instagram

Introducing…. Murphy, the North American River Otter! 🦦 Murphy is a young otter who came to us from Illinois where he was rehabilitated after being found as an orphan in a mud slide.🥺 He is lighter in color than Bowser and less graceful. 😂
Murphy and Bowser are still working on introductions and will remain separated on habitat. You can still see both of the otter boys on habitat! Murphy has quite a bit of growing up to do as he still has some baby otter tendencies, such as his little chirp you might hear. He is still figuring out how to “otter” as a growing boy with much to learn. 🫶

Steve & Scott have lots to share about the North Carolina Zoo App! 🦁🐒 Stay tuned for pro tips and tricks! 🎉

We all want to be Cosmo the sand cat today, curled up and cozy just napping away after a 3-day weekend! 💤 Sand cats are cute but NOT cuddly! They are fierce predators and the only species of cat that live solely in the desert. 🏜️ 🌵

The Snake Sunday Series continues! 🐍✨
Did you know pygmy rattlesnakes are the smallest rattlesnake species in the US? 🤏 They average a length of 18 - 20 inches and are found mainly in the southeastern Coastal Plain and Sandhills of North Carolina, thriving in pine flat woods and scrub oak habitats. Pygmy rattlesnakes are ambush predators meaning they “sit and wait” until prey comes within striking distance!
They DO in fact, have a rattle! It’s very small and often sounds like a buzzing insect rather than a rattlesnake. Although pygmy rattlesnakes are venomous, they are not considered a major threat to humans due to their small size and tendency to retreat when threatened.
The pygmy rattlesnake is one of three protected rattlesnake species in North Carolina under the NC Endangered Species Act, crucial for their conservation and habitat preservation.
Understanding these fascinating snakes is super important, as they play a crucial role in keeping our ecosystems balanced and healthy! Stop by the Streamside building at the Zoo to see them for yourself! 😍

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

A Commitment to Excellence

Volunteer

There are many rewarding ways to volunteer your time at our park. Opportunities range from gardening to greeting to helping guests feed giraffes!

Kidzone

Nature Play Area for families to explore, get wet, get muddy, meet Animal Ambassadors, build a survival shelter, walk the Treetop Trail and more! Our play areas feature a stream, a fort making zone, a mud cafe, and more. Available year-round and free with admission.

A group of eight young ladies standing next to a wire fence next to an animal habitat. A Rhinoceros stands with its side facing them on the other side of the fence, as they reach through and touch its back. A dusty lot and a line of trees stand in the background.

Zoo Tours: Family Activities for All

Join a behind-the-scenes tour of our animal habitats and have a close animal encounter with the North Carolina Zoo Society!

Spring Break Alert