Animal Care Blogs | North Carolina Zoo

Summer Improvement Projects Underway
As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence, guests may notice Park maintenance projects in progress this summer. While minimal disruption is expected, some areas may have temporary barriers or visible work crews during your visit.
Zoo Closed Remainder of the Day: June 23, 2026

Due to repairs to main water lines in the City of Asheboro, which supplies water to the Zoo, the North Carolina Zoo, Wildlife Rehab Center, and all hiking trails are closed for the remainder of the day on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

A Black Bear with her tongue sticking out, looking to the left in what appears to be a forest, given the trees in the background.

Animal Care Blogs

Black Bear Care

Read about what it takes to care for two black bears with opposite personalities!

A chimpanzee named Kendall sits on the ground, head tilted to the side as he stares directly into the camera, resting his chin on his crossed arms as he rests in a tranquil outdoor scene.

Animal Care Blogs

The Story of Chimp Kendall

Kendall had a rough start...

A close-up photograph of a gorilla's face as it sits among green foliage and eats a light-colored piece of stalk or fruit held in its hands. The gorilla has dark, thoughtful eyes and black fur and is looking directly at the camera.

Animal Care Blogs

Gorilla Personality

September 24 is World Gorilla Day.

A baby rhinoceros, with its ears perked up, walks behind its mother. The calf is in focus, while the mother's head and horn are blurred in the foreground. They are in a grassy enclosure with a fence and trees in the background.

Animal Care Blogs

Managing the Rhino Crash

September 22 is International Rhino Day. Read how the zoo keeps our crash (a group of rhinos) moving along at a healthy pace.

An up-close view of a giraffe's velvety face looking down at the viewer, its pointed ears and oscillis on full display. A canopy of trees and blue sky are visible in the background.

Animal Care Blogs

A Tall Task: Training Our Tower

Training giants is no small feat!

An Eastern Hognose named Ziggy peeks his small black head out of his burrow. The ground is sandy and littered with leaves and pine needles and the burrow is next to what appears to be a small tree trunk.

Animal Care Blogs

Conserving Snakes Through Public Perception

Next time you encounter a snake in your yard, just consider it another neighbor!

A Komodo dragon, a large monitor lizard with rough, mottled gray, black, and yellowish skin, rests its scaly body on a textured surface that appears to be a log or rock. The background is a blurred mix of gray and brown, suggesting a large rock.

Animal Care Blogs

How to Train a Dragon

August 14 is World Lizard Day! We are training the world's largest lizard... also known as a dragon here at the North Carolina Zoo.

A male Lion with brown fur and a short, scruffy mane stands in tall grass in the shade, looking into the camera. There is a rock wall near him in the background.

Animal Care Blogs

Poop in the Hallway: Lion Style Love

August 10 is World Lion Day

In the lion dating scene, sometimes a little poop can spark the perfect match.

Two horned puffins pose on a rock while two more paddle serenely in a sparkling pool at Rocky Coast.

Animal Care Blogs

Zoo Research: Let's Sea the Science!

We are dedicated to improving our management practices through research!