Animal Park NC

06/12/2026

❄ Sending cooling snow-day memories your way, courtesy of Rayne and Sitka Gray Wolves!

😎Now, hold that thought, throw on your breeziest 'fit, grab a cold beverage, and c'mon out this weekend for a tour! Morning and twilight time slots are available.

Book now at https://animalparknc.org/tours/.

06/11/2026

This International Lynx Day, we celebrate our Eurasian Lynx residents (clockwise from top left) Blitz, Ruckus, Oksana and Katerina, and Luga. (We're also honoring bobcats Muraco and Arya—did you know the bobcat is one of the four members of the Lynx family?)

Depending on the location, wild Eurasian lynx populations vary from Least Concern to Critically Endangered status, a reminder that conservation is a complicated story.

Case in point: One area where the species is thriving? The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine, site of the 1986 nuclear disaster. While radiation levels there are still elevated, the absence of humans and abundance of territory and prey mean that the Eurasian lynx is one of 11 large mammal species successfully repopulating the area.

The Royal Society https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article/293/2071/20253151/481782/The-Chornobyl-Exclusion-Zone-as-a-wildlife-refuge

06/06/2026

It's warm out there—be sure to stay hydrated! Chanel Striped Skunk demonstrates her technique.

06/06/2026

Please help us welcome our newest animal ambassador: Monty Ball Python.

Monty was placed here at the Park by a private owner whose children doted on this friendly girl until it was time for them to head off to college. The family then reached out to us, wanting Monty to continue receiving all the attention this outgoing snake craves—and we are happy to provide it!

As a species, these nonvenomous reptiles, native to West and Central Africa, kill prey by constriction but don’t tend to be aggressive. Generally, they’d rather escape, bluff, or camouflage themselves from potential threats. They get their name from their defensive behavior of coiling up into a tight ball with their head at the center.

The species is also known in some areas as the royal python, and we don’t think Monty will mind being addressed as “Your Royal Highness.” She now resides and receives visitors near fellow reptiles in the Park's Education Room.

06/04/2026

Asher and Naja Caracals heard something about a National Hug Your Cat Day and were happy to oblige. 😻

06/02/2026

You seem a little tense. Could you use a biiiiig stretch? Allow Renato Geoffroy's cat to show you how it's done.

See how good that feels? That's why you should join us June 27 for a brand-new experience at the Animal Park! Enjoy a premium Twilight Tour of the Park, a guided walk during a time when many of our animals are naturally more active.

Then, do yoga like you've never done yoga before! This slower-flow class will focus on gentle stretching, presence, and restoration, but with a twist: Many poses will be animal-themed, based on some of the species you'll have just seen. And we'd bet the evening's soundtrack will include an oof, howl, and yip or two.

This is a one-time event, so get your tickets before they're gone! https://animalparknc.org/tours/

05/28/2026

Bear Dingo loves to get outside and make the most of sunny days.

Honestly, same, buddy.

Who's with us? Saturday is looking sunny, 70s, and so perfect for visit to the Animal Park!

Choose the tour type that's right for you: Family Adventure, Adult Adventure, Twilight Tour, or our brand-new Big Cat Express.

Learn more and book your time now at https://animalparknc.org/tours.

Experience all the Animal Park has to offer!

05/26/2026

Spotted (and striped): two very special sets of siblings celebrating birthdays this week!

Mojo, Obi, and William Servals (pictured with late brother Sammy) turn 18 today, and Parker, Hobbes, and Kaia Tigers will be 5 years old tomorrow.

Across their years at the Park, they've helped thousands of guests learn about—and make a stronger connection with—wild species. We're grateful for each day with these beautiful brothers and sister! 🥳🎉💛

05/22/2026

It's World Goth Day … and it's Friday, and we're in love with our goth-coded melanistic residents!

OK, so maybe we had to back into that one a bit, and we're open to debate on the finer points of goth vs emo. But really, every day at the Animal Park is a day to honor our beautiful black-coated creatures, including those with the genetic mutation of melanism: (clockwise from top left) Geoffroy's cats Vitor and Tango and leopards Bagheera and Violet.

One of the most common questions we get during tours is "Are Bagheera and Violet black panthers?" Well, yes and no. A "black panther" isn't a distinct species but rather a colloquial name for a melanistic leopard or jaguar.

Whatever you call these strange and unusual animals, come visit them soon on a tour of the Park!

05/20/2026

Hobbes Tiger takes life at his own relaxed pace, but sometimes humans are in a hurry.

Are you short on time … or tolerance for hot weather? Starting this weekend, you can still see several of our most iconic species with a Big Cat Express tour!

This new summer-only experience introduces you to our lions, tigers, and leopards—plus a few cool canid species—in around 45 minutes. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for kids 3+, and $10 for seniors.

Big Cat Express is just a taste of our full Adventure or Twilight tours, so you'll have plenty more animals to admire (and fascinating facts to learn) on a future visit.

Book now at https://animalparknc.org/tours/.