North Carolina Zoo Plans Asia Exhibit Opening in 2027

The North Carolina Zoo will open its 12.5-acre Asia expansion on March 1, 2027, its first major development in more than 30 years. The new area will add about 50 species, including critically endangered Malayan tigers, Visayan warty pigs, white-cheeked gibbons and Chinese alligators, alongside other Asian wildlife. The expansion will also feature more than 6,000 new plants, updated habitats and pathways, and is intended to support conservation education and attract visitors to the state.