The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro is a state-supported institution widely recognized as the world’s largest natural habitat zoo, with about 500 developed acres inside a tract of more than 2,000 acres and roughly 1,700 animals from over 250 species. Created through a state initiative beginning in 1967, it opened in 1976 and defined itself with large, naturalistic Africa habitats in 1980, later adding North America and planning Asia. Known for its scale, major animal collections, and notable residents such as Ham the space chimpanzee, it also plays a significant role in conservation and research in North Carolina and abroad.