Triangle Metro Zoo
Triangle Metro Zoo
36°00′30″N 78°29′58″W / 36.0084°N 78.4994°W / 36.0084; -78.4994
Date openedSeptember 1998[1]
Date closed2006
LocationWake Forest, North Carolina, United States[2]
Land area40 acres (16 ha)[3]
No. of animals~500[4]
No. of species~85[5]
Websitewww.trianglemetrozoo.com

Triangle Metro Zoo (originally Zoo Fauna) was a privately owned and operated 40-acre (16 ha) zoo that was open from 1998 until 2006. It was located in Wake Forest, North Carolina, United States.

History

The zoo originated from Larry Seibel's long experience in breeding exotic animals, and was opened in 1998.[1] It was situated in a heavily forested area astride a small stream. Its name derives from the area of North Carolina in which the zoo was located, which is called "the Triangle" because it comprises the three larger cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

Shortly after the zoo opened in 1998, the barn containing the gift shop and restrooms burned down, and was never rebuilt. The owner cited lack of facilities at the zoo due to this fire, which prevented him from putting up a permanent sign on Capital Boulevard, as one of many factors that led to the lack of funds for the zoo and its eventual closure.[6]

Seibel closed the zoo in February 2006, citing money and personal problems, as well as encroaching development that would require him to fence the entire property.[3][4] After the zoo closed, the Bengal tiger Raja, who Seibel and staff had rescued from neglectful owners, was moved to the Carnivore Preservation Trust in Pittsboro, North Carolina after having first been quarantined at the North Carolina Zoo.[7][8] Other animals were transferred to various private collections and zoos.[3]

Animals

The zoo was home to some 500 animals representing 85 species.[5][4] Mammals at the zoo included a Bengal tiger, blackbuck, Himalayan moon bears, camels, capybara, caracals, coati, donkeys, fallow deer, red kangaroos, lemurs, lions, llama, scimitar oryx, muntjac, sloths, servals, and zebras. Birds at the zoo included chickens, sarus cranes, red-crowned cranes, blue-and-gold macaws, scarlet macaws, military macaws, doves, emu, ostriches, pheasants, pigeons, toucans. Reptiles at the zoo included leopard geckos, bearded dragons, and various species of skinks and snakes.[5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "What is the Triangle Metro Zoo?". trianglemetrozoo.com. Triangle Metro Zoo. 13 March 2005. Archived from the original on March 13, 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ↑ "Map and Directions". trianglemetrozoo.com. Triangle Metro Zoo. 11 September 2005. Archived from the original on September 1, 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. 1 2 3 "Triangle Zoo To Shut Down". wral.com. Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. 15 February 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Triangle Metro Zoo To Close Immediately". wral.com. Capitol Broadcasting Company Inc. 14 February 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 "Current Alphabetical Listing of our Zoo Children". trianglemetrozoo.com. Triangle Metro Zoo. 5 March 2005. Archived from the original on March 5, 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ "Triangle Metro Zoo closes". newsobserver.com. The News & Observer Publishing Company. 16 February 2006. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  7. ↑ "Rescuing Rajaji". cptigers.org. Carnivore Preservation Trust. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  8. ↑ "Rescued tiger going to NC facility, gets landmark restaurant leftovers". blogspot.com. Big Cat News. 16 November 2006. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
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