{"id":2686,"date":"2026-07-03T14:35:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T14:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=2686"},"modified":"2026-07-03T14:35:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T14:35:49","slug":"the-nc-zoos-asia-exhibit-inches-towards-opening-with-budget-set-to-become-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=2686","title":{"rendered":"The NC Zoo\u2019s Asia exhibit inches towards opening, with budget set to become law"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

The North Carolina Zoo\u2019s highly anticipated Asia exhibit is closer to reality, as the state budget released Tuesday has a multi-million dollar allocation toward positions and operating costs.<\/p>\n

Read more This July Fourth will be a record-setting one for the heat in Charlotte<\/a><\/p>\n

The budget bill would provide $6.2 million in ongoing funding and $1.3 million in one-time money to pay for 54 new positions and operating costs for the new Asia exhibit at the North Carolina Zoo. This long-awaited Asia Continent exhibit \u201cis complete,\u201d according to Michele Walker, assistant communications director for the North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cConstruction of the Asia Continent is complete, most animals are settled in, and the North Carolina Zoo is eager to welcome visitors to this amazing new expansion when staff are in place,\u201d she told The News & Observer over email.<\/p>\n

However, for months plans for the 12.5-acre exhibit \u2014 featuring tigers<\/u><\/a>, Komodo dragons, Visayan warty pigs, Asian small-clawed otters, king cobras and more \u2014 have been stalled over<\/u><\/a> the budget\u2019s delay, preventing the zoo from operating safely. Fox8 News WGHP in the Triad reported that zoo leaders said the exhibit<\/u><\/a> cannot operate effectively without 70 additional employees.<\/p>\n

Walker told The N&O the zoo is still reviewing the budget at this time and did not answer whether the 54 positions is enough for the exhibit to operate.<\/p>\n

Gov. Josh Stein previously had proposed<\/u><\/a> 69 new positions, $7.1 million in recurring money and $1.3 million in non-recurring money.<\/p>\n

Read more NC road may be named after ex-lawmaker who made history in Congress for 22 days<\/a><\/p>\n

In total, the state has invested more than $75 million in the Asia exhibit, the zoo\u2019s first big expansion<\/a> since opening a North America section in 1994. The zoo\u2019s Africa section dates to 1980, The N&O reported.<\/p>\n

Rep. Neal Jackson\u2019s office told The N&O he helped ensure funding for the exhibit was included in the budget. The Republican represents Randolph County, home to the zoo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis investment will help ensure the zoo has the staffing needed to successfully open and operate this new area, enhancing the visitor experience while supporting one of North Carolina\u2019s premier attractions,\u201d Jackson\u2019s office said in an emailed statement Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers cast key votes in favor of the budget on Wednesday and are expected to send it to Stein\u2019s desk on Thursday.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM<\/span> with the headline “The NC Zoo\u2019s Asia exhibit inches towards opening, with budget set to become law.” <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Charlotte City Council gave clerk a $14k raise. Here\u2019s how much she makes now<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The North Carolina Zoo gets $6.2M recurring and $1.3M nonrecurring for 54 positions, moving the 12.5-acre Asia exhibit closer to opening for visitors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nThe NC Zoo\u2019s Asia exhibit inches towards opening, with budget set to become law - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=2686\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The NC Zoo\u2019s Asia exhibit inches towards opening, with budget set to become law - 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