Safari North Wildlife Park Has New And Fan Favs For 2024

BRAINERD (WJON News) -- Another area zoo is set to open for the season. Safari North Wildlife Park in Brainerd will open on Saturday and has a lot in store for this year. The park has an updated otter exhibit they have been working on over the winter, a completely remodeled leopard habitat, and a new baby Howler monkey. Owner Kevin Vogel says they get new babies at the zoo throughout the year, not just in the spring:

"The animals, you know, come from all over the world so a lot of them don't have a regular birthing season like they do here, you know, in North America where they usually just have the babies in the Spring. You know, African animals will have babies year round so we'll be having babies throughout the summer, different antelope, different primates, different things so there'll always be something having a baby."

The zoo has over 120 different animal species on 43 acres of land. Vogel says they are one of the few zoos with all 7 big cat species and another unique resident:

"We have three Sloth bears and we're probably the only facility in the United States, privately not a big zoo, a private zoo, that has three Sloth bears. I know of one other facility that has a pair, but they're really cool, they're one of everybody's favorite animals."

He says their new rhino, Gunner, is not at the park yet but he should be joining them soon and favorite events like Baby Animal Week in June and Kids Week in July will be back. In addition to all the animals the park has amusement rides to go on for an additional cost. The zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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