Yes, this is very real. We have been working very diligently for several years with different local officials, local groups, and other zoos. As many of you have said, "A zoo is what Huntsville has been missing." At times we will need your help. The society is managing the creation and operation of the zoo, but it is really meant to be the community's zoo and something the community can be proud of. As best we can research, the last new zoo built from scratch was 20 years ago and that was Disney's Animal Kingdom. (For those that suddenly got hopeful about the possibility of a theme park - sorry we are only building a zoo and aquarium.) There have been a few established zoos moving to a new location, drive through safari parks, and sanctuaries built in those years. Building a new zoo from scratch has some unique challenges comparably. Because this doesn't happen very often, we have recieve a lot of support from the zoo community wanting to be involved in a once in lifetime event.

The zoo project is currently in the fundraising stage. The current plans have designated a location in Limestone County, situated near I-65 between Athens and the I-65/I-565 interchange. This is a great area that is convenient from all parts of Madison, Limestone, and Morgan Counties.

Most zoos are managed and operated by a nonprofit. North Alabama Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) registered State of Alabama nonprofit corporation created to be the nonprofit for the combination zoo and aquarium in Greater Huntsville Metro Area. The Society currently has a membership program and you can find more information about it here: www.nalzs.org/membership. However, the membership program for the zoo and aquarium when it opens will have different benefits relating to the attendance to the zoological park. It has not yet been determined if the current program will change into the zoo and aquarium membership program or continue as a donors’ recognition program currently in place. Regardless, if they choose, members of the Society will be able to convert their memberships to the zoo and aquarium membership when the time comes and will be able to keep their “member since” date.

The zoo and aquarium presently does not have a name. For project purposes, we call it the North Alabama Zoo. We are excited to have the community help pick the name. Watch for that announcement to come. Remember that if it doesn't say "A Zoo For You, North Alabama", then North Alabama, its not a zoo for you.

Yes, there are plans to have a good amount of aquatic species to go along with our land based and avian species. Whenever you hear the society say "zoo", we really mean zoo and aquarium.

Wouldn't it be fun to say... "Lions, and tiger, and Bears, OH MY!" Truthfully, we don't have an answer to that question yet. We will say that there are plans for raccoons to be in our Alabama Wildlife Exhibit. Keep the suggestions coming. We love hearing about your great ideas, and check back for updates!

We appreciate all those who have expressed their concerns for the welfare of the animals that will be housed at the zoo. We truly share those concerns as well. One of the reasons we started this venture was the desire to help animals and be a center where our community members, who share that same desire, can combine resources to make a difference. These animals are ambassadors for their species and natural habitats. We feel a great responsibility and respect for every living entity that comes through the gates of the zoo. We are working towards being an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). The model, standards and best practices set by the AZA will be our baseline day one of the zoo. We will strive to go beyond the AZA model to provide the utmost care, conservation, and education. To understand more about how AZA Zoos and Aquariums work to protect and care for animals, we encourage you to visit: and animal care management . Specifically, we plan to obtain our animals mostly from other zoological facilities. Some will be rescues. Every effort will be made to return animals that come to us from the wild back to the wild. If the animal cannot return to the wild, we will work to find a home that is in the best interest of the animal. We will not sell any animal – ever.

It all depends on several factors, but the most obvious one is funding. Once funding is secured, the project timeline estimates that it will take approximately one year to complete the engineering and design phase, followed by an additional two years for construction. With regards to funding, it's important to acknowledge the impact of COVID-19 and inflation on various industries, including ours. Like many other projects worldwide, the pandemic and economic fluctuations have indeed slowed down our progress. However, we have been diligently adapting to these challenges and have taken every necessary precaution to ensure the sustainability of the project. Large-scale projects like this require substantial financial support, and the majority of the funding is expected to come from public grants and corporate donations. However, your monthly donations play a crucial role in enabling the ongoing efforts to secure grants and continue fundraising. Your support allows the North Alabama Zoological Society to actively engage with potential grantors and sustain the momentum necessary to realize this remarkable zoo project. Together, we can make a significant impact on wildlife conservation, education, and the overall enrichment of our community. While working towards the completion of the zoo, we have already initiated several educational and conservation activities. These efforts demonstrate our genuine commitment to our vision and purpose. We believe in promoting environmental awareness, conservation of endangered species, and providing a platform for experiential learning. These ongoing initiatives reflect our dedication to making a positive impact, even before the zoo's official opening. Behind the scenes, our team has been working tirelessly to overcome obstacles and propel the project forward. We have been collaborating with experts in various fields, conducting extensive research, and fine-tuning our plans to create a remarkable and sustainable zoo experience for visitors.

The intended primary site for the zoo will be on the west side of I-65 just north of Martin Line Rd (or Martin Lime Rd in Google Maps.) The intended secondary site for the soo will be north of Madison and US-72 along Limestone Creek. This site will be use as a research, education, and conservation campus.

As positions come available, we will be posting them here on the website. Our volunteers will recieve first consideration for all positions. If you would like to be a volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer Form through the Connect menu.