The Saint Louis Zoo's WildCare Park, a new $235 million safari park and conservation centre, is taking shape and on track to open in 2027.
The 425-acre development, located in northeast St. Louis County, will include an interactive museum experience, an 11-storey observation tower, and guided safari tours of habitats for giraffes, rhinos and other species.
On the same property, the Kent Family Conservation and Animal Science Center will be dedicated to protecting some of the most endangered species in the world.
At the centre, conservation breeding and research will focus on endangered and threatened animals, and will contribute to growing a critical safety net population of species in zoos and support wild populations across the globe.
WildCare Park will quadruple the zoo’s footprint in the St. Louis area and is estimated to welcome up to 425,000 guests annually.
The park's giraffes started arriving at their new home in October 2025, with as many as 10 to 15 set to reside at WildCare Park by the 2027 opening.
“Giraffes will be some of WildCare Park’s largest and most iconic species,” said Martha Fischer, general curator at WildCare Park.
“As our herd grows, I know the sight of a dozen or more of these remarkable animals roaming the landscape will be unforgettable for guests.”
WildCare Park is already home to animals including southern white rhinos, Bactrian camels, wild cattle, wild horses and several antelope species.
When it opens to the public next year, the park will house more than 200 adult animals.
As the project progresses, the Saint Louis Zoo has launched new Facebook and Instagram pages for WildCare Park.
