The Philadelphia Zoo is inviting you to be among the first to explore its new $25 million Francis J. Carey Bear Country exhibit, a state-of-the-art facility focused on animal care and conservation for endangered bears. This project broke ground in 2025, marking the zoo’s largest and most transf ormative project in over a decade. The new exhibit includes refreshed and upgraded habitats, as well as a third, brand-new habitat, and dedicated behind-the-scenes indoor and outdoor den spaces to support breeding programs. Bear Country also features a new Zoo360 trail that allows the bears to explore throughout the space. You will also be able to get closer to the bears than ever before with the new cave-like glass viewing areas. Officials said there will be interactive, educational signage throughout the space to tell the stories of Andean bears and sloth bears, the two endangered bear species you will see when visiting. Credit: Aversa PR The zoo said that while Bear Country will open to general admission guests on Thursday, June 4, at 11:30 a.m., zoo members can enjoy exclusive previews on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2 and 3, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 5, 6, and 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. before the zoo opens to the public. Bear Country will be open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Friday, June 5. For more information, visit www.philadelphiazoo.org. ...read more read less