Bears are back at Philadelphia Zoo. Francis J. Carey Bear Country, a $25 million rebuild of the zoo’s bear complex, opened to guests on Thursday, June 4, 2026 after three years of planning and construction.
It is the largest construction project at the zoo since KidZooU opened in 2013. The finished space holds Andean bears and a sloth bear across three habitats, one of them newly added, along with indoor and outdoor den space behind the scenes built to support breeding.
Bears on the trails again
The project also connects the bears to Zoo360, the network of mesh trails that lets animals travel above and around the campus. A new segment named Gould & Potter Crossing, honoring Peter Gould and Robin Potter, puts bears on the trail system for the first time since it debuted in 2011.
For visitors, the exhibit adds cave-like glass viewing areas and interactive signage covering both species, the pressures they face in the wild, and the zoo’s conservation work. Carey Bear Country is included with membership and general admission, and opens daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“This is the moment we’ve been waiting for: the bears are back,” said president and CEO Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman. “After three years of planning and construction, we are thrilled to invite you to get nose-to-nose with some of the planet’s most vulnerable, and cutest, bear species.”
What the rebuild changes for animal care
The zoo says the upgrades reach past guest experience into veterinary, nutrition and behavioral enrichment programs.
“Carey Bear Country strengthens all facets of animal care,” said Rachel Metz, vice president of animal well-being and conservation. “The renovations, upgrades and improvements included in the Carey Bear Country project strengthens our veterinary, nutrition and behavioral enrichment programs. In addition, the new behind-the-scenes cubbing dens will allow us to fully participate in AZA Species Survival Plans through breeding these vulnerable bear species.”
“The animal care team is thrilled to have bears back at Philadelphia Zoo,” said Maggie Morse, senior director of animal care. “These beloved and charismatic animals have always been some of the most popular at the Zoo, and our team of animal care specialists are excited to work with our new Andean bears and returning sloth bear.”
Who paid for it
Carey Bear Country is the flagship project of the zoo’s Remember the Future fundraising campaign. Support came from the W. P. Carey Foundation, the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the William Penn Foundation and other donors.
