View source for Triangle Metro Zoo

{{Infobox zoo
|zoo_name         = Triangle Metro Zoo
|logo             =
|logo_caption     =
|image            =LeeuwTMZ.jpg
|image_caption    =Triangle Metro Zoo
|location         = [[Wake Forest, North Carolina]], [[United States]]<ref name="zoo_directions"/>
|date_opened      = September 1998<ref name="zoo_history"/>
|date_closed      = 2006
|coordinates      = {{Coord|36.0084|-78.4994|type:landmark_scale:1000|display=it}}
|area             = {{Convert|40|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="wral2"/>
|num_species      = ~85<ref name="zoo_animals"/>
|num_animals      = ~500<ref name="wral1"/>
|largest_tank_vol =
|total_tank_vol   =
|annual_visitors  =
|members          =
|exhibits         =
|website          = [https://web.archive.org/web/20051216184031/http://www.trianglemetrozoo.com www.trianglemetrozoo.com]
}}
'''Triangle Metro Zoo''' (originally '''Zoo Fauna''') was a privately owned and operated {{Convert|40|acre|adj=on}} [[zoo]] that was open from 1998 until 2006. It was located in [[Wake Forest, North Carolina]], United States.
==History==
The zoo originated from Larry Seibel's long experience in breeding exotic animals, and was opened in 1998.<ref name="zoo_history">{{Cite web|url=http://www.trianglemetrozoo.com/whatlist.shtml |title=What is the Triangle Metro Zoo? |work=trianglemetrozoo.com |publisher=Triangle Metro Zoo |date=13 March 2005 |accessdate=3 November 2012 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050313084545/http://www.trianglemetrozoo.com/whatlist.shtml |archivedate=March 13, 2005 }}</ref> It was situated in a heavily forested area astride a small stream. Its name derives from the area of North Carolina in which the zoo was located, which is called "the Triangle" because it comprises the three larger cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
Shortly after the zoo opened in 1998, the barn containing the gift shop and restrooms burned down, and was never rebuilt. The owner cited lack of facilities at the zoo due to this fire, which prevented him from putting up a permanent sign on Capital Boulevard, as one of many factors that led to the lack of funds for the zoo and its eventual closure.<ref>{{Cite web
|url         = http://www.newsobserver.com/2006/02/16/41379/triangle-metro-zoo-closes.html
|title       = Triangle Metro Zoo closes
|work        = newsobserver.com
|publisher   = The News & Observer Publishing Company
|date        = 16 February 2006
|accessdate  = 4 November 2012
|url-status     = dead
|archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121002035014/http://www.newsobserver.com/2006/02/16/41379/triangle-metro-zoo-closes.html
|archivedate = 2 October 2012
}}</ref>
Seibel closed the zoo in February 2006, citing money and personal problems, as well as encroaching development that would require him to fence the entire property.<ref name="wral2">
{{Cite web
|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/149775/
|title=Triangle Zoo To Shut Down
|work=wral.com
|publisher=Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.
|date=15 February 2006
|accessdate=3 November 2012
}}</ref><ref name="wral1">
{{Cite web
|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/149734/
|title=Triangle Metro Zoo To Close Immediately
|work=wral.com
|publisher=Capitol Broadcasting Company Inc.
|date=14 February 2006
|accessdate=3 November 2012
}}</ref> After the zoo closed, the Bengal tiger Raja, who Seibel and staff had rescued from neglectful owners, was moved to the [[Carnivore Preservation Trust]] in [[Pittsboro, North Carolina]] after having first been quarantined at the [[North Carolina Zoo]].<ref name="cpt">
{{Cite web
|url         = http://www.cptigers.org/news/2006Rajahrescue.asp
|title       = Rescuing Rajaji
|work        = cptigers.org
|publisher   = Carnivore Preservation Trust
|accessdate  = 3 November 2012
|url-status     = dead
|archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120324153834/http://www.cptigers.org/news/2006Rajahrescue.asp
|archivedate = 24 March 2012
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url         = http://bigcatnews.blogspot.com/2006/11/rescued-tiger-going-to-nc-facility.html
|title       = Rescued tiger going to NC facility, gets landmark restaurant leftovers
|work        = blogspot.com
|publisher   = Big Cat News
|date        = 16 November 2006
|accessdate  = 4 November 2012
|url-status     = dead
|archiveurl  = https://archive.today/20121209031527/http://bigcatnews.blogspot.com/2006/11/rescued-tiger-going-to-nc-facility.html
|archivedate = 9 December 2012
}}</ref> Other animals were transferred to various private collections and zoos.<ref name="wral2"/>
==Animals==
The zoo was home to some 500 animals representing 85 species.<ref name="zoo_animals">{{Cite web|url=http://www.trianglemetrozoo.com/List.htm |title=Current Alphabetical Listing of our Zoo Children |work=trianglemetrozoo.com |publisher=Triangle Metro Zoo |date=5 March 2005 |accessdate=3 November 2012 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305085134/http://www.trianglemetrozoo.com/List.htm |archivedate=March 5, 2005 }}</ref><ref name="wral1"/> Mammals at the zoo included a [[Bengal tiger]], [[blackbuck]], [[Asian black bear|Himalayan moon bear]]s, [[camel]]s, [[capybara]], [[caracal]]s, [[coati]], [[donkey]]s, [[fallow deer]], [[red kangaroo]]s, [[lemur]]s, [[lion]]s, [[llama]], [[scimitar oryx]], [[muntjac]], [[sloth]]s, [[serval]]s, and [[zebra]]s. Birds at the zoo included [[chicken]]s, [[sarus crane]]s, [[red-crowned crane]]s, [[blue-and-gold macaw]]s, [[scarlet macaw]]s, [[military macaw]]s, [[dove]]s, [[emu]], [[ostrich]]es, [[pheasant]]s, [[pigeon]]s, [[toucan]]s. Reptiles at the zoo included [[leopard gecko]]s, [[bearded dragon]]s, and various species of [[skink]]s and [[snake]]s.<ref name="zoo_animals"/>
==Notes==
{{Reflist |refs=
<ref name="zoo_directions">
{{Cite web|url=http://www.trianglemetrozoo.com/map.shtml |title=Map and Directions |work=trianglemetrozoo.com |publisher=Triangle Metro Zoo |date=11 September 2005 |accessdate=3 November 2012 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050901180520/http://www.trianglemetrozoo.com/map.shtml |archivedate=September 1, 2005 }}</ref>
}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051216184031/http://www.trianglemetrozoo.com/ Archived website]
{{Zoos of North Carolina}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Zoos in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Wake County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Former zoos]]
[[Category:Zoos established in 1998]]
[[Category:Zoos disestablished in the 2000s]]
[[Category:Educational organizations disestablished in 2006]]