Global Wildlife Center is a free-roaming wildlife preserve in Folsom, Louisiana, about an hour north of New Orleans. Opened in 1991 by founder Ken Matherne, the 900-acre park lets visitors ride through open pastures and around a dozen ponds aboard covered safari wagons or private 4×4 vehicles, hand-feeding animals that wander right up to the vehicles along the way.
Billed as one of the largest free-roaming wildlife preserves of its kind in the country, the center is home to more than 2,000 exotic, endangered, and threatened animals representing over 30 species, including reticulated giraffes, Grant’s zebras, Bactrian camels, American bison, red kangaroos, and a variety of deer and antelope. Tour proceeds support the Global Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to conservation and education.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Folsom, Louisiana
- Opened: 1991
- Size: About 900 acres
- Species/Animal Count: 2,000+ animals, 30+ species
- Tour Types: Covered safari wagon, private 4×4
- Famous For: Free-roaming, hand-feeding giraffes and zebras
The Safari Experience
Unlike a traditional zoo, Global Wildlife Center has no cages separating guests from the animals. Visitors board open-air, covered safari wagons pulled through pastures and past a dozen ponds and a lake, where giraffes, zebras, camels, and bison approach the wagons directly for handfuls of feed. Guides narrate the tour with facts about each species’ behavior, habitat, and conservation status, and private 4×4 tours are available for a more intimate, guided outing.
Conservation and History
Founder Ken Matherne built the preserve in 1991 with a mission to give both animals and visitors an open, natural setting rather than confined enclosures. Matherne led the center until his death in fall 2021, when his daughter Maci Matherne took over management. Revenue from tours funds the Global Wildlife Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports endangered species conservation and education programs.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Global Wildlife Center FAQs
Where is Global Wildlife Center located?
It’s located at 26389 Highway 40 in Folsom, Louisiana, roughly an hour’s drive north of New Orleans.
How do visitors see the animals at Global Wildlife Center?
Guests tour the 900-acre preserve aboard covered safari wagons or private 4×4 vehicles, with animals approaching the vehicles to be hand-fed along guided routes.
How many animals live at Global Wildlife Center?
The preserve is home to more than 2,000 exotic, endangered, and threatened animals representing over 30 species, including giraffes, zebras, camels, and bison.
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Photo by Hao Chen on Pexels.