Rolling Hills Zoo, Wildlife conservation complex in Salina, United States

Rolling Hills Zoo is a wildlife facility with natural habitats for more than 100 animal species including snow leopards, white rhinos, and chimpanzees spread across the grounds. The site combines outdoor animal areas with an indoor museum section that displays animals and cultural artifacts from different regions around the world.

In the early 1980s, Salina businessman Charlie Walker bought land in western Saline County and built a large barn for Belgian draft horses, creating Rolling Hills Ranch. In the late 1980s he added black bear cubs, llamas and a lioness, and tours drew family and class reunions. In 1995 the animal collection became the non-profit Rolling Hills Refuge Wildlife Conservation Center, and the zoo opened in fall 1999. A 64,000-square-foot wildlife museum followed, opening in March 2005.

The 64,000-square-foot wildlife museum opened in March 2005 and holds the Helen L. Graves Hideaway Hollow play area and the Earl Bane gallery, which is reserved for traveling exhibits. A 2,000-square-foot traveling exhibit area, a children's exploration room and a domed ADM Theater are also part of the building, and a portion serves as a conference center that held its first event in April 2002.

The facility stays open nearly year-round and offers combined admission tickets for both the zoo and museum areas with rental services for strollers and scooters available on site. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow time for both sections since there is a lot to explore.

The museum displays motorized figures representing people from different cultures that demonstrate their connections to the animal world. These moving models show in an unusual way how human groups and wildlife are linked together.