All Animals

Animal Guide

Royal Python

112 destinations · 39 states

Native Range
West and Central Africa

Royal pythons are often much quieter than visitors expect from a snake, which makes their small movements worth watching. At a zoo or wildlife destination, a royal python may spend time tucked into a tight coil, then slowly extend its head to investigate the surroundings. Its tongue flicks in and out to gather chemical information, while heat-sensitive pits along the lips help detect warm-bodied prey. The dark brown and golden patterning varies between individuals and becomes easier to appreciate when the snake is close to the glass. When startled, a royal python has a characteristic defense: instead of striking immediately, it may curl into a compact ball with its head protected in the center. That behavior gives it the common name ball python in many places. These nonvenomous constrictors feed on small mammals and spend much of their time on the ground, often sheltering in burrows or other hidden spaces. Native to grasslands, savannas, and woodland areas of West and Central Africa, they are built for a life of patience, camouflage, and sudden movement.

Royal Python

Where to see Royal Python

112 destinations across 39 states

112 destinations

Adirondack Animal Land

Gloversville, NY

Aggieland Safari

Bryan, TX

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Gulf Shores, AL

Alameda Park Zoo

Alamogordo, NM

Alexandria Zoological Park

Alexandria, LA

Aloha Safari Park

Cameron, NC

Animal Adventure Park & Preserve

Harpursville, NY

Ararat Ridge Zoo

Williamstown, KY

Austin Zoo

Austin, TX

Bee City Zoo & Honey Bee Farm

Cottageville, SC

Big Joel's Safari

Wright City, MO

Biomes Marine Biology Center

North Kingstown, RI

Black Pine Animal Sanctuary

Albion, IN

Bramble Park Zoo

Watertown, SD

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo

Baton Rouge, LA

Bronx Zoo

Bronx, NY

Brookfield Zoo

Riverside, IL

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Williamsburg, VA

Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium

Fort Myers, FL

Catawba Science Center

Hickory, NC

Central Park Zoo

New York, NY

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Colorado Springs, CO

Claws 'N' Paws Wild Animal Park

Lake Ariel, PA

Coastal Wilds

Frankford, DE

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

Bridgeport, CT

Cox Science Center & Aquarium

West Palm Beach, FL

Croc Encounters

Tampa, FL

Dallas Zoo

Dallas, TX

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Franklin Park Zoo

Boston, MA

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, CA

Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park

Naubinway, MI

Georgia Safari Conservation Park

Madison, GA

Great Lakes Aquarium

Duluth, MN

Greensboro Science Center

Greensboro, NC

Greenville Zoo

Greenville, SC

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

San Jose, CA

Hattiesburg Zoo

Hattiesburg, MS

Henry Vilas Zoo

Madison, WI

Honolulu Zoo

Honolulu, HI

Idaho Falls Zoo

Idaho Falls, ID

Iguanaland

Punta Gorda, FL

Jacksonville Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Jacksonville, FL

Jenkinson's Aquarium

Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Jungle Island

Miami, FL

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

Lake Superior Zoo

Duluth, MN

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park

Halifax, PA

Lee Richardson Zoo

Garden City, KS

Lincoln Children's Zoo

Lincoln, NE

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Draper, UT

Manitowoc Lincoln Park Zoo

Manitowoc, WI

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

St. Augustine, FL

Merced's Applegate Park Zoo

Merced, CA

Museum of Science

Boston, MA

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic, CT

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

Green Bay, WI

Niabi Zoo

Coal Valley, IL

North Georgia Wildlife Park & Safari

Cleveland, GA

Oakland Zoo

Oakland, CA

OBX Lizard Land

Currituck, NC

One World Interactive Aquarium

Las Vegas, NV

Oregon Zoo

Portland, OR

Phillips Park Zoo

Aurora, IL

Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix, AZ

Prairie Park Nature Center

Lawrence, KS

Prospect Park Zoo

Brooklyn, NY

Pueblo Zoo

Pueblo, CO

Rainforest Adventures Zoo

Sevierville, TN

Ralph Mitchell Zoo

Independence, KS

Red River Zoo

Fargo, ND

Reptile Lagoon

Hamer, SC

Reptile World Serpentarium

St Cloud, FL

Roosevelt Park Zoo

Minot, ND

Sacramento Zoo

Sacramento, CA

Saginaw Children's Zoo

Saginaw, MI

San Diego Zoo

San Diego, CA

San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco, CA

SEA LIFE Aquarium

Carlsbad, CA

Shalom Wildlife Zoo

West Bend, WI

Shreveport Aquarium

Shreveport, LA

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Vallejo, CA

Snake Discovery: A Reptile Experience

Maplewood, MN

Space Farms: Zoo & Museum

Sussex, NJ

St. Louis Aquarium

St. Louis, MO

Sunset Zoo

Manhattan, KS

Sustainable Safari

Maplewood, MN

Tarpon Springs Aquarium & Animal Sanctuary

Tarpon Springs, FL

Tennessee Aquarium

Chattanooga, TN

Texas State Aquarium

Corpus Christi, TX

The Jackson Zoo

Jackson, MS

Tiger Safari Zoological Park

Tuttle, OK

Tiger World

Rockwell, NC

Timbavati Wildlife Park

Wisconsin Dells, WI

Topeka Zoo

Topeka, KS

Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo

Millbrook, NY

Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo

Tupelo, MS

Virginia Safari Park

Natural Bridge, VA

Virginia Zoo

Norfolk, VA

Washington Park Zoo

Michigan City, IN

Wild Adventures

Valdosta, GA

Wild Animal Safari

Pine Mountain, GA

Wilderness Trails Zoo

Birch Run, MI

Wildlife Images Rehabilitation & Education Center

Grants Pass, OR

Wildlife Science Center

Stacy, MN

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari

Minocqua, WI

Wilstem Wildlife Park

Paoli, IN

Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center

Springfield, MA

Zoosiana

Broussard, LA

Zootah

Logan, UT

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