Located in southeastern Muskingum County, Ohio, just west of the village of Cumberland, the Wilds is home to rare and endangered species from around the globe living in natural, open-range habitats.

In 1989, the Johnson Visitor Center was completed, built with the environment in mind using a state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system.

For the next few years, it continued to add animals, improve and expand conservation efforts, and increase public awareness.

These "centers" are based on the Wilds' core values, which include a commitment and respect for nature, social and scientific relevance, and innovative, entrepreneurial and creative approaches to the problem at hand.

Each of these projects is designed to assess the condition of various wildlife and their habitats, and to develop methods to reduce or reverse the destruction of each ecosystem.