GRAY — The Maine Wildlife Park on Route 26 will open for the 2012 season at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 14. The park hosted nearly 97,000 visitors during 2011.

Opening this year is a new, state-of-the-art mountain lion exhibit, funded by the Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park and the park itself. This exhibit is 3500 square feet, the largest exhibit of its kind in New England. It features boulders, caves and large trees to simulate the cougar’s natural habitat, as well as large glass viewing panels the length of the exhibit to allow for viewing and photography.

With the relocation of the mountain lions, the four bobcats have moved into the former cougar exhibit.

In 2011, more than 8100 visitors took advantage of the free, guided audio tour of the park’s exhibits via personal cell phones. At the different exhibits, a short recording gives fun wildlife facts, information and history about the individual animals being viewed.

More than 20 weekend events have been scheduled for this season. The kick off day is May 5, with Maine’s Big Cats and the grand opening of the mountain lion exhibit. Other weekend presentations throughout the summer include the Endangered Species Coalition, Sparks Ark, ATV Maine, the Ancient Ones, Maine Apple Day and more. The Final Charge, a museum quality recreation of the final battle between two adult bull moose with antlers locked together, will be exhibited at the park through the week of Aug. 18.

For more information, call the park at 657-4977 or visit www.mainewildlifepark.com, www.mefishwildlife.com or on Facebook.