Franklin Park Zoo Franklin Park Zoo News 2022

ZooElephantsMan said:
Has anyone been to the zoo lately / have any photos of how the construction on the gorilla exhibit is coming along?
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I visited in mid-February, and it looked like it was basically complete. There were even interpretive signs in place. The construction fences were still surrounding the area, however. Months ago, I heard they were aiming for a grand opening to coincide with April school vacation, and that seems plausible from what I could see. My perspective is just as a general visitor making an observation.
 
gardener14 said:
I visited in mid-February, and it looked like it was basically complete. There were even interpretive signs in place. The construction fences were still surrounding the area, however. Months ago, I heard they were aiming for a grand opening to coincide with April school vacation, and that seems plausible from what I could see. My perspective is just as a general visitor making an observation.
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Any photos of the construction?
 
PercideRolo said:
Zoo New England - Columbia
Does anyone know if the Hyena will remain?
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I'm pretty sure that originally, the zoo wanted to get rid of the hyena exhibit and use it as a second outdoor gorilla yard. But due to budget limitations, I think the plan is for the hyenas to remain where they are, and for the gorillas to just get the new outdoor area where the crane exhibits used to be. But if the zoo DID turn the hyena exhibit into a second gorilla yard, I'd be very happy to be proven wrong.
 
African coast penguin exhibit will allegedly have a 30000 gallon pool with 60 foot of under water viewing.
 
While I am a big fan of penguins, the more I think about it, the more I am puzzled by this choice. The nearby New England Aquarium already has two penguin species (including Africans), so I'm not sure Franklin Park Zoo would see much visitor excitement over penguins. Really I'd just be glad seeing any work actually happen- but there are other small, popular species that might be more effective choices- the obvious one coming to mind being an otter species.

Also, lately the Serengeti exhibit has definitely seemed rather empty. Hopefully if they revamp/update that part of the zoo, they'll look into adding either more species or larger herds into the exhibit. I'd be happy with just about any ungulates, but something like nyala, kudu, or impala would be very good choices.
 
Neil chace said:
While I am a big fan of penguins, the more I think about it, the more I am puzzled by this choice. The nearby New England Aquarium already has two penguin species (including Africans), so I'm not sure Franklin Park Zoo would see much visitor excitement over penguins. Really I'd just be glad seeing any work actually happen- but there are other small, popular species that might be more effective choices- the obvious one coming to mind being an otter species.

Also, lately the Serengeti exhibit has definitely seemed rather empty. Hopefully if they revamp/update that part of the zoo, they'll look into adding either more species or larger herds into the exhibit. I'd be happy with just about any ungulates, but something like nyala, kudu, or impala would be very good choices.
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Maybe they don't want any rollover species with Stone, otter-wise? (But if that's the case then why does Stone also have sloths...)
 
Fred Beall, the General Curator at Franklin Park, has a very long history with African penguins. He was the curator of birds at Baltimore when the first African penguins arrived there in the 1960s and kept a studbook for them years before they were formally recognized as an SSP, and helped build it into the chick-factory that it is today. It wouldn't be unfair to say that African penguins are so common in US zoos in no small part because of him. Not saying that this has anything at all to do with FPZ getting this exhibit, just pointing out the historic connection
 
Aardwolf said:
Fred Beall, the General Curator at Franklin Park, has a very long history with African penguins. He was the curator of birds at Baltimore when the first African penguins arrived there in the 1960s and kept a studbook for them years before they were formally recognized as an SSP, and helped build it into the chick-factory that it is today. It wouldn't be unfair to say that African penguins are so common in US zoos in no small part because of him. Not saying that this has anything at all to do with FPZ getting this exhibit, just pointing out the historic connection
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Interesting! I didn't know this, thank you!
 
On March 17th, the zoo announced that due to HPAI, most of the outdoor bird species have been taken off-exhibit. They also announced that the aviary in the children's zoo, as well as the Aussie Aviary, have closed to the public.

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Visit today. Kea, Kookaburra, Sea Eagle and Condor still on exhibit. Did not see Anteater in Forest. Gorilla Grove had film crew there filming keepers inside and out of exhibit. Camels were Big Mad they could not go in Big Yard. Male was kicking door. Lions not on exhibit. They were fixing castle near their exhibit. Work on bathrooms/cafe near Lion too. Did not do Kid Zoo. Hyena exhibit looks smaller in the rear and rsides of yard. Hope they plant. Can see Gorilla Grove. Hyena also have a new dog run to go on exhibit. Seems to be a path to access Gorilla from behind Hyena. Tiger looked fatter than usual. Doubt pregnant. No male.
 
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