Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion Philadelphia Insectarium & Butterfly Pavilion

[snowleopard]

The link below gives an overview of the facility, including the brand-new, 7,000 sq. ft. Butterfly Pavilion that just opened in February. After a year of construction, there have been many updates to what is a 25-year-old attraction. Has anyone visited this place?

Philly's Insectarium gets a massive overhaul

The bug zoo's new website:

Insectarium | Philadelphia – Insectarium & Butterfly Pavilion

 

[DavidBrown]

Thieves stole $40,000 worth of invertebrates and lizards, nearly 70% of the entire collection, from the Philadelphia Insectarium. Law enforcement thinks that it was an inside job.

Has anybody here been to this institution? There is no gallery or forum for it, and I don't recall any reviews or trip reports.

$40,000 Insect and Lizard Theft Was an Inside Job, Police Say

 

[birdsandbats]

Ouch! I had heard good things about this place, but it looks like it might be a bit before it's collection comes back. But in the eyes of ZooChatters, this might just become the crime of the century.

 

[Brum]

Ouch! I had heard good things about this place, but it looks like it might be a bit before it's collection comes back. But in the eyes of ZooChatters, this might just become the crime of the century.

Are we forgetting the poached rhino in Thoiry, France then?

 

[birdsandbats]

Are we forgetting the poached rhino in Thoiry, France then?

That wasn't as impressive. It was one animal and, lets face it, zoos don't have much security. This one is more amazing because of the amount of animals stolen in a short span of time. Also, I assume the Insectarium is mostly indoors. Building are much easier to set up security in.

 

[Aardwolf]

I'm surprised that there isn't already a thread for this facility, seeing as how many members visit the other facilities in the Philly region, as well as the publicity (infamy?) that this place received with the series "Bug Out." I visited it myself last year and boy... what a trip. That being said, it may not be on the scene for much longer, as decades' worth of legal and financial problems for the Insectarium seem to be catching up with it.

After Losing Decades-old Court Battle, Philly’s Insectarium Files for Bankruptcy – NBC10 Philadelphia

 

[TinoPup]

I'm surprised that there isn't already a thread for this facility, seeing as how many members visit the other facilities in the Philly region, as well as the publicity (infamy?) that this place received with the series "Bug Out." I visited it myself last year and boy... what a trip. That being said, it may not be on the scene for much longer, as decades' worth of legal and financial problems for the Insectarium seem to be catching up with it.

After Losing Decades-old Court Battle, Philly’s Insectarium Files for Bankruptcy – NBC10 Philadelphia

That's disappointing to hear! But not surprising, sadly. It's a place I always recommend people check out if they want to get a real idea of Philly

 

[TinoPup]

The Insectarium is officially closed, they were evicted May 30th. Most animals went to a private facility. All of the butterflies were killed, per USDA (invasive species).
The current owner kept it classy and trashed the entire place, destroying everything he could. Philadelphia Insectarium evicted: ‘Every window and every mirror was shattered’

 

[Chlidonias]

Thieves stole $40,000 worth of invertebrates and lizards, nearly 70% of the entire collection, from the Philadelphia Insectarium. Law enforcement thinks that it was an inside job.

Has anybody here been to this institution? There is no gallery or forum for it, and I don't recall any reviews or trip reports.

$40,000 Insect and Lizard Theft Was an Inside Job, Police Say

The following is an oldish article (from last year) and it is really long, but relates to the above quote and was a link in TinoPup's article in the post above mine (and it also relates directly to the "issues" surrounding the closure of the facility). Basically it says that most of the "stolen" animals were actually the personal property of staff who took them back when they all quit.
A ‘heist’ that never happened? Inside years of strife at the Philadelphia Insectarium

 

[TinoPup]

The following is an oldish article (from last year) and it is really long, but relates to the above quote and was a link in TinoPup's article in the post above mine (and it also relates directly to the "issues" surrounding the closure of the facility). Basically it says that most of the "stolen" animals were actually the personal property of staff who took them back when they all quit.
A ‘heist’ that never happened? Inside years of strife at the Philadelphia Insectarium

I hadn't seen that article, thanks for sharing it. I've heard that most of them belonged to employees, but didn't know there was an article that went public with it. Several former employees have recommended "Bug Out", which is currently available on Amazon. Based on facebook group comments, this used to be a fantastic place, until the last owner ruined it.