Franklin Park Zoo Franklin Park Zoo News 2023

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ZooElephantsMan said:
The zoo recently posted about their next major exhibit project: The African Experience. This $16 million project will include a new penguin exhibit with underwater viewing, and will also transform the existing Serengetti Crossing exhibit to add a waterhole, unobtrusive viewing barriers, and add additional hoofstock. The majority of the funding has already been secured, and the zoo is accepting donations on their website to get the remaining funds necessary.

Check out the web page below for some image renderings and more information, plus a place to donate to the project: Zoo New England
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Is the master plan for the Franklin Park Zoo still shrouded in mystery? Are there any announcements or credible rumors of long term plans at the zoo? They seem to be on a steady path to improvement again with the gorilla outdoor exhibit and the forthcoming penguin complex.

Would you expect tigers to return at some point in an expanded Asian animal zone maybe?
 
gardener14 said:
The zoo's post says summer 2025.

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My bad, CBS is usually a reliable news source.

DavidBrown said:
Is the master plan for the Franklin Park Zoo still shrouded in mystery? Are there any announcements or credible rumors of long term plans at the zoo? They seem to be on a steady path to improvement again with the gorilla outdoor exhibit and the forthcoming penguin complex.

Would you expect tigers to return at some point in an expanded Asian animal zone maybe?
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In regards to the overall masterplan, very little has been officially revealed. Considering their history of financial issues, I think Zoo New England has avoided making any major long-term announcements because they don’t want to risk overpromising. Much of what we do know comes from the vague timeline image below, which covers the rough plans for both FPZ and Stone Zoo through the mid 2030s. The zoos have already slightly deviated from the plan in terms of chronology (ie the upcoming African Penguin complex was originally going to be built before last year’s outdoor gorilla enclosure), but if the timeline is followed from here on, then FPZ will get a ~$10 million new entrance in the late 2020s, and a ~$40 million Wild Asia complex in the early 2030s. We have some details on the new zoo entrance (such as in this 46-page PDF), but other than its large budget, the Asia complex is still a pretty big mystery. There are of course other rumors about future additions to the Franklin Park Zoo. The acquisition of rhinos has been rumored for a long time, for instance. But this is where we start to run out of concrete sources for information and begin to enter more abstract speculation mode.

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(the timeline above comes from the following web page: https://www.bia.studio/work/zoo-new-england-re-development-plan/)
 
Woah! So quik! I wunder how new moats will take up space? The Zoo shrinked down exhibet years ago. Seems barryer less moats will take up more spaces.
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
Lowland Nyala have gone on exhibit in Kalahari Kingdom! This is a brand new species for the zoo. Between this news plus the recent addition of Somali Wild Ass to Giraffe Savannah, 2023 is a great year for new hoofstock species at Franklin Park.

Source: Zoo New England
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I'm assuming these are mixed with the River Hogs? When the bongo left, this was one of the species I mentioned wanting for that space, so I'm glad to see it's coming to fruition.
 
PercideRolo said:
Picture on zoo page show horns. Dimorphin species and picshure show horns. tag need holderd for male
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We have no way of knowing if the photo on the page showed all the nyala at the zoo. To say that this is proof the zoo only acquired males is ridiculous, given the fact you don't have an actual source that this is the case.

The AZA's needs is a fair point, however most TAGs/SSPs are willing to work with a zoo to fill their exhibit needs, even if it isn't what the SSP needs most. I'm not saying FPZ did acquire a mixed-sex herd, but I am saying we shouldn't rule out that possibility.

EDIT: I did find an article (Zoo New England) mentioning that two half-brothers were acquired. So while for now it looks like it is a bachelor herd, it'll be interesting to see what the long-term plan is though, as I doubt the zoo wants to only have two nyala total in an exhibit.
 
Neil chace said:
We have no way of knowing if the photo on the page showed all the nyala at the zoo. To say that this is proof the zoo only acquired males is ridiculous, given the fact you don't have an actual source that this is the case.

The AZA's needs is a fair point, however most TAGs/SSPs are willing to work with a zoo to fill their exhibit needs, even if it isn't what the SSP needs most. I'm not saying FPZ did acquire a mixed-sex herd, but I am saying we shouldn't rule out that possibility.
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2 half brithers. live with red river hog
 
I feel like moving the hyenas into the tiger exhibit is a good idea. Spotted hyenas do live in Africa so I think putting them in the African zone was a good move. this makes space for a tropical species to be put into the Former hyena habitat, I agree with putting Either Maned wolfs or the gorilla grove expansion over there as well.
 
CharlieZOO said:
I feel like moving the hyenas into the tiger exhibit is a good idea. Spotted hyenas do live in Africa so I think putting them in the African zone was a good move. this makes space for a tropical species to be put into the Former hyena habitat, I agree with putting Either Maned wolfs or the gorilla grove expansion over there as well.
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it’s forst thing one sees once enter from that enterance. need a big draw right there. in the past they had wild dog. maybe again?
 
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