I have not reviewed this zoo, my memory of it is that it is not very impressive or immersive. Tropical Forest is the best part, and I rank it at #31 in my list of favorite exhibit complexes, it is a nice experience even though several of the exhibits at the end of the indoor route are too small and appeared to be artificially lit. I remember work being done on the outdoor African wild dog exhibit that adjoins the Tropical Forest, it was closed but looked like it would be a very nice roomy yard. The African lion exhibit is nice and the most memorable of the other exhibits. The zoo as a whole is #45 on my list of 58 zoo facilities I have visited and ranked.
The Tropical Pavilion is a mid-1970s design that did not get built until the mid-1990s. It was outdated the minute it opened. But is nevertheless one of the better offerings of Zoo New England/Franklin Park Zoo. The central gorilla exhibit was extensively modified a few years ago after some infamous escapes; it's now more of a "cage" but far more usable by the animals.
@geomorph: Thanks for your comments and mini-review. I really enjoy reading your reviews.
@reduakari: For some reason I have always found the concept of this exhibit intriguing...maybe it was the idea of an African forest exhibit that brought together gorillas and pygmy hippo. It sounds like the purely African forest theme has been phased out as I see there are now capybaras in here. If I'm ever in Boston then I'm sure that I will visit this zoo, especially since they also have giraffes, but from what you guys are saying it doesn't sound like a destination zoo to plan a specific trip to Boston around.
@DAVID you could always include the New England Aquarium on your Boston agenda it is very highly thought of by most zoo chatters.I (Marty)completely agree with you about African Forest themes it is one of the reasons that I have the Bronx Zoo rated as my #1 zoo out of 46 that I have visited.Louisville also has a African Forest style Gorilla exhibit with Pygmy Hippos next door to them that is a very nice exhibit.My home zoo of Cleveland has been rumored to be making Primates its next big project and I have been very vocal about my desire for it to be an African Forest style exhibit housing Gorillas,Wolfs Guenon Swamp Monkey,Golden Bellied Mangabey and bringing back former zoo residents Chimpanzee and Mandrill.This is only my idea and it sure would be nice to just send my plans to to a zoo and for their people to say wow what a great idea lets do that lol
