This is the only structure remaining from the original zoo that opened in 1909, although the building is much different than it was back then.
An excerpt from my 2010 review:
Tropics Building – This building was extensively renovated in 2009 and it now features 5 different exhibits that are quite visually appealing. There is a golden-lion tamarin enclosure; a green aracari/freshwater stingray enclosure; an Asian small-clawed otter/white-cheeked gibbon enclosure; a blue monkey/mona monkey/African spurred tortoise enclosure; and a white-faced saki monkey/prehensile-tailed porcupine/crested screamer/capybara enclosure. I really enjoyed this building, and the interesting mixed-species exhibits made it worthwhile. I believe that only Omaha and Kansas City have the beautiful blue monkeys (and there was a baby at Kansas), while the real gem was the otter/gibbon combination. The exhibit seems to be of average quality at first glance, but there is a set of viewing windows set into the floor and I watched the 3 otters swim underneath my feet on numerous occasions. At the same time I took photos of one of the gibbons as it crossed over the viewing windows over my head. What an awesome idea! The gibbon and otters both crisscrossed and were extremely active mammals, making for a terrifically popular exhibit.
The exhibit seems to be of average quality at first glance, but there is a set of viewing windows set into the floor and I watched the 3 otters swim underneath my feet on numerous occasions. At the same time I took photos of one of the gibbons as it crossed over the viewing windows over my head. What an awesome idea! The gibbon and otters both crisscrossed and were extremely active mammals, making for a terrifically popular exhibit.
I love the tropics building! I spend a lot of time there taking pics and just watching the gibbons. I would share photos but I don't want people stealing my photos so I don't share them publicly too often. If you are on Facebook, I do share some of my pics on the zoo's fanpage.
I love this building, but I think they should add more like have different sections exhibiting animals from different continents, like South America, Africa, SE Asia, etc..., and showcase the animals from that region of the world. I also think they should get more animals if they are going to do this.
