On June 7th, the zoo announced that their Poitou donkeys have finally been moved into their new exhibit, which is located behind the Eagle's Nest play area.
Log into Facebook
Log into Facebook
Franklin Park Zoo Franklin Park Zoo News 2021
- Thread starter vogelcommando
- Start date
On June 10th, the zoo announced that (0.0.2) scaly-sided merganser ducklings were hatched on April 28th and May 1st respectively.
Log into Facebook
Log into Facebook
Neat hatching.
Zoo NewEngland now has a specialty license plate supporting them! Hopefully this will give them some necessary funding to further improve the zoo, their conservation programs, and their exhibits.
Log into Facebook
Log into Facebook
I went to the zoo a few days ago, and noticed several changes.
- The most obvious change is that the zoo is full of new temporary art and sculpture installations. Some of these are themed for the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, which I found odd, considering that Chinese New Year isn’t until February.
- There have been some changes to the turtle exhibits in Nature’s Neighborhoods. The Blandings Turtle now shares its habitat with a catfish, and the Spotted Turtles now share their habitat with Pumpkinseed Fish.
- There is a new glass barrier behind the Prairie Dog enclosure, in addition to the moat barrier that was already there.
- The Poitou Donkeys have been moved from their old corral by the Barn, to “the upper corral” closer to the ECO Center.
- The Red River Hogs were off-exhibit, and some minor construction was taking place in their habitat. It was unclear what exactly was being constructed.
- A yellow footed tortoise is now living in the tortoise exhibit beside the lion habitat. Previously, I believe some kind of larger African tortoise lived there instead, but I forget exactly what species.
This habitat used to hold an African Spur-thigh Tortoise, also known as the Sulcata Tortoise. I would not be surprised if this Tortoise moved to the Stone Zoo, which has spur-thigh tortoise feedings during the summer.
Animallover360
Well-Known Member
Well, I was at Stone Zoo the other day and there was an African Spur thighed tortoise in the former yellow footed tortoise exhibit by the barnyard. I think that this tortoise may have come from Franklin Park Zoo, or from the main tortoise exhibit at Stone Zoo because I only saw two tortoises in the main exhibit. But the door to the tortoise house was open, so it is possible that the tortoise was just hiding inside.
Animallover360
Well-Known Member
It’s possible that the sculptures could be for the the Boston Lights festival because that may be starting soon.
There's been a lot of progress. Most of the frameworks for the structures seem to be, but they have not been covered with the fake rocks and other things like that yet. The area under construction is much larger than I had imagined.
It made me wonder if the zoo will get more gorillas when the habitat is complete. A few years ago, the zoo had 8 gorillas, but today there are just 6. There will be more space for a larger group once the construction is over.
I am excited to see actual progress at the zoo. With this netted outdoor exhibit and a massive indoor space, plus behind the scenes housing the zoo really will have an impressive setup for gorillas. Now if only Buffalo (a zoo with more money) would actually follow Franklin Park's lead.
Is the new exhibit on the footprint of the former outdoor gorilla space?
Yes it is. They are essentially just filling in the moat, netting it over, and adding climbing frames as shown below.
The zoo announced that the opening of the gorilla habitat will be delayed until April.
Construction should now finish in November. However, since that is the start of the colder months (meaning not as many people will attend the zoo and that it will usually not be hot enough for the gorillas to be outside) they have decided to open in April during school vacation week, to attract the maximum amount of publicity and visitors to see the new habitat when it opens.
Construction should now finish in November. However, since that is the start of the colder months (meaning not as many people will attend the zoo and that it will usually not be hot enough for the gorillas to be outside) they have decided to open in April during school vacation week, to attract the maximum amount of publicity and visitors to see the new habitat when it opens.
Visited the zoo on Labor Day this week and my wife and I enjoyed our time up here. I enjoyed the Tropical House as it was different than what I was expecting in a good way. I don't like to look at a lot of photos in the gallery of zoos I haven't been to so as not to bias any judgment I may have, but also to experience things for the first time from my own eyes.
I did grab this photo of the gorilla construction going on.
![IMG_6089[1].JPG](https://www.zoochat.com/community/data/attachments/506/506237-adc74d6a170bc991e314a4976832d860.jpg?hash=rcdNahcLyZ "IMG_6089[1].JPG")
While walking around this zoo and looking at it in Google Earth, I couldn't help notice the many areas that look to have been former exhibits. I found historical records of a bridge to the north into the Woods that had old bear grottos and such that are no longer in the zoo and have been overgrown, but I'm more curious about what look like a loop around the east side of the zoo that goes essentially from the Zebra Entrance and around to where the Bactrian Camels are and the dead end path by the Kori Bustards and the Red River Hogs. It looks like a ton of exhibits used to be along here, otherwise there are a ton of backstage areas at this zoo. Does anyone know when these were last in use?
I also noticed some trails near the Bird's World building and the flight cage. Were there any exhibits along these trails at any point? From an outsider that was visiting the first time, it seems there is a lot of lost history in this place.
I also see a ton of potential in the grounds if funding comes around. It reminds me of the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha prior to the 90s. Tons of unused space, some good exhibits, and a bunch of outdated ones, especially for hoofstock with the wire fencing. I noticed tons of skyscrapers being built in the Boston area so here's hoping those towers bring a lot more future zoo supporters. I have to apologize that I'm not very aware of the current support of Zoo New England however.
Now having visited, I'm very curious to follow the progress of this zoo's future, but also very interested in its past.
I did grab this photo of the gorilla construction going on.
While walking around this zoo and looking at it in Google Earth, I couldn't help notice the many areas that look to have been former exhibits. I found historical records of a bridge to the north into the Woods that had old bear grottos and such that are no longer in the zoo and have been overgrown, but I'm more curious about what look like a loop around the east side of the zoo that goes essentially from the Zebra Entrance and around to where the Bactrian Camels are and the dead end path by the Kori Bustards and the Red River Hogs. It looks like a ton of exhibits used to be along here, otherwise there are a ton of backstage areas at this zoo. Does anyone know when these were last in use?
I also noticed some trails near the Bird's World building and the flight cage. Were there any exhibits along these trails at any point? From an outsider that was visiting the first time, it seems there is a lot of lost history in this place.
I also see a ton of potential in the grounds if funding comes around. It reminds me of the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha prior to the 90s. Tons of unused space, some good exhibits, and a bunch of outdated ones, especially for hoofstock with the wire fencing. I noticed tons of skyscrapers being built in the Boston area so here's hoping those towers bring a lot more future zoo supporters. I have to apologize that I'm not very aware of the current support of Zoo New England however.
Now having visited, I'm very curious to follow the progress of this zoo's future, but also very interested in its past.
Attachments
![IMG_6089[1].JPG](/data/attachments/506/506237-adc74d6a170bc991e314a4976832d860.jpg?hash=rcdNahcLyZ)
This used to be the zoo's hoofstock Habitats. I don't know what species or when, but the person most likely to know is @PSO
Animallover360
Well-Known Member
The trail you are talking about is home to seasonal events such as the Dinosaur animatronics and the bug statues. I’m not sure the name of the events. Also, I’m not sure if there were exhibits in this location.
Correct @Neil chace. From what I remember (and this goes way back):
Addax
Wildebeest
Plains Zebra
Addra gazelle
Thompson gazelle
Ruppells vulture
Ostrich
Greater Kudu
Bongo
A deer species
Bactrian Camel (have always been where they currently are as I remember)
And I want to say warthogs too
It's a pretty big area and has been closed for around thirty years. Addax were where the Koris currently are. The building that's there is the old elephant house
Addax
Wildebeest
Plains Zebra
Addra gazelle
Thompson gazelle
Ruppells vulture
Ostrich
Greater Kudu
Bongo
A deer species
Bactrian Camel (have always been where they currently are as I remember)
And I want to say warthogs too
It's a pretty big area and has been closed for around thirty years. Addax were where the Koris currently are. The building that's there is the old elephant house
Today, the hoofstock area is used as a staff area, and to access holding for the big cat exhibits. In recent years, the old yards have also been used to hold some different types of birds, like cranes, behind the scenes.
It would be SO nice if they reopened this area. There are so many cold tolerant hoofstock species, many of which are in need of new holders, that could be great additions to the zoo. Especially stuff like przewalski's horse, various caprid species, any of the Asian deer species (if CWD regulations don't prevent it), pure bison, guanaco, roan antelope, etc.