Roger Williams Park Zoo Roger Williams Park Zoo News

I will miss the old one, including the rush you got after petting the animals back when there was a sign that said not to. Around 2000 or so, give or take a few years they sort of gave up on that and put in a hand washing station instead, complete with a kiddie song about washing your hands. Thank god no one made me sing it.

This sounds a lot like the Ag tent at the fair. Except the other components are missing, no forest products, no DEP exhibiting coyote and beaver pelts (and telling you how there will be moose in Southern New England within the next decade), and no veterinarian telling you how horses tend to get bat rabies and trying to recruit young people to go to vet school and join APHIS. And no free cheese samples or apple slices (which alas don't belong). And no make your own butter booth. That said I think this is a good opportunity for city children to learn about farming.
 
Email From Zoo

“New Residents in the Tropical America Exhibit
The next time you're at the Zoo, come say "Hello!" to our new animals in Tropical America.
Before you enter the Tropics building, take a look in the outdoor giant anteater enclosure. Did you notice something clinging to the adult anteater's back? If so, then you've spotted our new anteater baby!
Our female giant anteater, Corndog, gave birth to a brand new baby on July 25th, and is now poking her head out into their outdoor exhibit. If her and the baby aren't outside, you'll still be able to get a glimpse of the pair from their indoor enclosure through a glass window.
Inside the Tropical America building, the white-faced saki monkey has a few new roommates, including three adorable pygmy marmosets, Thrix, Alejandro and Machu. They often like to hang out toward the top of their new enclosure, so keep your eyes peeled.
Soon there will also be two green-winged macaws in the enclosure where the golden lion tamarin was. Keep an eye out for them within the next couple of weeks. And don't worry! You can still see the tamarin monkey - he has moved next door to live with the saki monkey, and pygmy marmosets."

There's also a Red-crowned crane chick and ten, newborn Timber Rattlesnakes.
 
ZooLover4Life said:
A new rainforest building for 9 million....when is that happening? Or this going to be like the polar bear failure?
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I am unaware of any timetable for the rainforest or the other projects slated for the state money. The tree kangaroo are adjusting to their new indoor exhibit. When I was last there the mural and cage furnishings were done. The tree kangaroo is the next project to debut with the indoor and outdoor habitats.
 
Gulo gulo said:
I am unaware of any timetable for the rainforest or the other projects slated for the state money.
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After the polar bear failure, they should have been forced to give a timetable and exact accounting of the state money. Not simply entice people with new stuff and fail to deliver. They're asking for money for specific things and promising that. They should deliver on that or simply be honest and ask for an incredible amount of money just for ongoing operations. In the past 20 years, beardsley zoo in CT has gotten around 2 million from the state of CT. RWP has gotten a lot of money and has already failed to deliver what they promised when people voted to to give them money. It will be really bad if they do it again and people likely next time will vote no to the money.

Where are the tigers? That's a big time attraction and supposed to be there instead of the polar bears.
 
ZooLover4Life said:
After the polar bear failure, they should have been forced to give a timetable and exact accounting of the state money. Not simply entice people with new stuff and fail to deliver. They're asking for money for specific things and promising that. They should deliver on that or simply be honest and ask for an incredible amount of money just for ongoing operations. In the past 20 years, beardsley zoo in CT has gotten around 2 million from the state of CT. RWP has gotten a lot of money and has already failed to deliver what they promised when people voted to to give them money. It will be really bad if they do it again and people likely next time will vote no to the money.

Where are the tigers? That's a big time attraction and supposed to be there instead of the polar bears.
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The zoo didn't "fail" to complete the Polar Bear project on purpose and shouldn't be punished for it. While I can't remember the exact reason the zoo didn't get them atm, the zoo tried and really wanted to get them and I think you're being a bit harsh on them. You have to remember, not every big zoo project goes through. RWPZ is hardly the first zoo to "fail" to deliver on promised project and I highly doubt their's was even close to the biggest one that went through. Chester Zoo's Africa expansion pops to mind. While the Polar Bear project tanking was a big disappointment to both donors, visitors, and the zoo alike, the bears wouldn't even be the zoo's biggest attraction with other popular species like African Bush Elephant, Masai Giraffe, African Wild Dog, Harbor Seal, Matschie's Tree-Kangaroo, Giant Anteater, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Asiatic Black Bear, Snow Leopard, Sichuan Takin, American Bison, and Styan's Red Panda all being nice mammal species that visitors all enjoy watching just as much or more than Polar Bears.

And the zoo doesn't have tigers yet, but I believe they're planning for the future.

~Thylo:cool:
 
Went to the Zoo, Wild Dog is gone? Harbour Seals were off-show, pool was drained. Chinese Alligator left for ABQ BioPark. Old exhibit pool was resealed and acrylic buffed out. Two, female NARO now reside. In Oz Asia, wonderful location, but fills the gap with energetic otters. Bats were off-show and lights were on in their “cave". Education Building was open. I can't picture the Reptile House in their as corridor is narrow and I can see strollers clogging it. North American Porcupine was doing the stress “dance". Left, right, sway, repeat. Muntjac were off-show. Kid's area was nice and relaxing. Kids got to play while we relaxed. The aviary in Beyond The Fence frame is up. One of the African cows was chained during bath time. Surprised they're still FC. The other cows were on-show in the yard and in the pool. Zebra and Wildebeest just doing the norm of standing on stonedust and making puddles. ABBear were sleeping. Snow Leopards were near bamboo grove as usual. Takin boys were sparring. Red Panda was on the ground, standing. I think a keeper was in with them. It was a warm day, nice to escape and have fun.
 
Do people know if the future cheetah exhibit is the current wild dog exhibit with no changes at all, just the bigger holding behind elephant?
 
Zooplantman said:
http://www.rwpzoo.org/sites/default/files/files/Master Plan Map-WEB.jpg
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Doesn't look too bad. Personally I'd like the Barbary Sheep to stay but if the wildebeest/zebra enclosure is being removed, they probably need something like that elsewhere. Also, seems like there's a lot of space for the colobus as well as two enclosures?

I think it's a shame the babirusa, Binturong, ect. are being replaced by a new kangaroo walk-through and that the bison/Pronghorn are being removed as cool as moose and bears are.

Still think the eagle should be moved to "Our Big Backyard" and the enclosure made for Cougars or something of the like.

~Thylo:cool:
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
Do people know if the future cheetah exhibit is the current wild dog exhibit with no changes at all, just the bigger holding behind elephant?
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No, it is where the Crowned Cranes are and the area behind them. The first Elephant viewing area is gone. Maybe a crossview area through Cheetah now? The SSL exhibit takes over the Zebra and part of dog yard. Penguin takes up the remainder.
 
It bothers me that nothing is planned to make the Giraffe yard larger. FPZ has similar sized holding barn, yet keep 1.1.1 if necessary. Their yard is also acreage, not square feet like RWPZ. Elephant indoor area, nothing included to switch up the concrete. Big Horn Sheep, is an odd choice considering TAG option being for Desert. I agree with you Thylo about Australasia losing its appeal for a walk-thru. I don't think they have anything in mind cat-wise for Eagle exhibit. The old Polar Bear holding, Wallaby and Gibbon exhibit are removed for a tent area to accompany the restaurant. Hopefully it's an Australasian fusion type restaurant. The Grizzly exhibit is larger than the previous yard for Polar Bear in Ursa's Wildlife Heroes. The pool and stream look like they have some depth. Possible Polar future? :p Goodman and staff are smart. They are adding indoor and rental areas. Cold tolerant animals. Even colobus can stay out over 40°. Only animals not out in cold weather would be elephant/giraffe (indoor viewing), possibly penguin depending on species, outdoor tropic building animals (Maned Wolves might stay out). What else? Oh! Walkabout may be closed, some roos and wallaby handle New England like champs. All that's left is Gibbon. Goodman did wonders for Turtle Back, maybe he can for RWPZ? I don't expect everythig to be built. With additional parking and better flow thru the Zoo, it could help drive numbers and stuff the piggy bank.
 
Gulo gulo said:
Goodman did wonders for Turtle Back, maybe he can for RWPZ?
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What is turtle back?

I also heard the zoo hopes to have their yearly visitor number to be at 1 million guests after the first phase is complete. Their number is currently at around 600,000.

Colobus monkeys can be outside in 40 degree temperature, but thats not really that low of a number, since elephants can be outside at 40 degree minimum also.

The size of their giraffe exhibit is very small, especially for 4 giraffes, and planning to breed. The Franklin Park Zoo's giraffe exhibit is at least 2x as big (maybe 3x), and they only have 2 (a old breeding pair).
 
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