After many years of not being able to go outside, the gorillas of Franklin Park Zoo now have access to the outdoors thanks to the brand new Gorilla Grove, which opened in April. The gorillas have access to Gorilla Grove daily, starting between 9 and 10 am. But some visitors have noted they haven't seen the gorillas inside or outside. That's because gorillas may choose to spend time in an indoor area, not visible to the public, while they get used to their new home, said a statement from Zoo New England. "When first introduced to Gorilla Grove, some members of the troop, including Little Joe and Aziza, acclimated to the new space right away, while it took some of the others longer to get used to the space, which is quite different from their indoor habitat," said Zoo New England.
Come warm weather Franklin Park Zoo goers will get to see the troop of gorillas outside thanks to a new outdoor habitat. The new habitat 360,000 cubic feet habitat cost $8.1 million, and was made possible by generous donors who wish to remain anonymous. The funding for the new gorilla habitat, with restricted capital donations, was made prior to the start of the pandemic, according to a press release. Six gorillas currently call Franklin Park Zoo home. Little Joe, Kitombe (Kit), his mate Kiki and their three offspring – Kambiri, Azize and Pablo, a male gorilla born in October 2020.
Lion brothers Dinari and Kamaia turn 11 in March, and guests are invited to celebrate the occasion. This roaring good time will include special birthday enrichment items for the lions and an opportunity to meet with one of our expert zookeepers and learn more about our lion brothers and the species as a whole. Get creative with lion-themed arts and crafts and pick up some new facts about lions to impress your friends and family at the education table! Guests will also have the opportunity to learn more about the work being done to conserve and protect African lions and their habitat in Kenya. Tina Ramme, a wildlife biologist and CEO of the Lion Conservation Fund, will be at the event with fun interactive activities to educate about lions.
In response to the catastrophic bushfires in Australia, Zoo New England will host All for Australia, an evening ticketed fundraiser inside Franklin Park Zoo’s Tropical Forest Pavilion on Feb. 13. Franklin Park Zoo is home to a number of animals native to Australia including red kangaroo, emu, Gouldian finch, black swan, tawny frogmouth, laughing kookaburra, Australian walking stick, blue-tongued skink, sulphur crested cockatoo, budgerigar, palm cockatoo, and more. All event proceeds will benefit Zoos Victoria’s Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund, which is supporting the critical care and long-term recovery of Australian wildlife. Tickets are $30 and include hors d'oeuvres, animal encounters, and musical performances by The Bag Family Band.
WHAT: Looking for a great way to end the year? During your winter school vacation week, connect with incredible wildlife and spend a memorable day with family and friends exploring Franklin Park Zoo. Be sure to visit the education station inside the Tropical Forest, where you’ll learn about the amazing adaptations of animals during the cold winter months. There will also be fun winter-themed activities, crafts, zookeeper encounters and much more to explore! WHEN: December 26, 2019 – January 4, 2020.
Whether it’s finding food or protecting one another, many of the animals that live at Franklin Park Zoo depend on their unique family dynamics to survive. Did you know prairie dogs have unique “barks” to warn their colony of predators, or that ring-tailed lemurs keep their tails raised like flags to keep group members together when traveling? Discover more about these special relationships as we celebrate Friendsgiving at the Zoo! Watch as animals receive festive enrichment, and learn more about these unique bonds at the education station. Like your favorite characters from the Wild West, our animal friends from the wild kingdom stick together through thick and thin.
Dogs are trained to track many, many things. Drugs, guns, prey -- but turtles? That is the case for Koda, an Australian shepherd mix. Koda has been specifically trained to track and find eastern box turtles, which are a locally rare species in Massachusetts due to habitat loss. After a year of training, Koda got to test her her abilities in Franklin Park in late August -- and succeeded quite well!
Feel like you’re in a fairytale at Franklin Park Zoo! Meet and pose for photos with the princesses and learn how you can be a pirate under the instruction of Captain Jack and his crew. There will also be crafts, special animal encounters and an education station. Kids are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite fairy tale outfit, and don’t forget the camera!
Join us as we celebrate International Red Panda Day at Franklin Park Zoo. Learn all about these species during zookeeper chats. Meet author Gemmesa Johnson and listen to a reading of her book Seacoo. Books will be available for purchase in the gift shop. Come discover how you can help save red pandas!
Don’t miss the 10th annual Brew at the Zoo! Brew at the Zoo is a beer-tasting event that offers guests the opportunity to walk on the wild side as they sample offerings from local breweries and restaurants. The entire zoo, with the exception of the Bird's World building and playground, will be open for this event (weather permitting). Sip some delicious brews and visit with western lowland gorillas, ring-tailed lemurs, pygmy hippos, and other species in the Zoo’s Tropical Forest Pavilion, as well as giraffes, zebras, kangaroos and many other animals. Don’t miss a visit to Aussie Aviary, a seasonal free-flight aviary featuring brightly-colored budgies.
