Franklin Park Zoo - Exhibits

Exhibits

The zoo contains more than 220 species of animals and includes the following main exhibit areas.

The Tropical Forest (known as the African Tropical Forest from 1989 to 1997), a 3-acre (1.2 ha) building roofed by a huge Teflon-coated cloth dome. The building mimics the animals' natural environment with streams, moats, faux-rock structures, hidden fences and barriers, and free-flight birds. The exhibit includes gorillas, bats, mandrill, crocodiles, ocelots, capybara, pottos, tapirs, vulture, and a pygmy hippopotamus. This exhibit was included in the zoo's 1973 master plan, and was originally intended to house only African tropical species; however, more South American and Asian tropical animals began being displayed in the Tropical Forest by the late 1990s. One gorilla named Little Joe escaped his enclosure several times in 2003. He was later separated from the gorilla family, but later returned in 2007. Also in 2007, the zoo's gorilla exhibit was reopened after extensive renovations. As of 2011, a giant anteater resides in the former warthog enclosure.

Serengeti Crossing (known as Bongo Congo from 1997 to c. 2003), a 4-acre (1.6 ha) grassland exhibit with ostriches, zebras, and wildebeest. The exhibit first opened in 1997, making it one of the first new exhibits to open at the zoo since the opening of the African Tropical Forest in 1989.

Kalahari Kingdom, a large Africa themed area housing an old male lion named Christopher. Visitors can view this lion through a replica of a land rover "crashed" into the exhibit, glass, or from over a moat. The opening of this exhibit in 1997 marked the first time lions had been exhibited at the zoo since the old Lion House was closed in the early 1970s.

Outback Trail, where visitors can view kangaroos, cockatoos, emus, and tree kangaroos. This exhibit opened around 1998, the same year the Butterfly Landing exhibit first opened. Additionally, a new seasonal budgerigar aviary was recently added to this exhibit area.

Giraffe Savannah, opened in 1999, is a large area containing three Masai Giraffes. A herd of rare Grevy's Zebra can be found coexisting with them.

Bird's World, a large building with an Orient-themed exterior containing dozens of bird species in four different environments: swamp, rainforest, desert, and wetlands. Outside, there is a large flight cage, a flamingo exhibit, and a waterfowl pond. This building originally opened in 1912 (the same year the zoo itself opened to the public), and was renovated around the mid 1970s to exhibit birds in more naturalistic environments.

Butterfly Landing, a seasonal exhibit containing over 1,000 butterflies in free flight. This large outdoor "tent" also has streams and a waterfall surrounded by numerous plant species. The exhibit first opened in 1998.

The Children's Zoo, a three-acre complex which includes ducks, prairie dogs, and two rare Amur Leopards, as well as a farmyard exhibit (known as Franklin Farm). A design for this exhibit was published in a 1954 master plan, but the exhibit was not built until 1962, under a much modified design. The Children's Zoo was renovated in the early 1980s and reopened on July 1, 1984 with a grant from the George Robert White Fund. Franklin Farm first opened in June 2000.

Tiger Tales, which contains two rescued tigers named Anala (orange) and Luther (white). The exhibit opened in June 2006, marking the first time tigers had been exhibited at the zoo since the old Lion House closed in the early 1970s.

There is also an African Wild Dog exhibit, outside the Tropical Forest, that is not part of any major area.

• Franklin Farm at the Children's Zoo

• Camels

• Lion

• Tiger

• Andean Condor