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New Englanders Planet Zoo Chat
- Thread starter Orkan
- Start date
haha screw it, i've been to (almost) every animal facility in new england. some have slipped but hoping to get to like squam lakes (it looks awesome, just havent had the excuse to go there yet)
here's my official rating of all 21 facilities i've been to as of late. still need to go back to biomes in ri to get an updated rating
here's my official rating of all 21 facilities i've been to as of late. still need to go back to biomes in ri to get an updated rating
| Zoo Name | Location | Website | Accreditation | Rating | Extra Notes | Animal Selection | Food / Amenities / Cleanliness | Theming | Perceived Welfare | "Vibes" |
| Roger Williams Park Zoo | Providence, RI | AZA | 8.4 | Hometown Hero | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | |
| Riverside Reptiles | Enfield, CT | Unaccredited | 8.4 | Iguanaland's Little Brother | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | |
| Mystic Aquarium | Mystic, CT | AZA | 8.3 | Marine Mammal Paradise, Average Fish Collection | 8.5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | |
| Maine Wildlife Park | Gray, ME | Unaccredited | 8.2 | Can't Moose This One | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | |
| Southwick's Zoo | Mendon, MA | ZAA | 7.9 | Tried and True - Perfect Summer Outting | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 9.5 | |
| Stone Zoo | Stone, MA | AZA | 7.7 | The Favorite Child of Zoo New England | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7.5 | 9 | |
| Buttonwood Park Zoo | New Bedford, MA | AZA | 7.55 | New England's Hidden Gem | 7.75 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | |
| Franklin Park Zoo | Boston, MA | AZA | 7.2 | The Child "Who Was Put Into the Gifted Program but Never Succeeded Past That" of Zoo New England | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Maritime Aquarium | Norwalk, CT | AZA | 7.1 | Not Worth The Money, But A Fun Pit Stop! | 6.5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | |
| Museum of Science | Boston, MA | AZA | 7 | They Have Animals Here? | 3 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | |
| Ecotarium | Worcester, MA | Unaccredited | 7 | Better In the Past, How'd They Lose So Much? | 5 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | |
| New England Aquarium | Boston, MA | AZA | 6.8 | Awful Parking, Pretty Fine Aquarium | 7 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 8 | |
| Beardsley Zoo | Bridgeport, CT | AZA | 6.6 | Cool Animals, Boring Presentation | 7.5 | 8 | 4.5 | 7 | 6 | |
| Action Wildlife | Goshen, CT | Unaccredited | 6.6 | Better Natural History Museum Than Washington DC | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 | |
| Stamford Museum & Nature Center | Stamford, CT | Unaccredited | 6.6 | Come for our North American River Otter Habitat! | 2 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 7 | |
| Capron Park Zoo | North Attleboro, MA | AZA | 5.2 | "Small Zoo Charm" Fades Quickly | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | |
| DEW Haven | Mt Vernon, ME | Unaccredited | 5 | DON'T Haven | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| Zoo in Forest Park | Springfield, MA | ZAA | 4.7 | "I Forgot About That Place" | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3.5 | |
| Lupa Zoo | Ludlow, MA | Unaccredited | 3.2 | I've Been Here More Times Than I'd Like To Admit | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| York's Wild Kingdom | York, ME | ZAA | 2.8 | The Kingdom of the Dark Ages | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
| Animal Adventures | Bolton, MA | Unaccredited | 1.2 | How Is God So Cruel To Us To Allow This To Exist | 7 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
How did I not know half these places existed?
I do heavily agree with Roger Williams being top. Animal Adventures i've never heard of, the worst I've been to is York's. I'm never going back.
Leaf Productions thank you for making that list, I intend to check out some of those higher rated when possible
When I visit CT next I will be able to stop at Riverside Reptiles as it is on my route on 91.
I went to Maine Wildlife park in November, I liked the outdoor/cabin theme but there could be more to do there. Plus several animal habitats were being renovated. Either way maybe in the future it will improve.
Sorry to my Boston people, I will NEVER drive into the city again. Parking isn’t great and the roads are unwelcoming to a Vermonter. Regardless I love the aquarium.
I was at Beardsley recently, missed out on their tropical house. There’s a building that has lizards and amphibians that could use a remodel.
I have a history with Mystic. 18th birthday present was a beluga encounter, the belugas seem happy and curious. I used to work at the Alaska Sealife Center which is one of the only NA facility’s to have Steller sea lions. Most of the males are still in Alaska and most of the females are in Mystic, for me it was nice to see the extended family. I want to go back to see the fur seal that ASC rescued, deemed non releasable and found new home at Mystic.
Ashamed to say I have never been to Franklin Park zoo having been born in MA and been all around New England.
When I visit CT next I will be able to stop at Riverside Reptiles as it is on my route on 91.
I went to Maine Wildlife park in November, I liked the outdoor/cabin theme but there could be more to do there. Plus several animal habitats were being renovated. Either way maybe in the future it will improve.
Sorry to my Boston people, I will NEVER drive into the city again. Parking isn’t great and the roads are unwelcoming to a Vermonter. Regardless I love the aquarium.
I was at Beardsley recently, missed out on their tropical house. There’s a building that has lizards and amphibians that could use a remodel.
I have a history with Mystic. 18th birthday present was a beluga encounter, the belugas seem happy and curious. I used to work at the Alaska Sealife Center which is one of the only NA facility’s to have Steller sea lions. Most of the males are still in Alaska and most of the females are in Mystic, for me it was nice to see the extended family. I want to go back to see the fur seal that ASC rescued, deemed non releasable and found new home at Mystic.
Ashamed to say I have never been to Franklin Park zoo having been born in MA and been all around New England.
i will always recommend adding action wildlife onto a trip to riverside reptiles. it's just a drive-through safari but it's cool because they have some of the only european wild boars in the region
Actually Franklin Park Zoo and Roger Williams will be undergoing some big changes soon, so I can only see them getting better with time!
Also this is just me personally: treat Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo like one big zoo and it would actually be amazing.
Honestly my sleeper hit favorite of Franklin was visiting the bird world section again, man I just love it in there. But if I’m being realistic the best area is the tropical forest house no contest.
Also this is just me personally: treat Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo like one big zoo and it would actually be amazing.
Honestly my sleeper hit favorite of Franklin was visiting the bird world section again, man I just love it in there. But if I’m being realistic the best area is the tropical forest house no contest.
LOL I thought it was you.
Another New Englander here. This is an excellent summary, Leaf. Thanks for putting it all in one handy chart for my future reference!
My fellow New Englanders, as all of us are members of the United States and Citizens of North America I have a question for all of you. North America is only allowed one bird, and it’s coming in the next dlc. Which bird would you pick?
I’m tied between a wood duck or a mallard. Wild Turkey is coming close for me though.
I’m tied between a wood duck or a mallard. Wild Turkey is coming close for me though.
Same, Turkey FTW!
Part of me really wants to get the mallard, due to its range. But another part of me is fighting with itself because the mandarin duck would be the perfect final duck. So maybe then a wild turkey would be nice. The more I think about it the harder it gets lmao. I would also like a whooping crane and a burrowing owl. I would take all 4 if I could.
Roadrunner. I just feel like southwest could use some attention.
But as a new englander, I can tell you I have gotten many great photos of great blue herons. It’s funny to hear them make noises, sometimes sounds like a quack roar or an angry duck
But as a new englander, I can tell you I have gotten many great photos of great blue herons. It’s funny to hear them make noises, sometimes sounds like a quack roar or an angry duck
So of all the main New England Zoos, what are the best habitats/ exhibits for each? I’ll go first off of memory.
- Stone Zoo: the Caribbean coast takes the cake for me, while the zoo has technically better habitats I love this one. Goldeneye ducks, Scarlet Ibis, Macaws, and obviously American Flamingos all exist together. You can also see the Jamaican Iguana and Bush Dog nearby! Honorary mentions are the Mexican wolves, snow leopard, and the bat cave!
- Franklin Park Zoo: a tie between the Bird House and the Rainforest. By all means the rainforest should be my #1, but the bird house is so peaceful I love it so much. Also the giraffes sharing a habitat with zebras and Somali Wild ass is awesome.
- Roger Williams Zoo: I am a sucker for a good indoor exhibit, so the Rainforest also wins for me here. Honorary mention to the Oceania area (which also has North American River Otters weirdly enough)
- Buttonwood Park Zoo: the Asian elephants, especially because they are both old ladies retired from the circus. So cute. Also I love all the ducks.
- Squam Lake Natural Science Center: I love the black bear exhibit, but being me I am also a sucker for birds of prey. Still the black bears have a cave crawl space and that’s awesome. Seriously a hidden gem for me.
- Southwick Zoo: the deer forest is oddly enough a huge highlight for me. I also like the chimps.
- New England Aquarium: it has to be the giant ocean tank, but the new live coral exhibit is beautiful.
- Mystic Aquarium: the belugas, it’s so cool. My little brother loved the pinnipeds.
1. Faces of the Rainforest, Roger Williams
2. Wonders of the Sierra Madre, Stone
3. Tropical Forest, Franklin Park
4. Honestly I haven’t been to Southwick‘s in a while, but the elk train was cool
5. I actually went a couple days ago, NEAQ is definitely the giant ocean tank. I picked up some merch there too
6. Mystic I also haven’t been to in a long time, but the Belugas and Sea Lions were cool.
In April, after I get done with a falconry session, I will be visiting Ct for a bit and I plan on visiting Riverside Reptiles. Recently I have gotten interested in visiting zoos that are family/type exclusive so I’d like to see a reptile exclusive zoo (I know there are some amphibians and bugs). Hopefully as temperatures will be warmer, the reptiles will be outside or more comfortable.
It's so good.
Bundle it if you get the chance with Action Wildlife if you don't mind a small drive. Only place around us to see pure European Wild Boar.
I know this might be heretical for one of our members, but I think I might like Franklin Park over Roger Williams. Granted the last time I went I paired it together with Stone (both are owned by zoo NewEngland).
I do like Roger Williams too, but man, the jungle house is so cool!
I do like Roger Williams too, but man, the jungle house is so cool!
Franklin Park and Stone combined are equal to Roger Williams, but apart they're not.
Alright so Il be heading back to Ct for a few days and I shall be checking out Riverside Reptiles. I can get there Thursday which is not a day where they do shows. All you fellow New Englanders are aware of the bizarre weather we have had this year. Leads me to wonder if the tortoise habitats will be open outside as I would like to see them.
I haven’t been home in a couple months. What’s been going down?