Boston in Pretty Pictures: Franklin Park Zoo

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:29:54 +0000

I recently wrote about Franklin Park Zoo’s upcoming Earth Day celebration. The zoo has a number of interesting events and activities scheduled for April 20 that are certain to make attendees feel even more in tune with our planet than they normally do.

This photo post extends the love, giving readers an opportunity to experience the beauty of Franklin Park Zoo and its diverse inhabitants from the comfort of their computers.

All photographs are courtesy of Ryan E. Poplin, while the witty (or so I’d like to believe) captions are solely my fault.

Baby Gorilla with Mama

Mommy, why do all of these weirdos stand around and stare at us all day long? Don’t they have anything else better to do?

Capybara

Ha! You’re rats ain’t nothing. Rodents don’t get any bigger than me.

Emu

So what if I can’t fly? I’m still a bird, darn it!

Gorilla

If you idiots call me King Kong or Magilla one more time, I’m gonna…

King Lion

I dare you to come closer. C’mon! C’mon!!!

Lemur

You lookin’ at me? Huh! You lookin’ at ME?!

Mandrill

Mmmm! That was good.

Peacock

Check this out! Betcha can’t do that.

Scarlet Ibis

¡Soy en fuego!
[Translation: I'm on fire!]

Tapir

That’s right — I’m a three-toed ungulate with a snout. What of it?

Warthog

I may be fugly, but I’m lovable, too.

White Tiger

Aren’t I beautiful? You can’t touch this!

Zebras

One Zebra to another: You ever get tired of these boring black and white stripes?
Second Zebra to the first: Nah. Black, white, and vertical stripes never go out of style. It’s the colors and horizontal stripes you gotta watch out for. They make you look fat.
Third Zebra to the second: Well, whaddya call that on our legs, smart aleck? Plaid?

Top Photo: Ryan E. Poplin

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Earth Day at Franklin Park Zoo Is on the Way

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:52:25 +0000

Tuesday, April 22, is Earth Day this year, and Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo (One Franklin Park Road, Boston, 617-541-5466) is prepared to make the occasion memorable for children and adults alike the preceding Sunday.

Franklin Park Zoo first opened in 1913, making it one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Operated by Zoo New England, it’s also located in Franklin Park, the largest park in Boston, which also has a second notable characteristic.

Franklin Park is the last of twelve parks that form a famous local chain of parks called the Emerald Necklace, as well. Each of the natural landscapes is connected by parkways and waterways, creating a loop that measures about seven miles in length.

The other eleven parks in the chain stretching through Boston and Brookline are The Arborway, Arnold Arboretum, Back Bay Fens, Boston Common, Boston Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, The Fenway, Jamaica Pond, The Jamaicaway, Olmsted Park, and The Riverway.

On April 20, Franklin Park Zoo plans to help patrons celebrate Earth Day with a number of relevant, engaging activities and events. The one that sounds most exciting to me is the scheduled keynote visit by Animal Planet and Discovery Channel host and executive producer Jeff Corwin. I always love catching his appearances with all the intriguing animals on television; seeing him in person is probably ten times better.

Many exhibitors are slated to make an appearance, too, including the nonprofit organization Animal Rescue League of Boston, cheesemakers (Yum!) Cabot Creamery Cooperative, the community environmentalism group Mass Audubon Boston Nature Center, and youth educators from the Student Conservation Association.

Combined with enjoying the animals that already inhabit the zoo, Franklin Park’s Earth Day roster will be a fun and informative way for the entire family to relax while learning more about the importance of our planet and how to keep it vibrant for many centuries to come. [More Information]

Photo: Ryan E. Poplin

Post from: The Boston Traveler

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Boston in Pretty Pictures: Franklin Park Zoo

Earth Day at Franklin Park Zoo Is on the Way