Faces of the Rainforest at RWPZ: Worth the Visit

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Thank you to Roger Williams Park Zoo for partnering with us.

Rain couldn’t keep us away from the much-anticipated Faces of the Rainforest, the brand new exhibit at Roger Williams Park Zoo. While the weather was dreary the exhibit was anything but. Walking up the building is incredibly impressive.  The building’s architecture shows no detail was missed in the execution of this project.

We took a moment to stroll through the outdoor area which included conservation information, picnic areas, and some adorable photo spots. We were excited to see that the flamingos had returned to a brand-new outdoor exhibit. During the summers we frequently bring lunch into the zoo and find a bench or picnic area to eat at and we’re looking forward to enjoying this new area in the warmer months.

Over this past summer, we’d watched construction crews hard at work and seen many updates from the zoo through newsletters or facebook posts. None of that could have prepared us for how beautiful and detailed the actual exhibit is. The animals were carefully chosen to fit the Rainforest environment. The enclosures allow viewing from all angles. There are even animals that can roam freely, and zoo staff members were on hand to ensure guests (and the animals) were safe.

 

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Monkey surrounded by foliage at RWPZ's Faces of the Rainforest Exhibit in RI
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While there, we were able to speak with multiple zoo staff. Even the person tending to the plants stopped to chat with us about the different plants in different exhibits to best replicate the rainforest. Beautiful birds, multiple species of monkeys, frogs, snakes, sloths all delighted us. But none more so than our favorite – the giant river otters! The otter enclosure is amazing. It has many different viewing angles and the zoo clearly thought through all the details. It was so much fun to watch the two giant otters playing on the slide into the deep end of the pool. They swim so gracefully and seem to enjoy putting on a show. The smaller otters have always been a zoo visit highlight and I expect these will also be high on the list of “must-sees” during our frequent visits.

We’ve always loved going to Roger Williams Park Zoo; in part because of the animals but also because the zookeepers and staff make the visits extra special. My daughter and I love learning about what the animals favorite foods are, how playful the animals are, and hearing about how they are cared for. Almost every visit we’ve encountered a member of the zoo staff who was either tending to an animal’s needs, walking through the park or standing waiting to answer questions. Even when busy, they stop to answer questions and give fun facts about the animals.

I’m not sure what we were most impressed with, the beauty of the exhibit or the staff who support it! Either way, we can’t wait for our next trip to the rainforest, and we’re so excited that it makes the Zoo more available for use during the cold months of the year! 


 

For more information please visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo Website or better yet, go visit the exhibit and experience it for yourself!