Exhibit Highlights
Welcome to the Tropics!
The Minnesota Zoo's Tropics Trail is comforting and full of life all year round, just like the lively green warmth of tropical forests around the world. The narrow tropical belt around the center of the Earth hosts more than half of all species in the world. Amid a variety of wet, lush forests, communities of plants and animals rely on each other in tightly-evolved relationships that influence the rest of the world ... including us here in Minnesota.
Bat Cave
Guests can view three species and sizes of bats when they reach the bat cave. The bats will be able to fly throughout the cave, and if they choose, behind the crocodile pool.
Crocodile Beach
A sandy beach will allow dwarf crocodiles to sun themselves while a school of African cichlid fish swim throughout the pool. Guests will be able to enjoy these species up close, separated only by glass.
African Cichlids
The Cichlid family is one of the largest in the vertebrate world: 1,300 species have already been discovered, and an estimated 1,700 additional species have yet to be discovered. There are at least 1,600 species of cichlids in Africa alone. Cichlids range in size from 1-3 feet.
Many cichlid species are highly valued for the aquarium trade. Fortunately, most of the cichlids for sale are bred and raised in ornamental fish farms. Unfortunately, many species are on the endangered species list due to loss of habitat and natural range.
The African cichlids inside Faces of the African Forest are from other zoos. They were selected for their natural range, size and colors, and are species one would find in the same habitat as the crocodiles found in Africa.
Cichlids are very territorial and will spend a lot of time “defending” their space from other fish. The cichlids in this exhibit will adapt to their new habitat and use the space as they would in nature.
Fallen Log: Just for Kids
Kids can go into (and under!) a giant fig tree inside Faces of the African Forest. A glass ceiling allows them to peer at dwarf crocodiles and fish while these creatures swim in the pool - a very unique perspective. When leaving the tree, kids can crawl through a fallen log with viewing windows into the colobus and De Brazza’s monkey exhibits, allowing them to see primates, red river hogs, and hyrax up close.
Fig Trees
Fig trees are an important lifeline for many fruit-eating, forest-dwelling animals in Africa. Worldwide, over 1200 species of mammals and birds are known to eat figs, of which there are 755 different species. Some species of figs native to Africa can bear hundreds of thousands of fruits at maturity and grow so large that it would take up to ten people, holding hands, to circle the base of a single tree!
Photos
A window on the pathway side of the fallen log allows for photo opportunities of kids peering out – perhaps with a primate on top of the log! If you’re an animal shutterbug, there are plenty of great viewing opportunities throughout the exhibit.