Commonwealth Zoological Corporation

TO PROVIDE ALL ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER SERVICES AND SUPPORT REQUIRED OR CONTEMPLATED BY CHAPTER 92B OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS TO THE FRANKLIN PARK ZOO AND THE WALTER D. STONE MEMORIAL ZOO, TO ANY OTHER AGENCY OR ENTITY REFERENCED THEREIN, AND ACT INDEPENDENTLY IN CONNECTION WITH ZOOLOGICAL MATTERS. FURTHERMORE, ZOO NEW ENGLAND'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN THE NATURAL WORLD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS BY CREATING FUN AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCES THAT INTEGRATE WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION.

GUEST SERVICES IN FY 23, ZOO NEW ENGLAND EXPERIENCED A DECREASE IN DAYTIME ATTENDANCE WITH 728,969 VISITORS COMPARED TO 841,172 VISITORS IN FY 22. FRANKLIN PARK ZOO'S TOTAL DAYTIME ATTENDANCE REACHED 441,627, A DECREASE OF 56,000 FROM 497,627 IN FY 22. STONE ZOO'S DAYTIME ATTENDANCE REACHED 287,342, A DECREASE OF 56,203 FROM 343,545 IN FY 22.TOTAL FY 23 ATTENDANCE FOR ZOOLIGHTS (STONE ZOO'S EVENING HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW, WHICH OPERATES PRIMARILY IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER) WAS 84,608, A DECREASE OF 17,825 COMPARED TO 102,433 IN FY 22. TOTAL FY 23 ATTENDANCE FOR BOSTON LIGHTS: A LANTERN EXPERIENCE (FRANKLIN PARK ZOO'S EVENING SUMMER/FALL LANTERN EXPERIENCE) WAS 186,888, A DECREASE OF 18,680 COMPARED TO 205,568 IN FY22.TOTAL OVERALL ATTENDANCE, INCLUSIVE OF ZOOLIGHTS AND BOSTON LIGHTS IN FY 23, WAS 1,000,465, A DECREASE OF 148,708 VISITORS COMPARED TO 1,149,173 IN FY 22. WHILE ATTENDANCE DECREASED IN FY 23 COMPARED TO FY 22, IT WAS STILL THE SECOND HIGHEST ATTENDANCE YEAR FOR ZNE.

EXPENSES INCURRED FOR FACILITIES AND GROUNDS INCLUDE SALARIES, FRINGE BENEFITS, UTILITIES, INSURANCE AND REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE WHICH ENABLE ZOO NEW ENGLAND TO OPERATE IN A COMFORTABLE, SAFE AND PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STAFF AND VISITORS TO THE ZOOS.

ANIMAL CARE & EXHIBITS AS OF JUNE 30, 2023 FRANKLIN PARK ZOO FEATURES 60 PUBLIC ANIMAL EXHIBITS AND STONE ZOO FEATURES 44. ZOO NEW ENGLAND IS HOME TO 1,488 ANIMALS REPRESENTING 195 SPECIES. SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS AT FRANKLIN PARK ZOO INCLUDED SEVERAL BIRD SPECIES SUCH AS MARBLED TEAL, KORI BUSTARD, HADADA IBIS, GREEN ARACARI, AND BALI MYNAH, AND MAMMALS INCLUDING WESTERN GRAY KANGAROO, RED-NECKED WALLABY, HARTMANN'S MOUNTAIN ZEBRA, SOMALI WILD ASS, LOWLAND NYALA AND WHITE-BEARDED WILDEBEEST. AT STONE ZOO, SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS INCLUDED WHOOPING CRANE, CANADA LYNX, JAMAICAN IGUANA AND SCARLET IBIS. NOTABLE BIRTHS AND HATCHES AT FRANKLIN PARK ZOO INCLUDED PRAIRIE DOG PUPS, A WATTLED CRANE, SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER AND GOULDIAN FINCH. AT STONE ZOO, A LINNE'S TWO-TOED SLOTH WAS BORN. AT FRANKLIN PARK ZOO, THESE LARGER SIZED ANIMALS WERE ON EXHIBIT: GORILLAS, MASAI GIRAFFE, AND AFRICAN LION. AT STONE ZOO, THESE LARGER SIZED ANIMALS WERE ON EXHIBIT: BLACK BEARS, MEXICAN GREY WOLVES, AND SNOW LEOPARDS.

EDUCATION THROUGHOUT FY 23, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FACILITATED MORE THAN 4,400 ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGED NEARLY 170,000 PARTICIPANTS. THIS IS A 300% INCREASE IN ACTIVITIES COMPARED TO 1,100 IN FY 23, AND A 112% INCREASE IN PARTICIPANTS COMPARED TO 80,000 IN FY 23. AMONG THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES WERE 330 BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS, 249 CLASSES (FOR VOLUNTEERS, YOUTH STAFF, STUDENTS, SCOUTS, CAMP, HOMESCHOOLERS AND MORE), AND 150 ANIMAL ENCOUNTER PROGRAMS FOR ON-SITE BIRTHDAY PARTIES. THE EDUCATION STAFF FACILITATED 80 #ZOOTOYOU, VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE, WHICH ATTRACTED OVER 55,000 VIEWS