As members of the New Mexico Biopark Society, we frequent our local aquarium, botanical garden, and zoo very often. We became members to support a local organization that promotes respect of and responsibility to nature, which we are trying to instill in our son at a young age. Also the Biopark offers endless entertainment for our whole family, and is a truly beautiful place in our city.
Of the many exhibits that make up the lovely Biopark, one of my all time favorites is the amphibian exhibit in the Albuquerque Zoo. Yes, I enjoy the cute little frogs and nifty newts, but I also enjoy the lovely home the Biopark has built to house these creatures.
The exhibit is called Amphibians: Life on a Limb, and it gives visitors insight into their unique habitats and behaviors while educating on the importance of amphibians in the wild as well as the threat of their extinction. Amphibians face the crisis of extinction due to loss of habitats, change in global climate, irresponsible pet trade, and the pervasiveness of the disease causing chytrid fungus.
To showcase these amazing creatures, the Biopark has crafted the perfect example of habitat to house a large variety of amphibians. While the inside may be dark to mimic the natural preferences of these creatures, the outside of the exhibit is a vibrant blue, with colorful art celebrating amphibians.
Outside of the exhibit lives this marvelous mosaic, each small tile painted with the likeness of a unique amphibian. When you step back to observe the art in its entirety, the tiles make a lovely mural honoring newts, frogs, salamanders and the like.
Beautiful stained glass and sculptures welcome visitors into the exhibit.
Inside, the individual exhibits are framed by proverbs with references to these cool critters.
To fight the extinction amphibians are facing, part of the exhibit (not open to visitors) serves as a research and captive reproduction area for amphibians, with an emphasis on Panamanian golden frogs.
Our little guy may have thought the larger than life statues were real.
