Franklin Park Zoo opens immersive Gorilla Grove habitat with Mayor Wu and six legislators

BOSTON — July 19, 2026 — Franklin Park Zoo opened Gorilla Grove, a new immersive outdoor gorilla habitat, in a rain-day ribbon cutting Saturday that drew Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and a half-dozen state legislators. Zoo New England president Bob welcomed the crowd and credited owner's project manager Bill Byrne and consultant Greg Zerla with seeing the multi-year project to completion, while Board Chair Colin Van Dyke called it part of a sustained effort to build the zoo into "a world-class institution" and said "the sky's the limit." The zoo drew 1.1 million visitors last year and operates community programs including a Card to Culture discount — $4 per person for EBT and WIC cardholders — and a summer teen program that has served 1,300 City of Boston youth. Gorilla keeper Malou told the crowd that silverback Joe has been "one of the most confident" troop members in the new outdoor space, while newborn Pablo, carried by mother Kiki, drew visible excitement from Mayor Wu and the assembled crowd.