Exploring Off-Campus: A Wild Day at the Seneca Park Zoo

Located in the City of Rochester, and just a few miles from RIT, The Seneca Park Zoo offers an exciting wildlife experience, perfect for a day out with friends. This visit marks Part 1 of our adventure, exploring some of the incredible animals, reptiles, and birds that call this zoo home. If you're looking for a unique outing near Rochester, Seneca Park Zoo is a must-visit, especially for RIT students seeking a break from campus life.

As we walked along the zoo, the animals we saw were so varied, from African pancake tortoises and Congo parrots to creatures of the sea and zebras. Some of the animals that were incredibly interesting included:

1. Ball Python

The Ball Python is one of the most fascinating reptiles in West and Central Africa. Its docile nature and striking patterns make it a favorite for snake enthusiasts. This snake got its name due to the defense mechanism of rolling into a ball when threatened. They present a smooth, muscular body displaying a beautiful variety of browns, yellows, and blacks, which makes them really fascinating.

2. Giant Day Gecko

The large day gecko is a splendidly colored species from Madagascar. With its arboreal habits, it easily climbs around branches and enjoys a very bold coloration and character for an arboreal lizard. Their big and expressive eyes, along with toes that allow them to adhere to surfaces, make them excellent climbers. Unlike most other geckos, the large day gecko is diurnal, so it is active during the day and can be easily spotted in our exhibits.

3. Borneo Eared Frog

The Borneo Eared Frog is a unique and fascinating amphibian that gets its name from the fact that it has developed "ears," which are actually large glands sticking out from behind the eyes. Hailing from the rainforests of Borneo, they are expert tree climbers and can usually be found on trees near water bodies. Within the zoo's amphibian collection, they present an attraction to visitors in their appearance and create quite loud, resonant calls.

4. Grey Wolf

One of the many iconic animals at the Seneca Park Zoo is the gray wolf—majestic, intelligent, with strong pack dynamics, yet they are famously known for their hauntingly beautiful howls. The gray wolf has become synonymous with wilderness and is a sentinel species in wild habitats speaking to maintaining a balance within an ecosystem. It is an awesome experience to watch these dominant predators up close.

Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are the largest of all tiger species. This tiger inhabits the Russian Far East; its thick fur and powerful appearance help it survive in very cold weather. Watching an Amur tiger at Seneca Park Zoo is mesmerizing, with a majestic movement and a combination of grace and power that the eyes may not be able to withdraw. I felt great to be surrounded by such a variety of animals, and it is an experience I highly recommend if you are staying in Rochester. Whether you are a student at RIT or just looking for a fun day out with your friends, visit Seneca Park Zoo for a unique and special bond with nature and wildlife.

That's just the beginning of our adventure at the Seneca Park Zoo. In the next part of this series, I will take you along with me as I feed giraffes, a great event that I managed to record on video. We will also get into the world of African animals—penguins, elephants, lions, and a lot of other giants. Follow our next blog, where the adventure continues!