Zoo Boise, a division of Boise Parks and Recreation, is proud to announce that the Gorongosa National Park Exhibit has been awarded first place in the Public Projects category by Idaho Business Review’s “Idaho’s 2020 Top Projects” publication. Zoo Boise worked alongside the Gorongosa Restoration Project team, erstad ARCHITECTS, and CM Company to make this exhibit a reality.
Gorongosa National Park was once one of the greatest parks in Africa but was destroyed during 25 years of war in Mozambique. Zoo Boise is part of a partnership to rebuild the park by increasing animal populations while also addressing the needs of the people who live nearby. The Gorongosa National Park exhibit in Boise will generate $2 million towards the efforts in Mozambique to protect elephants, lions, zebras and more!
At Zoo Boise, the Gorongosa National Park exhibit is 2.5 acres and tells the story of the wildlife conservation, agricultural, medical, and educational programs that are in place that Zoo Boise and their visitors support. It houses a variety of species found in Mozambique, including African wild dogs, Nile crocodiles, olive baboons, warthog, and more. Besides exotic animals and wildlife conservation, the exhibit highlights important buildings inside Gorongosa National Park, including the E.O. Wilson Science Center, an indoor aviary, and the iconic Gorongosa Lion House.
From Idaho’s 2020 Top Projects publication, “One of the main goals was to bring a small piece of Gorongosa to Boise. Everything from the appearance of buildings, the species exhibited, the graphics and interpretation and even the technology used, all had to be designed to make empathetic connections to the real Gorongosa National Park.” To see all of “Idaho’s 2020 Top Project” winners visit www.idahobusinessreview.com.
CM Company would like to thank the City of Boise, The Friends of Zoo Boise, and erstad ARCHITECTS for partnering with us on this challenging and unique project. CM Company specializes in helping clients bring complex projects like the Gorongosa National Park Exhibit to fruition. For insight into this and other successful projects, please visit us at www.cmcompany.com or contact us at 208-384-0800.
Zoo Boise is currently open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a set number of tickets available each day to meet current group size requirements. Tickets must be reserved in advance and a timed entry process has been implemented to reduce lines and allow for physical distancing. For more information regarding ticketing, other health and safety protocols, and to reserve tickets visit www.zooboise.org/online-ticketing.
