M&T Bank Rainforest Falls: A tropical escape in wintry Buffalo
As cold temperatures and snowy conditions descend upon Western New York, a tropical getaway might be at the top of some residents’ wishlists.
But what if you didn’t even have to leave Buffalo to experience not just tropical heat, but also have the chance to get a glimpse into a distant ecosystem?
M&T Bank Rainforest Falls at the Buffalo Zoo gives visitors the chance to take in the sights, sounds and feel of a South American rainforest, making for the perfect winter escape. So what makes this revolutionary exhibit so special?
The fully enclosed exhibit in the heart of the Zoo is based off the unique habitat of Venezuela’s Canaima National Park, the sixth biggest national park in the world. Just like Western New York, it’s home to its own iconic water feature in Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world.
Fittingly, when entering M&T Bank Rainforest Falls, one of the first things you’ll hear is the roar of its own waterfall, as it cascades down toward a walkable suspension bridge. You also can’t miss the many different sounds of our animal residents, either!
Our three howler monkeys, Tater, Lily and Rio, can often be heard vocalizing on exhibit. The sound is a deep, guttural howl that’s primarily used for communication, mating and defending territory. In the wild, these loud howls can be heard from up to three miles away as they echo through their dense, forested habitats.
While there’s plenty of fascinating sights on the ground in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls, don’t forget to look up, too!
Soaring and perched in the upper echelons of the exhibit are a variety of tropical birds, including roseate spoonbills, cattle egrets and scarlet ibises. These birds have free rein to traverse the habitat as they see fit, and their eye-catching, vibrant colors make them hard to miss.
M&T Bank Rainforest Falls is also a home to conservation. Whether it’s our remarkable success with ocelot breeding or the recent arrival of Tupi the giant anteater and Rio the howler monkey on Species Survival Plan recommendations, everywhere you look in the exhibit is rooted in our dedication to saving wildlife.
You also can’t miss the warmth that hits right as you enter, and for good reason. To help keep the environment and, most importantly, its animal inhabitants healthy, M&T Bank Rainforest Falls acts as a massive greenhouse largely thanks to actuators on its roof. As a result, the heat from the sun is trapped within the building to keep the necessary warm temperatures constant.
In the winter, the habitat maintains a consistent temperature in the 80s. Additionally, a sprinkler system shoots water periodically during a 12-hour cycle, which contributes to keeping the building at the right humidity.
Just like a natural rainforest, M&T Bank Rainforest Falls will be hotter during the summer, reaching temperatures in the 90s. During incredibly warm days, the actuators on the roof can open to allow some air to escape, preventing the exhibit from getting overly sweltering.
Preserving the proper climate within the exhibit is a top priority to ensure the health of its animal inhabitants, who all hail from the rainforests of Venezuela. By mimicking the rainforests of South America, it aligns with the animals’ natural sleep and light cycles, as well as the needed moisture to keep their skin healthy.
Before or after your stroll through the rainforest, you can also adventure across continents and time with our Wild Explorer VR Experience located in the habitat’s lobby area!
Whether it’s saying hello to one of our newest faces in giant anteater Tupi, admiring the tropical greenery throughout the habitat, or simply stopping in for a winter warm up, M&T Bank Rainforest Falls is an experience unlike any other — and it’s waiting for you during your next Buffalo Zoo visit!
