Step inside Como’s Tropical Encounters — a lush, living rainforest right here in Minnesota. This immersive exhibit transports you to the heart of Central and South America, where vibrant plants, free-roaming animals, and cascading water create an authentic neo-tropical experience.
Located on the south end of the Visitor Center, Tropical Encounters is the first exhibit at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory to blend the plant and animal worlds into one breathtaking environment. Journey alongside our “field researchers” as you explore the complex relationships between rainforest species and the fragile ecosystem they call home.
Meet some of the rainforest’s most fascinating residents — from freshwater stingrays, turtles, frogs, and colorful fish to free-flying birds, a green anaconda, and Chloe the sloth, our beloved canopy dweller. Surrounding them is a dense world of rainforest flora, including kapok, strangler fig, annatto, mahogany, peach palm, and balsa trees.
At the heart of the exhibit lies a fallen “canopy giant,” a massive rainforest tree recreated by Bios, Inc. of Bainbridge Island, Washington. Normally towering 100 feet overhead, its branches—now at eye level—are alive with orchids, bromeliads, and other epiphytes. This light-filled gap in the forest teems with vines and seedlings, symbolizing renewal and the rainforest’s remarkable ability to regenerate.
You’ll also discover a rainforest farm, demonstrating how indigenous communities and sustainable agriculture help preserve both the forest and the global crops we depend on—like coffee, cocoa, bananas, avocados, and papayas. Learn how rainforest plants provide not just food and shelter, but also rubber, bamboo, dyes, and medicines that benefit people around the world.
Though tropical rainforests cover less than 6% of Earth’s surface, they are home to over half of the world’s species and generate about 40% of the planet’s oxygen. Yet, these critical habitats face growing threats from deforestation and habitat loss. Tropical Encounters reminds us how deeply connected we are to these forests—and how vital it is to protect them for generations to come.
