Built in 1996, the Marco Polo Trail was one of the first in the country
to truly embrace the 'biopark' concept -the idea of combining cultural,
historical and zoological experiences. The Marco Polo Trail is a multifaceted
exhibit tracing a three-year journey of explorer Marco Polo through Asia.
To give visitors a sense of the culture and history of the era, the Zoo
recreated scenes from Marco Polo's journey including a Venetian plaza, Bedouin
tent and the hull of a 13th century trading vessel. Along the trail through
the 2.5-acre exhibit, visitors encounter animals native to the countries
Marco Polo visited. Three habitats are featured - the Dromedary
camel, the 'ship of the desert'; the elusive snow
leopard, an endangered species hunted almost to extinction; and the
moon bear, also known as the Himalayan
or Asian black bear.
![[Marco Polo exhibit]](images/mpexhibit.jpg)
Marco
Polo Exhibit
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Courtyard
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Trail
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*Roger
Williams Park Zoo is a participant in the Species Survival Program,
a cooperative effort by zoos to manage the population of rare and
endangered animals. Read more.
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Australasia
| Conservation Corner | Madagascar |
Marco Polo Trail | North
America | Plains of Africa | Tropical
America
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