Como Park and Zoo

My mom, niece and my children recently visited Como Zoo in St. Paul, having been there before we all knew what we were likely to see, that is the sadness in each animal's eye. We went to the Primates building and saw the Spider Monkeys in their fake environment of cement trees, stagnant air, cement ground and dirty plexi-glass sky. They looked so completely bored, nothing at all like the active, swinging social ones you see on nature programs. At one point a particular monkey came over to the glass and looked at us then pressed his hand against the glass and put his head down. The feeling conveyed was that of utter hopelessness. It was as if he sensed that we understood and there was an unspoken communication. Not long after, another monkey slowly approached and put her arm around the first and lay her head upon him in a comforting gesture. We all felt very overwhelmed with sadness for these sweet creatures. The other "exhibits" in the Primates building are the same thing, a room... Read more

This is the saddest little zoo that I have ever visited. The polar bears are insane. One of them is stuck in a repetitive cycle of backward flips in the pool, and the other one is trapped in a repetitive pace along the lower concrete wall. That one also had an open sore on its back about 5" in diameter. There is a plan to improve their living space during the next three years, but it will have been too late for these bears. The tiger has worn a path in his cage from pacing up the hill, down the hill. That's all it does. These animals are insane. The rest of the animals just lie around looking bored. No action. Don't encourage this type of behavior. Go somewhere else.

First of all, it's COMO park and COMO zoo, not "cosmo." Como park is huge, with rolling hills, a nearby public pool, small carnival rides, a great picnic area, walking trails, a small lake, and a neat pavilion. It's also home to the Como Park Conservatory, an incredible greenhouse full of tropical and native trees, plants, flowers, and vegetables; and also a Japanese garden with a selection of beautiful bonsai trees. The original 1911 (?) state fair merry-go-round was moved here a few years ago, into its own building, to preserve it from throngs of fairgoers. For 2 bucks you can ride it and it's one of the best things in St. Paul, with a real calliope and wooden horses. The zoo is free, and it's better than that admission price might indicate... although the animals really seem couped up. They've got the standard zoo animals... monkeys and bears and seals and otters and lions, etc. There's a couple of neat wolves. Como park and Como zoo are treasures of the city.