Biomes Brings Out the Kid in Everyone by Mark Berger
Since Mark Hall was a teenager, he had an affinity for marine life. He would go to the shores of New England to search, locate, and study such wildlife. It would become his life’s work in learning all there is to know about the area’s inhabitants of the land and sea. By collecting all forms of animals, Hall envisioned a way of educating others, both young and young-at-heart, about the creatures small and large and what they can teach us. That dream became a reality after he opened up Biomes on Post Road (Rte. 1) in North Kingstown, as a way to show people other life forms and their purpose in life. His six-member staff (including Hall) spend their days looking after hundreds of species, from lizards and fish to a tortoise named “Darwin,” who is one of the facility’s most popular attractions. When families, groups, or field trips arrive, Hall ensures they are treated to one interesting experience. “We hold private group functions during the morning for birthday parties, scouting excursions, and school field trips. Many people like touching Darwin, the horseshoe crabs, and seeing all of the different animals we have here. They also have the chance to see unusual animals that migrated here from either the Caribbean or Florida. There is plenty to see and do here,” he said. That’s because Biomes possesses a 12,000 sq.ft. building to house all of the new and unique characters. Those who enter can marvel at the large aquarium tank filled with three different sharks and stingrays. They also have rescued and local marine life on display. Hall estimates that roughly “95 percent” of its collection comes from local waters. He added that they have the largest New England collection of animals in the world. Should some of their guests get too large for their care, their partnership with the New England Aquarium in Boston enables them to pass them on for continued care.
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