This is a great family activity or couple/single activity. This Zoo seams to provide good spaces for their animals and genuinely seams to care about the wellbeing of each resident read more

This isn't the biggest zoo and it's not the best zoo... but given it's size, I think it hits all of the things you'd want from a zoo. Animals from all over the world, check. Indoor and outdoor exhibits, check. Play areas for the kids, check. Food stands, check. Etc., etc., etc. I like our little zoo and try to make a trip once a year. I prefer the winter, because there are less people which allows me to take pictures at a more relaxed pace. It also makes me appreciate the warmth of the rainforest area that much more. read more

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I liked all the animals and the reptiles and the Komodo dragon. -reviewed by a 6 year old read more

The Buffalo Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Got to visit the zoo for the first time in a few years yesterday and I was bursting with joy! The Buffalo Zoo was a staple of my childhood and I'm happy to see all the improvements they've made over the years. I think they're doing a great job with COVID procedures. They have staff posted throughout the zoo and for more sought-after areas (currently the baby lion cubs), they're doing a line system so that everyone has a turn to see and there's no crowding. I hope they keep this post-pandemic because I preferred it to everyone packing together to look. We spent about two hours here which I'd say is an adequate amount of time. They have so many different animals here and while they don't have some "classic" wild animals like elephants anymore, it's still a good time. I'm knocking a star off because parking is really brutal. Their lot is almost always full and on the weekends it can be nearly impossible to find street parking close by. We lucked out with a close-ish spot this time around. Everyone who visits Buffalo should come to our historic zoo! read more

The Buffalo Zoo - Just taking a dip! - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I only have the Seneca Zoo here in Rochester to compare this zoo to, but I thought it was a great visit. Lots of animals, and it was nice to see some animals not behind a fence vs at Seneca Zoo they would be. It's a great opportunity to get some good pictures in. The only complaint I have is while paying the parking fee, the gentleman told us, "next time, you can only pay cash inside." I personally did not see any signs or was notified of this. I found him to come across a bit rude. Other than that, I'd gladly make the hour drive from Rochester to Buffalo and visit this zoo again. read more

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Decent zoo. Animals seem well cared for. Zone is clean. Nothing particularly unique in the collection but fairly large. Not a destination zoo but not bad if in area. read more

We had a wonder full time here. The animals were active. kids were excited to see commodo dragon, gorilla, lioness up close. read more

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It's was a perfect day for the zoo so I took my Mom. I don't like that you have to pay to park. 5.00 for first 2 hours and 2 an hour after that. You have to buy the tickets on line ahead of time so it's never overcrowded The tickets cost us almost 15 each which is a little high especially as that's the senior price. I really enjoyed everything and we saw a lot of animal's which was awesome. The zoo seems to get nicer every time I go and has become a much better home for the animals there. My suggestion would be to put in more signs to direct you to where the animals are located. Normally I would just wander till I saw them all but my Mom is 91 and I wanted more direct routes. They also don't give out maps now which I would have liked. You can use your phone to look at a map but it's difficult to follow in that size. read more

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I've been putting off revisiting this zoo because as an adult, I've been to so many zoos around the country and compared to those, I knew ours kept looking more abusive to the animals. Heartless things aside, THERE ARE NO LABELS WITH ANIMALS NAMES OR GENDERS AND BACKSTORY/MARKINGS NOTHING. This really feels wrong because you can't identify with any of the individual animals and they seem more like display items and not well loved and respected creatures. The large animal exhibits are still cramped and many times there's nowhere for the animals to hide from people. Especially the gorillas who are oogled all day long from 360 angles and look downright miserable/angry. The giraffes surely should have some sort of adverse side effect from being housed so close to an intersection and a bunch of electrical boxes on display behind them. And I'm not sure that bats appreciate being housed in an environment so loud and bright. Seeing the zoo from a historical angle, this is something that would be valuable to preserve as how inhumane humans used to keep animals but the zoo continues to house animals in these inhumane enclosures. The reptile house was the only place I didn't have any beef with, besides the fact that the cockroach exhibit is gone. I'm so glad the elephants are gone and I'm sure they are too. read more

The Buffalo Zoo - Sad gorilla - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Got through the zoo in 2 hours. We caught two of the shows, the 5 minute sea lion training which was cute, and the meerkat feeding which was 2 minutes. For being a Saturday, I was surprised there weren't more shows. There's a good variety of animals and I liked that many of the exhibits were interactive. Good mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits. Ice cream- only comes in one size which was huge! I recommend checking out if you're in the area, but agree with others that there are some opportunities to update some of the exhibits. read more

Come prepared to empty your wallet. The entry fee is high and parking is also very expensive, particularly for special events.

We chose a visit at this zoo during a weekend stay. It was actually quite enjoyable. The statues that decorate the grounds provided plenty of picture opportunities and the animals were well described. Although this zoo is not too large, it does provide plenty of walking and milling about. We spent about 3 hours enjoying the sights and were not disappointed with our experience. The zoo in NYC is larger, but much more unruly and the artwork would not last a NY-Minute. It was the calmness and relaxing atmosphere that made this visit well worth the time. read more

Visiting a zoo is one of my favorite activities to do while on vacation and I certainly enjoy coming to see all the animals in my hometown zoo.You can just gaze at these amazing and beautiful creatures for hours.I enjoy the gorillas especially with their new borns, the tigers,rhinos and Luna the polar bear.The rainforest falls is really amazing, and it makes you feel like your really there. They have a carousel,train ride for kids and when your hunger hits a cafe.I really enjoy attending the Wines in the Wild event here in July, its always a fun time and the money goes to the animals. read more

The Buffalo Zoo - The Buffalo Zoo, Rainforest Falls - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Came here while waiting for my passport to be renewed and can say I was pleasantly surprised. The zoo is on the larger end but you can cover it easily in a few hours if you navigate according to your interests. read more

Every visit to the zoo never fails to disappoint. Especially a visit during the off season in winter.. free parking and $5 admission? Can't beat it! I'm not sure why.. but the animals appear to be more active when it's cold and there's less of a crowd. I've gone a few times this winter and last winter and the photos I get are AMAZING! I have posted some below. The animals "show off" and love to "talk." I thought it would be miserable going in the 10 degree weather.. however with the rainforest house, gorilla house, and giraffe house we were able to break up the time outside. It was totally tolerable, and did not feel as cold as it supposedly was. Personally, I'd rather come when there is less of a crowd. You get to see more, take your time, and enjoy the exhibits. Plus you save some money! read more

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There is so much to see and do at the Buffalo Zoo.So many wonderful animals to see, giraffes, tigers, gorillas and everyone's favorite Luna the polar bear.The rainforest falls is a cool exhibit with wonderful species.There is a carousel and kids train ride to enjoy, plus if you get hungry there is a Cafe.The wines in the wild event in the summer is always a fun event to attend and give support to the zoo, lots of food, wine and of course the amazing animals to enjoy. read more

The Buffalo Zoo - The Buffalo Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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We love the zoo. As a family of four with two small kids we became members. The zoo is small but easy to walk around with lots of animals to see. We bought a membership for ~$120 for the four of us PLUS a free adult every time we go. We love this feature. Grandma wants to meet us? Zoo. Want to catch up with a friend? Zoo. We love going on rainy, cold, less than desirable days since the animals are usually more active and we get the zoo to ourselves. It's not nearly as big or nice as Columbus or Cleveland but it's great for kids and families. They've done some major improvements so if you haven't been in a few years definitely give the zoo another shot! read more

The Buffalo zoo is great for a afternoon with the kids to see all the different animals. I did give it a 3 star because of the lack of amount of animals here. No elephants anymore and a lot of the exhibits where empty or not being used. We went around 10:30am so I would have assumed everything would have been out! A lot of the stands where also closed and I am guessing mostly because of the guidelines. My favorite part of the day was seeing the baby lion cubs!!! Adorable of course but they did have a line to get to see them so people weren't crowed around the area. They had big blue dots on the ground and zoo employees managing the area to move the process along which was nice. I have been to a lot of zoos as I travel we like to frequent them. That is another reason as why my score was low as comparative to others they don't have the interactions other have either. Example like feeding the giraffes or sea lion shows etc... read more

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The Buffalo Zoo is a very approachable zoo that is just the right size for an afternoon. Joining as a member is probably your best value for admission as it provides admission, parking, and tokens for the carousel/train. Speaking of the train, its not really a train but rather an overgrown and dressed up lawn mower with some carts in tow. This needs to be replaced. As for the carousel, there is now accompanying band organ. One would think that with band organs and carousels having been made locally that they would wish to include this, not so. The best exhibit is the rainforest exhibition. It does a nice job of simulating a rainforest but without all of those pesky bugs. This is an especially nice place to hang out with the children when the colder weather is upon us. The reptile house which was built by Marlin Perkins of "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" fame has been recently renovated. This is the big problem: nobody seems to know anything. The docents seem to be less educated with regard to the animals than my child. Shows and feeding times and places seem to change at random with park staff not being kept up to date as to what is happening when. A simple call for information as to what is happening that day is usually met with an "I don't know", "that's what used to happen", or some other weak and unhelpful response. read more

If you love animals this is the place to go...you can go rain, shine, snow? Of course...animals are inside and outside. Going early is the best time as later in the day the animals tend to get tired. Spend a day with family enjoying time together. read more

Haven't been to the Buffalo years in about 6 years. Was so disappointed! 1 pillar bear, tigers weren't out, only giraffes, no other bears, no otters or sea lions and what happened to our elephants? read more

The saddest zoo. half the exhibits were closed, playground was closed, merry go round was closed, and more than half the exhibits were closed. The remaining exhibits were just depressing. I'm usually pretty kind in my reviews but we will not be back and honesty this is the saddest zoo to visit. I have seen it slowly decline over the years and it's to the point where they should consider the well being of the animals. You won't get your money's worth here. You just feel bad for the animals because they are in tiny concrete exhibits pacing back and forth. read more

The Buffalo Zoo - Giraffes in their tiny exhibit - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

We visited the zoo yesterday for the first time in a few years and took our three year old son. We were able to purchase tickets in advance, which I thought was convenient. We appreciated the safety measures they took for Covid, requiring masks indoors, enforcing social distancing, and providing hand sanitizer throughout the park. Some attractions were closed because of Covid like the train ride, park, and bone zone which was a little sad because I think with the proper oversight, could be properly maintained. The animals looked happy and healthy and they had a lot of popular animals which kids could recognize - your gorillas, giraffe, zebra, lions (and Cubs ), polar bear as well as some other not-so-well-known animals. We all learned a lot and left happy. read more

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My review is for the Buffalo Zoo Lights experience and not a general trip to the zoo. It was cold as you know what outside the night we attended, and the animals were likely warm inside their facilities laughing at us freezing our butts off in the name of entertaining our children. My husband and I ventured off to the Buffalo Zoo Lights with our 5- and 4-year-olds on one of the coldest days in Buffalo. (It was so cold outside, I contemplated leaving everyone and heading home.) Thankfully, I made the decision to pre-pay for our Zoo Lights tickets that saved us additional time waiting around to pay outside (and freeze) so we can begin walking around the property to see the lights (and freeze). When we first arrived, we quickly went to the fire pit to collect our souls that had been snatched by the wind. From there, we followed some of the lights to an enclosed area where Santa and Mrs. Claus were supposed to be. Well, I guess they were enjoying a conversation elsewhere, because it took them quite some time (probably 30 mins if I had to guess) to get there. We decided not to wait around and took a cold stroll around to look at the lights. There were trees and branches wrapped in lights, a giant Rudolph, and a huge Frosty the Snowman. There was a second fire pit for people to make s'mores you got from a nearby food truck. (Everything was in addition to the price of admission.) Oddly enough, my kids didn't want to stay around the fire and decided to run around in the cold wind just because. I, however, got a hot chocolate that helped me stay alive, because I felt like an icy death was going to claim my life -- and we had only been there for 20-something minutes at that point. From there, we looked at some other lights, went back to see if Santa and the Mrs. were in the enclosed space, saw they were and the huge line, and started walking back to the entrance. Luckily, we timed seeing the tree lighting (a "1,2,3, yay" sort of thing) before seeing Anna and Elsa from "Frozen" smiling and skipping around with no winter coats on. We warmed ourselves up by the fire, went through the souvenir spot, got warm, and then headed to the car. I don't even know if my kids wanted to stay around for more, but I was ready to get out of the cold (LOL). As a whole, the Buffalo Zoo Lights was pretty. I don't think many people with smaller kids will be staying out now that the weather is so disrespectful, but kuddos to you if you can. The event is small enough to walk and see everything in 15 minutes, so that could be good or bad depending on how you feel about it. My biggest critique is that I wish there was more to see and more enclosed spots for people to warm up. read more

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We recently visited Buffalo Zoo this fall. I hadn't been there since I had a membership back in 2006. It is still basically the same with a few updates. Overall, this is a nice larger zoo with much to see compared to Seneca Park Zoo. We had a good time and felt like we will return again soon. They also follow great safety precautions with cleaning stations, sanitizer, and take temps at the doors. read more

very disappointing, feels run down, weeds overgrown lots of money spent on "zoomation" lanterns but the place looked bad. almost embarrassing for our guests. read more

The Buffalo Zoo - Saved the day - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Horrible, disappointing and embarrassing. Took out of state family there yesterday. Run down, foliage overgrown. Lack of live animals sad.. read more

As one reviewer posted about the lone Polar Bear repeating the same backflip and swim over and over. Not impressed with zoo. Lone Gorilla,sad... read more

I had a membership here for a couple of years but stopped paying for it because I moved to South Buffalo. I used to love walking around the zoo and just watching all the animals. They have some pretty good events here that I've been to and are constantly fundraising to better the zoo. Since new management took over a few years ago the zoo has really made some nice improvements and the enclosures are much better for the animals. read more

This isn't the Buffalo Crew which is a rowing club. Nor is it the Buffalo Sue which is a girl I know. Nor the Buffalo Sues which is a documentary about how people in Buffalo tend to bring lawsuits against each other. It's also not the Buffalo Blue which is a type of local cheese. And the Buffalo Gnu, he lives here but he's not the name of this place. The Buffalo Boo is what you hear from the crowd whenever the Bills lose. And the Buffalo Screw, well, you don't want to know about that one. No, this is none of those things. It's a zoo, people. A zoo. I don't like zoos. It is wonderful to see all the exotic and incredible and adorable animals, but it is heartbreaking to know they are in captivity... I have a huge problem with the way humans treat animals in general, and the way we interact with them, enslave them, use them, produce and slaughter them, imprison them for entertainment purposes... and for moneymaking purposes. So the less I say about the concept of zoos, the better. But let's just say that as far as zoos goo, this is one of the most compact, cheap, easy to navigate, enjoyable, lovely and fun zoos that I have ever been to and anyone who likes zoos, should come here. I once rode a camel here, and I loved every minute of being in this zoo when I was younger, except for the guilt of participating in a place that keeps animals locked up for entertainment purposes. read more

The Buffalo Zoo - You can see these buffalo from outside the zoo in Delaware park - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

The Buffalo Zoo is a great place to go, no matter if you have your family with you, a companion, or just your animal loving self. I came yesterday with my boyfriend because we heard admission is $5 each in January and February. Plus, I adore red pandas and heard they had just acquired one named Scout. I was practically dragging my boyfriend by his jacket sleeve all over trying to find the little guy (spoiler alert: we found him and he's precious!) On the was we visited the Arctic exhibit, which is a very nice space for animals of the tundra. They all seemed really happy, especially the Arctic foxes, because the weather was to their liking (it was 20 degrees when we went). I didn't know how many updates they'd done since last year, so I was impressed. First of all, the have five otters now instead of just two. Hopefully they all have Harry Potter names like Harry and Hermione. The new babies are all sweet too, especially the lion cub. They also had an animal meet and greet in the reptile house which I found to be exciting and informative. The zoo keepers all know their stuff and are happy to tell visitors about new discoveries and conservation methods. For example, we discovered that gila monster venom is being used to treat cancer. How cool is that? The Buffalo Zoo is improving. I know our elephant house is rated among the worst in the country but I am sure that won't be the case for long. It's full of caring staff and was still busy even on a frigid day. And the other animals were out and seemed content, which is not always the case at some zoos. I also like that you don't have to walk far without seeing something special, which really helps now that I'm disabled. I definitely love this place and will continue to visit for many more years to come. read more

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I am not the biggest zoo fan, I always feel so sorry for the animals caged up as they are. Having said that, I went to the Buffalo Zoo today for a few reasons: The Article in the Buffalo news about the baby polar bear (female) The news that there is another baby polar bear coming soon (male) The nice weather today The not too crowded parking lot A Free Parking ticket I had Some of my earliest memories are of the Buffalo Zoo. Specifically the elephants in their old location, these huge animals were amazing to me (and still are). I remember the old polar bear area, back when we had the adults still. The giraffes were also there, a marvelous sight against the sky. There was a huge reptile building when I was small as well. (There may still be, but I did not see it today). All these snakes in cage after cage. Then you could still drive all around Delaware Park too. This visit today was my first to this zoo in many years. They have redone it very well, and it was a pleasure. I happened to be there when the giraffes were being fed, feeding time is always fun. I was pleased to see the gorillas in a large space, they looked content enough there. I did not see the polar bear today, I think I had the wrong time, but I will save that for another day. It is clear to me the director of the zoo knows what she is doing, and its great for the animals, the people and Buffalo. I think since humans have learned more about the animals we have gotten better at the whole zoo ting, and they are better treated now. I am happy to say this. However, I have been to zoos in South Africa and Asia that put ours to shame. They have huge open environments, they ask that you not wear perfumes and the like (confusing for the animals), they are often also real teaching environments, where children and adults alike learn about animal conservation and why its so important for the planet. I'd like to see more of that here at our zoo too. read more

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The irony in visiting a zoo on Independence Day weekend is hopefully lost on the animals here. However, that didn't seem to be the case with the Japanese macaques as they seemed to grasp it all quite fully behind the confines of their fenced cage. One of them cast me a very intimidating look and I had no good answer regarding their lack of independence as I sheepishly walked away. I love the animals in zoos -- and this zoo is no exception -- but I cringe at zoos that keep large animals -- such as gorillas, elephants, tigers, and giraffes -- even though the purpose is, arguably, to protect the species or specific animals that require attention. That's one reason, for example, that I don't understand why bison are still on display here. These critters look so worn out and are much smaller compared to the average healthy bison on large farms or the environs of Yellowstone. Their large pen is adjacent to street parking so it seems an even greater insult to the poor beasts. This small zoo is one of the oldest in the country but it seems to be pulling a hill as it tries to keep up in the 21st century. There are highlights like the rainforest but zoo inhabitants seem to be begging for much larger quarters. read more

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I would 5 star this zoo if the travel path was better marked for first time visitors, or the online map was interactive. Wonderful variety of animals, well kept and clean. Well worth the ticket. 3 adults and we spent 2 hours there. Highlight of the day was the Polar Bear who entertains of his own accord! read more

Great zoo for the price. Really enjoyed our time here. Very friendly staff. Concession and souvenirs where pricey.

So many exhibits with no animals. The animals we did see looked sad, and anxious. The polar bear was breathing hard because of the weather. The snow fox running in circles. And it's not even that hot out yet. Temps in upper 60s, how will it be when we hit 80s and90s?!? Many animals pacing back and forth. These animals need bigger areas in which to run and play. I also saw no water left out for these animals to drink. I'm overwhelmed with sadness for the animals here. I know this is the 3rd oldest zoo in America, maybe it's time we move the zoo to another place where the animals can have more space. We had to move the elephants for just that reason a few years ago. I cant visit here again it's just heart breaking. So before you fork over $15 to get in plus parking think of how sad these animals are. read more

The Buffalo Zoo - Fox at Buffalo running in circles due to anxiety. You can see the path he has run hour after hour. Incredibly sad! - Zoos Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I hate leaving negative reviews but sometimes it can't be avoided. This visit cost my family $47.50 for three adults and one child. Taking them to a movie would have been more entertaining and engaging. Many of the animals were not able to be seen as they were not in their enclosures. Sure it was 2pm but it was only 74 degrees. It was a gorgeous day. The place is clean and easy to navigate but the selection and animals is quite disappointing. The Erie Zoo is far better and for a whole lot less money. It only took us a couple hours to "see" everything and yes that is sarcasm. Buffalo needs to update and expand their zoo. I'm sure back in the day, it was something to see. But today, it was nothing but a long walk of disappointment. read more

Okay. How could you NOT like the zoo? Well, it's evolved into more of an animal themed adventure park. First you are herded into a line to await one of several pay booths with rather unfriendly employees. There were imho some horrifying electronic dinosaurs around the premises that scared the daylights out of me. Perhaps little children are not as cowardly as me. I did not see the point of them nor appreciate them. In another section, there were some farm animals in a spotlessly clean area that had some outstanding signage in the "barn". The usual way finding signage left much to be desired, not very creative, not large enough and not displayed in sensible pathways. There was a lot of focus on gimmicks inside some of the buildings, interactive displays that didn't have a lot to do with the zoo. The goats were in a particularly shabby outdoor area, not sure if they will be getting an update soon. There was the carousel as always with a high ticket price to ride. I don't know how families can afford to attend the zoo. I'd rather enjoy a day at Delaware Park than the reinvented Buffalo Zoo. read more

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The zoo itself is easily 5 stars at its price point, but parking is a nightmare on a busy day. The lot is unmanned, and once you get in you can't get out again without purchasing a token, resulting in a continuous stream of newcomers pouring in and circling the parking lot in search of a spot like a shark stalking prey. I was very relieved when I finally slipped into a spot. The fact that I'm still giving the zoo four stars should give you an idea of how much we enjoyed the zoo itself. Seriously, it had to work its way back up from one. The first exhibit we saw was the sea lion. It has a large enclosure with a bridge and several viewing areas, including an underwater viewing area with two large windows. I think they could comfortably add at least one more sea lion. The existing sea lion would appreciate the company, and visitors would appreciate more viewing opportunities. The river otters have a really nice sized enclosure as well relative to other zoos and aquariums. The lion enclosure, and the enclosure occupied by the polar bear in the morning and the tiger in the afternoon have multiple viewing areas, including indoor and outdoor. Most other exhibits similarly allowed the possibility of close, unobstructed views. Even the traditionally maligned hyena received the glass window treatment. He came right up to my son. I've never seen one up close before. Very cool. Other highlights include the gorillas, meercats and rainforest exhibit. You can cross a bridge next to a waterfall and watch capybara swim in the water, or ascend the stairs and get face to face with exotic birds and small primates playing in trees. There's also an ocelot enclosure, and bats. We saw the snow leopard Grace when she was a cub at Zoo Boise. Small world! read more

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My wife and I make it a point to get out to the zoo every so often, usually 2-3 times a year I'd estimate. We've been to a number of them all around the North East and honestly the Buffalo one stands up pretty well, and in my opinion only trails Toronto and Cleveland. In my opinion you come for the polar bears and stay for the otters! But also stay for the polar bears! read more

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