Buttonwood Park Zoo is your nature connection! Come visit one of the finest small zoos in the USA
Buttonwood Park Zoo's page is created and maintained by the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society.
01/21/2025
From New Bedford to Chicago!
Recently, Feta, our female emperor tamarin, traveled to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, IL with a breeding recommendation through the Bearded Emperor Tamarin Species Survival Plan.
She joins Sal, a male emperor tamarin from the Chattanooga Zoo in Tennessee. This collaborative population management effort among institutions within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums aims to grow the emperor tamarin population.
Emperor tamarins are listed as a species of Least Concern with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List. However, the species experiences pressure from deforestation and other human agricultural activities in the Amazon Basin.
📸: Keeper Amanda
01/20/2025
The snow can't keep the fun away, Toe Jam Puppet Band plays today!
Toe Jam Puppet Band will be at the Zoo today for two shows: 10:00 AM and 11:30am. Tickets are $10 after BPZOO Admission, and is cash only.
Can't wait to see you there. While you're here, take in the magical landscape of snow coating the Zoo!
Toe Jam Puppet Band is ON today January 20th 10am & 11:30am inside our classrooms!!
$10 cash per family 🐾
01/19/2025
We get there might be some sadness about the banning of a certain "clock" app. Here's a cute photo of Sylvie, our female Canada lynx, to lift your spirits.
Visits to the Zoo can certainly improve moods! We're open today from 9-4:00pm.
01/17/2025
This week’s golden moment: a light flurry, a morning glow, and a red panda. What a way to start the weekend!
01/15/2025
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Odin the Virginia Opossum, our beloved Ambassador Animal. After a mix up with a local family's pet dog in 2021, 3-month-old Odin was brought to Cape Cod Wildlife Center, who deemed him non-releasable due to the injury to his eye.
From there, he found his forever home at BPZOO. After having his injured eye safely removed, he began participating in school programs and encounters to educate the community about this incredibly misunderstood species.
As a member of the Animal Ambassador team, Odin's vibrant and sweet personality helped thousands of guests to appreciate the vital role that North America's only marsupial plays in our ecosystem. At just shy of 4 years old, Odin reached nearly twice the life expectancy of a wild opossum.
Rest in peace, Odin! Thank you for being an amazing ambassador for your species.
01/14/2025
Nap after breakfast, sign me up! 🦥
Sandy, our Hoffman's two-toed sloth, sleeps more than 18 hours daily. She wakes up to eat, and afterwards, she returns for a post-meal nap.
Ah, the sloth life!
01/13/2025
Snacking is much better when spent with friends.
Did you know there are only 60 bearded emperor tamarins nationwide at 14 Association of Zoos and Aquariums? 6 reside in New Bedford!
Be sure to visit the Rainforest, Rivers, & Reefs building to catch these guys playing, and snacking, with friends!
01/12/2025
We just wrapped up our annual exams for our river otters!
This week, Doughnut, a 14-year-old male river otter, had his annual wellness exam. He received a complete diagnostic workup and his vaccinations. He is in excellent health and recovered nicely.
01/11/2025
Snow days are so much fun! ❄️
01/10/2025
Calling all bowlers and wildlife champions!
Mark your calendars for the return of our fifth annual bowling fundraiser, Fishbowl.
On Sunday, March 2nd, from 12:00-2:00pm, we're taking over Wonder Bowl with one mission: raise wildlife conservation and education funds.
Form your team, show off your best costumes, and compete against the SouthCoast’s finest, all while making a difference for wildlife!
That relaxing "feels like" temperature of 16 degrees when a polar vortex hits.
Atlantic seals are the kings of chill, with layers of blubber that keep them cozy even in freezing waters. While the water might feel icy to us, their skin stays comfy, and their core stays a toasty 100°F.
Talk about cold-weather pros!
01/08/2025
The Toe Jam Puppet Band returns to BPZOO! 🎉
Get ready for music, laughter, dancing, and even bubbles! Starting Monday, January 20, join us for double the fun with shows at 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM.
Tickets: Just $10 (cash only) after BPZOO admission.
Mark your calendars. Toe Jam Puppet Band will bring joy every Monday through September!
We're hosting the American Red Cross for a blood drive on Monday, January 13, from 11-4:00pm. Share your gift of life and bring hope to patients in need.
Our hearts are full from the incredible outpouring of support from the community after Ruth’s passing.
Among the hundreds of messages we received, two heartfelt cards from a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old reminded us of Ruth's profound impact on everyone. Thank you all for your kindness and love during this time.
We’ve also set up a tribute board in our lobby for anyone who’d like to share memories or messages about Ruth. Be sure to stop by on your next visit to BPZOO!
01/04/2025
Trivia question: Which BPZOO bird grows large horns during its mating season?
If you guessed Cabot's tragopan, you win!
Male Cabot's tragopan grow large horns from March to May and then performs an elaborate courtship ritual. They are a vulnerable species with less than 10,000 birds in Southeastern China.
01/03/2025
Tilly and us want to shell-a-brate your generosity!
Seriously, we'd like to thank you so much for all of the generous gifts you gave us during our holiday BPZOO Giving Tree! The gifts will be put to good use with animal enrichments and more!
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Videos
Gotta catch ‘em all! ❄️
Dunkin tries to catch every snowflake during a light flurry on December. Here’s hoping we get some more snow this winter!
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#riverotter #otter #zoo #newbedford #massachusetts
Enrichment boxes hit the spot for Hutch, our male Canada lynx!
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📷 Keeper Angela
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#canadalynx #enrichment #zoo #newbedford #sputhcoast #animal
We could watch these Canada lynx kittens play all day. 😍.
📸: Keeper Angela
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#zoo #canadalynx #newbedford #kittens
BPZOO staff is incredibly touched by the outpouring of sympathy and support since the passing of Ruth. One question keeps emerging- how is Emily?
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#elephant #asianelephant #zoo #newbedford
Rest in peace, Ruthie ❤️
Santa’s coming early 🎅
This weekend, Pictures with Santa at BPZOO! Saturday and Sundays Dec 7, 8, 14, 15 from 10-1:45pm.
Reserve your time slot, bring your own device, and capture a photo with Santa.
Visit:https://www.bpzoo.org/whats-new/pictures-with-santa/
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#santa #zoo #newbedford #southcoast #thingstodowithkids
Being a BPZOO member is “otter” this world!
Save 25% off BPZOO memberships this Black Friday!
Shop in person or use the code FRIYAY25 when shopping online.
As a BPZOO member, enjoy:
· Discounts in the North Woods Gift Store
· Discounts on ride tickets
· Discounts at the Bear’s Den Café.
· Member-only pricing on special events and programs
· Free or discounted admission to more than 100 zoos and aquariums nationwide!
Get your memberships today: https://bpzoo.ticketapp.org/portal/pages/new_bedford_resident_memberships
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#blackfriday #newbedford #zoo #membership #southcoast #otters #otter
This Thanksgiving, Mealworm stuffing, anyone? #thanksgiving #zoo #newbedford
Beaver Moon tonight! 🌕
Starting at 4:29 PM, catch the last supermoon of the year as the moon briefly appears larger and brighter, nearing the closest point of its elliptical orbit.
Why is it called the Beaver Moon? This nickname, rooted in Native American and European traditions, marks the November month when beavers work tirelessly to fortify their dams for winter.
This might explain why our little beaver kits were working so hard this week move wood around their habitat! (A little secret: That wood, could be yours during our upcoming ArtGonewild Auction!)
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#beavermoon #beaver #northamerican #newbedford #southcoast #animal #moon #supermoon
Swimming into the long weekend 🦦
Good Golly Miss Molly! 💖 Let's be like Molly and kick off the week with some energy!
There has been tremendous support for Ruth and our team after the announcement of Ruth’s care plan, and we cannot thank you all enough. ❤️ We wanted to share some insight on what hospice is, and what it looks like for a 66-year-old geriatric Asian elephant.
Hospice does not mean immediate death. By definition, hospice is a program designed to provide palliative care and emotional support to the terminally ill in a home or homelife setting so quality of life is maintained, and family members may be active participants in care. Mike McClure, a world-renowned elephant care professional who is active in Ruth's care plan put it perfectly, “Hospice means that we are accepting that there is no changing how it ends. It’s only a part of the process. And if she has good days, those are to be celebrated, and they give us information on how to decide what’s next. It’s not the end yet, it’s just another step.”
We will continue providing Ruth with all we can to ensure she remains as comfortable as possible. Her care team will continue with pain medication, cold laser treatments, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy and of course – some extra love.
As for Ruth, she remains in good spirits! We will carry on doing all we can to ensure she is well taken care of, and she remains feeling safe in her home. We intently listen to the cues she provides and allow her to navigate us through this process.
As the 12th oldest Zoo in the country, the Buttonwood Park Zoo has delighted and enlightened millions of visitors over its more than a century existence. We are dedicated to preserving the future of wildlife by creating engaging and educational experiences that connect the community to the natural world.
The Buttonwood Park Zoo has proudly been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2003. We are one of only 236 accredited zoos and aquariums across the United States. In order to be accredited, the Zoo undergoes a rigorous inspection by a team of zoological professionals. During this inspection, which occurs every five years, a detailed assessment and review of all aspects of the institutions’ operations occurs in the following categories: animal collection, animal welfare, animal management, veterinary care, governing authority, staff, support organization, finances, physical facilities, safety and security, guest services and our involvement in education, conservation and research. Our accreditation is your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.
The Buttonwood Park Zoo is a local treasure in the community that not only serves to create long-lasting memories, but has become a conservation-based center focused on preserving important species and the habitats they call home. We are open year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Stop in for a visit and see why we are the most visited attraction in the SouthCoast.
Buttonwood Park Zoo's page is created and maintained by the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society.
The Buttonwood Park Zoological Society is partially funded by the Mass Cultural Council.
