Buttonwood Park Zoo Buttonwood Park Zoo News

The zoo's Guinea Hog, Gladys passed away, according to a recent Facebook post by the zoo. She was at the zoo for fourteen years. I usually saw her sleeping, but she was still an important part of the zoo, based on my conversations with keepers. It is sad to learn she's gone.
 
Last edited:
I visited Buttonwood for the first time yesterday and thought I would share some things I learned:

-The bear exhibit is empty, but a keeper told me that the zoo is actively searching for a new bear to move into the enclosure
-There is an entry on their website for nene geese, a species I was very much looking forward to seeing. They have a single nene (0.1.0) that keeps to herself for the most part in the pond with the white tailed deer and other geese. She is difficult to find, but she is there!

A very nice little zoo with nice folks all around.
 
Mary said:
The bear exhibit is empty, but a keeper told me that the zoo is actively searching for a new bear to move into the enclosure
Click to expand...

That's great news! The exhibit has been empty for almost a year, so it is nice to finally have an update on what we can expect going forward.
 
My last visit I saw a big pile of mulch on the right side of the bear exhibit, this might mean they are also planning on expanding it.
 
The bear exhibit is pretty small for the three bears they had in the past Ursula, Bubba, and toby which I personally think is a lot for that exhibit seeing that it’s pretty small, but I think it’s fine if they get three bears again but an expansion would be nice. Buttonwoods Mascot or sign is a Black bear when you enter the zoo or its website so I really hope they continue housing them.
 
Are they still going to hopefully use their master plan? It was the old Directors idea and he left to a different zoo (was it the Bronx zoo?) will the new director still go with the plan because it said they were going to move the bears to where the Cougars and bobcats are. The new director seems like a smart guy, I don't know about him very much but he’s doing a great job.
 
I guess I had the incorrect assumption that the national Fish and Wildlife Service was in constant need of facilities where rescue black and brown bear rescues could be placed. This must not be the case. This zoo probably could only keep a black bear, though.

CharlieZOO said:
Are they still going to hopefully use their master plan? It was the old Directors idea and he left to a different zoo (was it the Bronx zoo?) will the new director still go with the plan because it said they were going to move the bears to where the Cougars and bobcats are. The new director seems like a smart guy, I don't know about him very much but he’s doing a great job.
Click to expand...
The previous director had stated that the plan was very different from most others because it was only suggestions. Many of the things that occured during his time as director contradicted the suggestions, likely for financial reasons. Two examples of that are the location of the red panda enclosure and the use of the Rainforests, Rivers, and Reefs building as predominantly a rainforest exhibit and not entirely focused on aquatics. In contrast, directors and their administrations that form master plans usually try to follow them, at least to some extent. They are never perfect forecast for the zoo's future, but provide a rough idea. New Bedford's plan was supposed to be very loosely interpreted because they never intended to inact it with much accuracy.
 
wild boar said:
I guess I had the incorrect assumption that the national Fish and Wildlife Service was in constant need of facilities where rescue black and brown bear rescues could be placed. This must not be the case. This zoo probably could only keep a black bear, though.


The previous director had stated that the plan was very different from most others because it was only suggestions. Many of the things that occured during his time as director contradicted the suggestions, likely for financial reasons. Two examples of that are the location of the red panda enclosure and the use of the Rainforests, Rivers, and Reefs building as predominantly a rainforest exhibit and not entirely focused on aquatics. In contrast, directors and their administrations that form master plans usually try to follow them, at least to some extent. They are never perfect forecast for the zoo's future, but provide a rough idea. New Bedford's plan was supposed to be very loosely interpreted because they never intended to inact it with much accuracy.
Click to expand...
I talked to a zookeeper and about 2 or 3 years ago about the master plan (while obviously watching the red pandas lol) and she did mention the Grizzly bear and black bear exhibit together kind of like the Memphis zoo, I don’t know if that is a abandoned idea or not if so That will take up a lot of space. I would really love that to happen though :)
 
CharlieZOO said:
I talked to a zookeeper and about 2 or 3 years ago about the master plan (while obviously watching the red pandas lol) and she did mention the Grizzly bear and black bear exhibit together kind of like the Memphis zoo, I don’t know if that is a abandoned idea or not if so That will take up a lot of space. I would really love that to happen though :)
Click to expand...
That is certainly interesting, although not unexpected. Gary Lunsford, the current director, is involved in a few bear programs with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Specifically, he participates in the Bear Taxonomic Advisory Group and the Polar Bear Species Survival Plan. Clearly, he has a fondness for them.
 
[QUOTE
wild boar said:
That is certainly interesting, although not unexpected. Gary Lunsford, the current director, is involved in a few bear programs with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Specifically, he participates in the Bear Taxonomic Advisory Group and the Polar Bear Species Survival Plan. Clearly, he has a fondness for them.
Click to expand...
To be honest the Bears at buttonwood really made some memorable moments from when I was a little kid. I was so sad to hear the news that the last bear Toby died :(
 
Their always seemed need for baby orphan bears. Quite odd? Where was american bkack bear, Sluth woukd be nice. Japnese Macack would work nice. Zoo is predator heavy cats, coyote, smaller predarors.
 
 
Two-year-old fennec fox Bitti is now at the Bronx Zoo, according to a post on the Buttonwood Park Zoo Facebook page. He was not on-exhibit, but used in the Education Department.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top