Buttonwood Park Zoo Buttonwood Park Zoo News

wild boar said:
Several red-breasted geese goslings have hatched. Chicks (of various species) hatching at the Buttonwood Park Zoo is pretty frequent, but there usually aren't posts that reveal this.

Sunday scaries got us like… Did you know? Red breasted geese thought of as the one of the most attractive species of geese. They are often found in Arctic Russia and small portions of Europe. In the wild, red-breasted geese migrate almost 3,700 miles to their winter habitats along the Black Sea. Sadly, conservation modelling suggests that 67% of the habitat for this species could be lost by the year 2070. Keeper Kristy #conservation #zoolife #wildlife #bpzoo #redbreastedgeese #redbreastedgoose #connectinspireprotect #animals #wildlifeonearth | Buttonwood Park Zoo | Buttonwood Park Zoo · 原声
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On May 5th, the zoo announced they transferred (0.0.7) red-breasted geese that hatched in summer 2023 to multiple unspecified facilities.

Buttonwood Park Zoo
 
I visited the zoo today, and given that there's been some uncertainty on here about the collection lately, I figured I'd provide a partial list of species.

Waterfowl
Long-time a highlight of the zoo, Buttonwood Park Zoo still has an extensive waterfowl collection. Individuals which are likely wild (i.e., mallards and Canadian goose) are excluded from this list. Throughout the zoo, I saw a total of 24 waterfowl species. Yes, this is a slight decline from the zoo's peak, but still a number of really interesting species to be seen.

  • Within the bison/deer/waterfowl exhibit, I saw 11 species: Coscoroba swan, redhead, blue-winged goose, emperor goose, swan goose, Magellan goose, Australian wood duck, Ross' goose, pink-footed goose, North American wood duck, northern pintail.
  • Within the mixed-species exhibit outside Rainforest, Rivers, and Reefs, I saw an additional 5 species: Baikal teal, Argentine ruddy duck, yellow-billed pintail, Puna teal, silver teal.
  • In the beaver exhibit, I saw an additional 8 species: hooded merganser, bufflehead, smew, scaly-sided merganser, Philippine duck, North American ruddy duck, Baer's pochard, marbled teal (Also second pairs of both Ross' goose and Australian wood duck).
Rainforest
There has certainly been a large decline in this building's bird collection since it first opened! When this building opened, the exhibit was notable for its really interesting and dynamic mixed-species exhibits, while today the exhibits are much more primate-focused. I still enjoy seeing the impressive primate collection, but it's a shame there aren't as many birds anymore. I saw the following animals today, excluding fish:
  • First Exhibit: Bolivian Grey Titi Monkey (at least six individuals- two of which were in a separate outdoor exhibit), Pygmy Marmoset (three individuals seen- one of which is tailless), Yellow-footed Tortoise (one individual seen), Sora Rail (one individual seen)
  • Second Exhibit: Bearded Emperor Tamarin (at least seven seen!), Northern Two-toed Sloth (two seen in this exhibit), Caiman Lizard (at least two individuals seen)
  • Third Exhibit: Sun Conure (one individual seen), Guira Cuckoo (one individual seen), Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin (one individual seen), Nancy Ma's Night Monkey (two individuals seen), Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle (two individuals seen), Northern Two-toed Sloth (one seen in this exhibit)
  • Last Exhibit: Callimico (two individuals seen)
In addition to a number of bird losses, it appears as though cottontop tamarins are no longer displayed either.

One other thing I noticed today- at some point since my list visit in 2021, the bobcat exhibit has been renovated, receiving some new climbing structures.
 
Thanks for the update @Neil chace and how was the rest of the zoo?

I know that Buttonwood Park has usually been in the news in regards to their remaining two Asian Elephants, but any updates there? Honestly, those two should have been moved years ago, but now that they are elderly it makes sense to let them live out their lives in familiar surroundings without the potentially harmful stress of transporting them elsewhere.
 
snowleopard said:
Thanks for the update @Neil chace and how was the rest of the zoo?
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The zoo is still excellent per usual. Yes, it is a shame that the indoor rainforest exhibits are looking a little sparse today, however it is still a treat to have six species of small monkeys on display, including some in very large groups (seven emperor tamarins!). There are two new black bears as well, who are absolutely adorable, and a little under a year and a half at this point. Two new seals were recently added from New York Aquarium too, which was neat to see as I visited the aquarium in 2023. I think the new director is much more of a mammal guy than a bird guy, but hopefully there will be some more birds on exhibit in the Rainforest in the future too, as that's the one place which appears to be lacking these days. That said, the zoo's waterfowl collection remains impressive, and the zoo's best exhibit has to be its half-acre plus main exhibit featuring two American bison, five white-tailed deer, two sandhill cranes, and a variety of waterfowl from around the world. The exhibit is simple, but well done, and takes advantage of a natural brook running through the zoo. After today, I think I'd consider this to be the single best exhibit in any New England zoo:
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I was glad to see some new climbing structures in the bobcat exhibit as well since it makes them much more visible to visitors, while the Buttonwood Farm, which takes up a sizeable portion of the zoo, is under construction to renovate into an Animal Ambassador Building- the horses are the only farm animals left on display, and in the near future hopefully visitors will be able to see more wild animals due to the ambassador exhibits. I know on my 2021 visit I remember a staff member mentioning that the zoo didn't have the facilities to house many ambassador reptiles, something which the new building will hopefully change given how so many reptile species make excellent ambassador animals.

snowleopard said:
I know that Buttonwood Park has usually been in the news in regards to their remaining two Asian Elephants, but any updates there? Honestly, those two should have been moved years ago, but now that they are elderly it makes sense to let them live out their lives in familiar surroundings without the potentially harmful stress of transporting them elsewhere.
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Emily and Ruth are both still at the zoo, and Ruth at this point ranks as either the oldest or second oldest elephant in a US zoo, being born in 1958. Emily is only a few years younger, born in 1964. Both elephants had rough upbringings, as Emily was housed alone for her first eighteen years at the zoo (until 1986), whereas Ruth was previously abused by a private older who later abandoned her in a trailer on the side of the road. Given these developmental abnormalities, as neither elephant has ever known a natural social structure, I don't think moving them elsewhere would've ever been a responsible choice, especially given that at least one of them has a history of not getting along with other elephants. Had Emily and Ruth been sent to a different zoo and/or sanctuary, it would've likely proven difficult to integrate them with a herd, while breaking the close bond that they have with their caretakers.

Furthermore, despite the zoo publicly stating these will be their last-ever elephants, the zoo even expanded the exhibit a handful of years back in order to ensure that the elephants live in the best possible conditions for the remainder of their lives, in a 0.8-acre exhibit which provides multiple shade structures, a large pool, and live grass. Yes, the exhibit isn't as large as Rosamond Gifford and Cleveland, or even Roger Williams and Toledo. However, for two elderly elephants with arthritis, a large exhibit may not be in their best interests anyways. It will be a sad day when Buttonwood Park Zoo no longer keeps elephants, however in the long run that'll be the correct decision, and the elephant exhibit's expansion was designed to allow a seamless transition into a future home of rhinos, although I don't know if that plan still stands.
 
Neil chace said:
I visited the zoo today, and given that there's been some uncertainty on here about the collection lately, I figured I'd provide a partial list of species.

Waterfowl
Long-time a highlight of the zoo, Buttonwood Park Zoo still has an extensive waterfowl collection. Individuals which are likely wild (i.e., mallards and Canadian goose) are excluded from this list. Throughout the zoo, I saw a total of 24 waterfowl species. Yes, this is a slight decline from the zoo's peak, but still a number of really interesting species to be seen.

  • Within the bison/deer/waterfowl exhibit, I saw 11 species: Coscoroba swan, redhead, blue-winged goose, emperor goose, swan goose, Magellan goose, Australian wood duck, Ross' goose, pink-footed goose, North American wood duck, northern pintail.
  • Within the mixed-species exhibit outside Rainforest, Rivers, and Reefs, I saw an additional 5 species: Baikal teal, Argentine ruddy duck, yellow-billed pintail, Puna teal, silver teal.
  • In the beaver exhibit, I saw an additional 8 species: hooded merganser, bufflehead, smew, scaly-sided merganser, Philippine duck, North American ruddy duck, Baer's pochard, marbled teal (Also second pairs of both Ross' goose and Australian wood duck).
Rainforest
There has certainly been a large decline in this building's bird collection since it first opened! When this building opened, the exhibit was notable for its really interesting and dynamic mixed-species exhibits, while today the exhibits are much more primate-focused. I still enjoy seeing the impressive primate collection, but it's a shame there aren't as many birds anymore. I saw the following animals today, excluding fish:
  • First Exhibit: Bolivian Grey Titi Monkey (at least six individuals- two of which were in a separate outdoor exhibit), Pygmy Marmoset (three individuals seen- one of which is tailless), Yellow-footed Tortoise (one individual seen), Sora Rail (one individual seen)
  • Second Exhibit: Bearded Emperor Tamarin (at least seven seen!), Northern Two-toed Sloth (two seen in this exhibit), Caiman Lizard (at least two individuals seen)
  • Third Exhibit: Sun Conure (one individual seen), Guira Cuckoo (one individual seen), Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin (one individual seen), Nancy Ma's Night Monkey (two individuals seen), Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle (two individuals seen), Northern Two-toed Sloth (one seen in this exhibit)
  • Last Exhibit: Callimico (two individuals seen)
In addition to a number of bird losses, it appears as though cottontop tamarins are no longer displayed either.

One other thing I noticed today- at some point since my list visit in 2021, the bobcat exhibit has been renovated, receiving some new climbing structures.
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I suspect the cottontop tamarins are only temporarily off-exhibit because species frequently rotate around the building. I'm hoping there are still two guira cuckoos (and there should be three yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles, but I never see them all). The primate collection is still impressive but the total number of animals has also declined (death of one of the golden-handed lion tamarins, fewer Goeldi's monkeys, departure of several Bolivian gray titis and emperor tamarins). The primates are always very active, but generally less so now with less individuals in the families. The loss of the birds is especially sad. You definitely missed a few waterfowl species (nēnē, red-breasted geese, American goldeneye), but I'm assuming you expected that. I've never seen any blue-winged goose, although I've been told they're there. The Argentine ruddy ducks are actually fairly new, as they replaced the previous two.

snowleopard said:
Thanks for the update @Neil chace and how was the rest of the zoo?

I know that Buttonwood Park has usually been in the news in regards to their remaining two Asian Elephants, but any updates there? Honestly, those two should have been moved years ago, but now that they are elderly it makes sense to let them live out their lives in familiar surroundings without the potentially harmful stress of transporting them elsewhere.
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I have always been extremely impressed by the Buttonwood Park Zoo's elephant program (although that's not to say I think it should be continued). I'm sure every zoo treats their elephants similarly, but for such a small collection, everyone at the Buttonwood Park Zoo is extremely devoted to providing beyond the best possible care for Emily and Ruth given their needs and available resources. I completely agree with @Neil chace that the responsible choice was the one made x years ago, to keep them in New Bedford.
 
wild boar said:
I'm hoping there are still two guira cuckoos
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It's certainly possible, I only saw one individual but it's definitely plausible that an individual was out of view. I remember back when the building opened and there were guira cuckoos in multiple of the exhibits there were so many!

wild boar said:
The primate collection is still impressive but the total number of animals has also declined (death of one of the golden-handed lion tamarins, fewer Goeldi's monkeys, departure of several Bolivian gray titis and emperor tamarins).
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Indeed, dispersal is a very natural part of life for any animal. Unfortunately, that sometimes means a lot of animals leaving a zoo at around the same time. The large group of emperor tamarins is still one of the major highlights of the zoo, and it is still impressive to see so many species of smaller primates, most of which aren't particularly common in zoos. Especially impressive given that prior to the renovation of the old Aquatics Center there were no primates whatsoever in the zoo's collection!

wild boar said:
The loss of the birds is especially sad. You definitely missed a few waterfowl species (nēnē, red-breasted geese, American goldeneye), but I'm assuming you expected that.
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Indeed, I am aware there were likely waterfowl species that I missed. The main bison/deer panorama had signs for American goldeneye and lesser white-fronted geese, neither of which I saw, while I certainly expect that the zoo still has red-breasted geese somewhere given the recent breeding successes. I'm not sure if there are still any nene left or not.

I will say that the Rainforest building is certainly in need of some new birds, as what once made it so interesting was how unique and complex the mixed-species elements are. What seems to be most needed is some more ground-level interest in exhibits, as there aren't many ground-dwelling species in the building. Whether that be bringing back some waterfowl, adding in other ground birds, or even non-birds (e.g., agouti or paca, more tortoises), adding some more ground-dwelling species would go a long way in restoring the building's greatness. Even more flying birds would be impressive additions too- such as troupial, oropendolas, trogons, or tanagers.

I will say the building is now at a spot where with the possible exception of fish, all of the animals in the building (except for the sora rail) match the exhibit's country signage (Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Colombia), so that's a pretty cool fact that might be involved in some of the decisions regarding the bird collection, which has always been fairly hodgepodge.

wild boar said:
I have always been extremely impressed by the Buttonwood Park Zoo's elephant program (although that's not to say I think it should be continued). I'm sure every zoo treats their elephants similarly, but for such a small collection, everyone at the Buttonwood Park Zoo is extremely devoted to providing beyond the best possible care for Emily and Ruth given their needs and available resources. I completely agree with @Neil chace that the responsible choice was the one made x years ago, to keep them in New Bedford.
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Indeed, there elephant program in the past decade has been very impressive, and the staff are clearly experts in geriatric elephant care. While I don't expect this to be a route taken, I'd actually love it if the zoo decided to renovate the horse exhibit into a second elephant exhibit, build a publicly-accessible barn, and then become a geriatric elephant holder for the foreseeable future. Again, this isn't the route I'd expect to see, but something which I'd find really cool.
 
Neil chace said:
Indeed, I am aware there were likely waterfowl species that I missed. The main bison/deer panorama had signs for American goldeneye and lesser white-fronted geese, neither of which I saw, while I certainly expect that the zoo still has red-breasted geese somewhere given the recent breeding successes. I'm not sure if there are still any nene left or not.
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There has only been one nēnē, a female, for quite a while because the others all died (I think of the same cause). I don't know if she is still around. I've recently only seen the goldeneye with the other ducks at Rainforests, Rivers, and Reefs. I haven't seen any lesser white-fronted geese in a year or two. As of a few years ago, there were a few waterfowl species behind-the-scenes or serving as ambassadors, but I don't know if that is still the case.

Neil chace said:
I will say that the Rainforest building is certainly in need of some new birds, as what once made it so interesting was how unique and complex the mixed-species elements are. What seems to be most needed is some more ground-level interest in exhibits, as there aren't many ground-dwelling species in the building. Whether that be bringing back some waterfowl, adding in other ground birds, or even non-birds (e.g., agouti or paca, more tortoises), adding some more ground-dwelling species would go a long way in restoring the building's greatness. Even more flying birds would be impressive additions too- such as troupial, oropendolas, trogons, or tanagers.
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I have long felt that the exhibit should have more terrestrial species, including a mammal or two, but there aren't many I can think of. I sometimes wonder if the Rainforests, Rivers, and Reefs overhaul would have been better if the Brazil, Peru, and Colombia enclosures didn't all have the large pools for the lizards, turtles, and fish, because that seems to limit what can be added to the building in the way of mammals. Small mammals aren't exactly readily available, either, and there aren't many small, terrestrial, South American mammals in captivity to begin with. Is the country-specific or even continent-specific theming really all that important for the exhibit, or the zoo itself, being as they are both so small? I was told after Rico the green aracari was injured and had recovered that staff are apprehensive about placing him back into the exhibit. Those concerns might not have been specific to him, applying to all arboreal birds.
 
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wild boar said:
I sometimes wonder if the Rainforests, Rivers, and Reefs overhaul would have been better if the Brazil, Peru, and Colombia enclosures didn't all have the large pools for the lizards, turtles, and fish, because that seems to limit what can be added to the building in the way of mammals
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Not sure if you've been a long-time enough visitor to know this, but the "shell" of the Rainforests, Rivers, and Reefs Building is virtually unchanged from the Aquatics Center which preceded it. The exhibit was actually a really smart repurposing of the building, since it added a lot of really unique species to the collection at a minimal cost to renovate it. I don't remember much from the old building, but I remember that each exhibit was a different biome within the state of Massachusetts, and contained a number of native bird species- the Colombia exhibit was at that point "Mountain Streamside", with northern cardinal and some sort of woodpecker, while I'm pretty certain that the current Peru exhibit had piping plovers in it, amongst other species.

wild boar said:
Is the country-specific or even continent-specific theming really all that important for the exhibit, or the zoo itself, being as they are both so small?
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Valid question- as you know, the building wasn't as geographically-constricted recently, with species such as Montezuma quail, African pygmy goose, etc. Certainly there's a lot more to being a good zoo exhibit than geographic accuracy, and I am by no means opposed to the exhibit not matching up quite right with the country-specific signage. Whether the country-specificity matters really depends on what the educational messages are that the zoo is trying to convey.

That said, it'd be pretty easy to create a rather well-rounded bird collection that is accurate to the countries in question, except for the fact callitrichids make it more challenging to mix in smaller birds (i.e., tanagers) which would otherwise be ideal candidates for the exhibit. One readily available bird species which I think would be a really smart choice for that building, however, is black-necked stilts.
 
Neil chace said:
Within the bison/deer/waterfowl exhibit, I saw 11 species: Coscoroba swan, redhead, blue-winged goose, emperor goose, swan goose, Magellan goose, Australian wood duck, Ross' goose, pink-footed goose, North American wood duck, northern pintail.
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I was told when I was there over the summer that they still have one nene goose in that habitat as well, but she is very elusive.
 
Great news! It was announced on Facebook today that three beaver kits were born exactly one month ago. The post celebrated Justin Beaver, the sire of the kits, because of the holiday.

They look really cute in the pictures!

some of the Facebook post text:
"female Wicket gave birth to 3 kits on May 16th. Beaver kits are born with their eyes open, their teeth fully erupted and capable of swimming – with one of them testing their skills at only fourteen days old! Be sure to stop by their habitat [during] your next visit to [say] hello to our newest residents!"
 
On October 1st, the zoo announced they transferred a (0.1) bearded emperor tamarin to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Illinois.

Buttonwood Park Zoo

wild boar said:
Great news! It was announced on Facebook today that three beaver kits were born exactly one month ago. The post celebrated Justin Beaver, the sire of the kits, because of the holiday.

They look really cute in the pictures!

some of the Facebook post text:
"female Wicket gave birth to 3 kits on May 16th. Beaver kits are born with their eyes open, their teeth fully erupted and capable of swimming – with one of them testing their skills at only fourteen days old! Be sure to stop by their habitat [during] your next visit to [say] hello to our newest residents!"
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On October 2nd, the zoo announced the beavers' sexes (1.2) and names, Surf, Scuba, and Snorkel.

Buttonwood Park Zoo

On October 4th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) bearded emperor tamarin named Queso was born on August 29th and is on display in the Rainforest, Rivers, & Reefs building.

Buttonwood Park Zoo
 
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