Buttonwood Park Zoo Buttonwood Park Zoo News

We recently visited the zoo for the first time ever and we're very impressed with this small zoo. It was well maintained and the grounds were nice and full of gardens. The majority of the outdoor Exhibits were also nice and for the most part quite spacious and we'll designed. They don't have a ton of species but the ones they show are in nice exhibits.

The Bison/Waterfowl exhibit was especially large and nice for a zoo of this size and quickly I realized the zoo seems to have a ton of Waterfowl. The Cougar exhibit was another highlight as the two living here were especially active. The aquatic exhibits were another highlight for us and we're well designed.

As for the Famous Asian Elephants, I felt the exhibit was adequate for the two aging females they have. They appeared happy and content. We are members of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo which has a fantastic Elephant exhibit and this one was just as good for the two they have. I understand that the old exhibit was small but now it's quite nice and very green for them with lots of stimulating activity for them.

The highlight was the new Rainforests, Rivers and Reefs exhibit, I love indoor exhibits because of how realistic they can be as long as they fit the size of the animal displayed. The primate exhibits were excellent and very realistic, I also loved the multi level design of each with a water feature below, the land in the middle and the treetops reaching high above visitors. The ocean exhibits were nice but not a highlight outside of the touch tank. It's a great addition to a zoo once known for primarily North American species. I can't wait to see where they go from here with their master plan.
 
From the zoo's facebook page.

The Buttonwood Park Zoo is sad to announce the passing of one of our most iconic animals – a 21-year old black bear named Amy.

Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in November of 2019, veterinary staff had been managing her condition with medical therapy and a specialized diet. Over the last week staff became increasingly concerned when she stopped eating and it became apparent that she was no longer responding to treatment. The Zoo’s care team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize her.

A necropsy was performed and confirmed chronic, end-stage kidney disease.
 
On July 24th, it walks announced on the zoo’s Facebook page that they would be hosting a new event for children titled “Summer Staycation Series” that would replace their ZooCamp event. It runs every Monday and Tuesday in the month of August.

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I noticed in their Facebook post today one of the animals they showed was a Chilean pudu. Does anyone know when they got this species? I was last there about six months ago and do not remember the species.
 
Neil chace said:
I noticed in their Facebook post today one of the animals they showed was a Chilean pudu. Does anyone know when they got this species? I was last there about six months ago and do not remember the species.
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They got them sometime in the summer last year. It was already mentioned on this forum, also is there master plan still valid? It looks fantastic. I know the new habitats for elephants, primate/waterfowl/reptile, and red panda are done but are they still sticking to there original plan?
 
Dhole dude said:
They got them sometime in the summer last year. It was already mentioned on this forum, also is there master plan still valid? It looks fantastic. I know the new habitats for elephants, primate/waterfowl/reptile, and red panda are done but are they still sticking to there original plan?
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I honestly don't know either way about the masterplan. My best guess is that they will catch the essence of the plan (more exotic species, etc.) but it won't go exactly as planned. Two things lead me to believe this.
A. The masterplan has been quietly taken off the website.
B. If you find a copy of the map, you will notice that the current red panda exhibit is in an area labeled as aviary, and red pandas are actually on the other side of the zoo.

Hopefully most of the masterplan goes according to plan. I think the additions of puffins, bush dogs, jaguar, pudu, langur monkeys, small-clawed otters, and various small exotics (birds, amphibians, turtles, etc.) Will be greatly appreciated. My one complaint in the masterplan is that I would have fathered clouded leopards over amur leopards. Besides that, I think it is a pretty perfect masterplan. (And that is a tiny 'critique' based solely on personal preference).
 
Neil chace said:
I honestly don't know either way about the masterplan. My best guess is that they will catch the essence of the plan (more exotic species, etc.) but it won't go exactly as planned. Two things lead me to believe this.
A. The masterplan has been quietly taken off the website.
B. If you find a copy of the map, you will notice that the current red panda exhibit is in an area labeled as aviary, and red pandas are actually on the other side of the zoo.

Hopefully most of the masterplan goes according to plan. I think the additions of puffins, bush dogs, jaguar, pudu, langur monkeys, small-clawed otters, and various small exotics (birds, amphibians, turtles, etc.) Will be greatly appreciated. My one complaint in the masterplan is that I would have fathered clouded leopards over amur leopards. Besides that, I think it is a pretty perfect masterplan. (And that is a tiny 'critique' based solely on personal preference).
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One area in the Asia section was labeled “carnivores” which May have implied clouded leopards. But in conclusion, I think now that the plan will still happen, but slightly altered.
 
Dhole dude said:
One area in the Asia section was labeled “carnivores” which May have implied clouded leopards. But in conclusion, I think now that the plan will still happen, but slightly altered.
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The three exhibits in the carnivore area are labeled tiger, snow leopard, and leopard (which I assumed meant amur leopard). Would like it if they did clouded leopards instead, though.
 
Clouds would be a good addition given their absence in the area. Most of Buttonwoods attendance comes up from the Cape, so a good blend of warm weather and temperate species would be ideal.
 
PSO said:
Clouds would be a good addition given their absence in the area. Most of Buttonwoods attendance comes up from the Cape, so a good blend of warm weather and temperate species would be ideal.
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There definitely are a fair amount of temperate and warm weather species in the masterplan. I can understand where they are coming from with having amur leopards, since they can tolerate winters better, and tend to be less stressed in zoos. It would be nice though if someone in the area had cloudeds though.
 
Absolutely, Amurs have been quite successful in warm areas. A bit selfishly, would like to see them in the area too. FYI, RWP was supposed to get them in the mid to late 90s but went with Mastchies tree roo instead.
 
PSO said:
Absolutely, Amurs have been quite successful in warm areas. A bit selfishly, would like to see them in the area too. FYI, RWP was supposed to get them in the mid to late 90s but went with Mastchies tree roo instead.
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Too bad Roger Williams is planning to replace the Australasia outdoor area with a roo walkthrough. Cloudeds could be a welcome addition in the area, possibly where the binturongs are.
 
Originally they where building a greenhouse type exhibit the balimynah, mertens water monitor, green tree/carpet side of the building for them, but agree binturong enclosure, with a bit extra space would work fine. I forget what they keep in their but as you walk to the Parmas that used be red panda and at the time were rare and the only ones in NE
 
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