SoCo Magazine - May 2008 - (Page 90) Buttonwood Park Zoo offers fun and education for singles, couPles, or the the gem of the new Bedford seaPort By Claire Pavlik Purgus Photography by Rui Frias whole family. walk on the wild side for even a few hours rejuvenates the senses and expands the boundaries of the techno -constric ted mind. The Buttonwood Park Zoo is one such wild destination that is easy to get to, fun, affordable, and a great place to learn about the creatures of the Northeast and beyond. Tucked in between the roads and residential neighborhoods of New Bedford’s West End, the Buttonwood Park Zoo is a haven for both native and exotic wildlife, from the smallest amphibian to the mightiest bison, from delicate butterfly to hearty hog. Its diverse abundance of animals and educational programs, as well as its superior quality of care, ranks 90 | s o comagazi ne . i nfo | M ay 2 0 0 8 A Buttonwood Park Zoo among the elite 20 percent of licensed animal exhibitors accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which has recognized Buttonwood Park Zoo as “one of the finest small zoos in the United States.” The Buttonwood Park Zoo’s central location is a short commute from Cape Cod, Boston, or Rhode Island, making it the perfect day trip. Visitors will explore a wonderland of wildlife diversity, organized around the theme of “Berkshires to the Sea.” The wide range of meaningful exhibits takes visitors on a journey “through deep forests, cold mountain streams, windswept salt marshes, and ocean beaches.” The zoo’s “crowning jewel” is its Aquatics Environment Center, which features ten water exhibits that bring to life the “critical role clean water plays in our ecosystem.” In a related effort focusing on the health of water-based ecosystems, the zoo is joining forces with AZA and other zoos to promote 2008 as the Year of the Frog. As AZA warns, “Frogs are going extinct.” Since amphibians are seen as the thermometer for the planet’s health, zoos and wildlife conservation organizations around the world are ringing the alarm bell to encourage efforts to save frogs and other amphibians from extinction. While conservation, education, and environmental advocacy programs are interwoven with the zoo’s mission—and taken very seriously—the zoo is also filled with lots of fun and lightheartedness. Who wouldn’t delight in the antics of otters, the enormous elephant, or a tiny newborn chick? http://socomagazine.info
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