Great first visit to Buttonwood, this zoo is on the petite size but it more than makes up for it in personality! Must sees include the elephant, beaver, red panda, and otter. There are plenty of bathrooms located in different corners of the zoo. I highly recommend the elephant feeding time chat with the zookeeper. Emily the elephant comes up pretty close to you to eat her lunch and the zookeeper keeps the chat short (about 15 minutes). Plenty of free parking for visitors to the zoo. read more

A dud for me. I knew it was small, but didn't expect this small. A handful of animals and that's about it. Also didn't open until 10 even though it says 9 everywhere on and offline. Because there was an event today I also couldn't use my pre purchased ticket and had to pay double. Not worth it all. read more

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This was my first time visiting Buttonwood and I'm glad I did! We visited on a Saturday and were pleased to see it wasn't too busy. The park itself is small but well maintained with a decent amount of animals to see. The small size made it feel more intimate, almost as if we had the whole zoo to ourselves which was pretty extraordinary. My personal favorite animals was the elephant and red panda. However, I did enjoy seeing them all. The staff here were friendly and there were many informative signs as well. I just wish that some of the enclosures were a little bigger. But, that's a more of a zoo problem in general and not just Buttonwood. Overall, with the cost of tickets being so low this is definitely a great afternoon stop to visit for a few hours! read more

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Maybe the zoo is great during the day but DO NOT go on a twilight tour. The majority of the tour was looking at empty enclosures. The funniest part to us though was that they gave the kids patches for a flashlight adventure but we weren't allowed to use flashlights! Sad because we looked forward to the Twilight Tour of the zoo all day. read more

I think this local zoo is such a gem for our community. It's not massive, which makes is super walkable for young kids or elderly. It has a bunch of different animals though and you can see that their care takers adore each and everyone of them! It's nice to have such a wonderful zoo just minutes from home!! read more

This was such a sweet little zoo. The local families are so lucky to have this. We were on a weekend trip to Fairhaven/New Bedford and decided it would be relaxing and fun to see some animals. This is a small zoo at a reasonable and affordable price. ($10 or less) It's the type of place where you could spend an hour or many hours depending on how into the animals you are. There is an area to feed the ducks and swans, There are aquarium buildings, otter and sea lion tanks, wild cats (we got to see the lynx kittens!), bears, elephants, red pandas and more. The elephants are 58 and 64 years old and living at the zoo for 54 years. We heard a grandmother telling her grandchildren about how they've been going to see the elephants since they were a little girl. She talked about them like they were her friends. The zoo also has zookeeper interactive programming (they were showing off a skink on the day we were there), there was also a childrens musical act the day we were there. Also there were some food trucks - I don't know if they are always there. The cafeteria has the type of noms that children eat and is probably great for getting a group of kids taken care of - but there are also a lot of picnic tables. Finally the zoo has a classic merry go round, kiddie train and gift shop. A small but mighty zoo. read more

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We always try to find something to do on Sundays with our toddler! And she loves the Zoo! I was searching for new zoo and came across Buttonwood! I loved that I read previous Yelp review about how animals are well cared for which I really like when I visit a zoo! We went for $20 2 adults and daughter who is under age 3. Saw seals, bears,elephants,monkeys,otters,red pandas,coyotes. My daughter had a blast! If she hadn't pooped herself and mom and dad forgot diapers we would've gone on the carousel! All and all a-lot of fun!- read more

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This zoo is quite small but that does not mean it isn't worth the visit! This hidden gem is AZA accredited, so you know they are caring for their animals well. This was very obvious when we saw zoo keepers providing food and enrichment to many different animals just in the 1.5 hours we were there! We got to see seal and monkey feedings and heard the coyote come out to howl as a fire truck went by! Their rainforest and reef exhibit is very cool, with so many different types of animals all living together. And it was air conditioned so it provided a nice break from the hot summer day. They have a few new exhibits in the works, which is exciting! There is also a very cool play area for young kids. Overall, an excellent zoo - great for young kids and adults. It was well priced for the size of the zoo. A good place to spend about 1-2 hrs. read more

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Smaller size zoo but they keep making many nice renovations and the staff is all very friendly and highly informed. They don't complain when you ask questions which is great when you have curious little kids read more

Great place for a family outing. A good variety of animals with a touch tank as well. We tried the carousel and train ride. Both were great. They have a Buttonwood Farm included. Before you go check out the times that events are happening at the zoo online. (We missed the touch tank and another event). Also, if you are an adult, live in New Bedford, and have a library card, you can get free passes for up to 4 people!!!! Don't forget to check out the cute gift shop on your way out. I'll be back for sure, it was a big hit with my kiddo. read more

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I visited the Buttonwood Park Zoo for the first time today. This is a really nice and beautiful zoo. The main feature of the Buttonwood Park Zoo are their two Asian elephants Ruth and Emily. They are both on the older side, but are gorgeous to look at and observe. They have a great exhibit and are very happy. I saw them eating, foresting and exploring. Great to see! They have a variety of other animals, too. They have red pandas, sea otters, harbor seals, coyotes, cougars, bobcats, a varsity of primates and many other unique and beautiful animals! They also have a farm section with cows, horses and other creatures. The zoo's exhibits are very nice as they allow you to get fairly close to the animals in a safe way. Really allows you to see all of their features, which is nice. The zoo is very clean and has clear pathways. There is the Bear's Den Cafe, which serves some tasty food. Pretty solid compared to some other zoo's food that I have had. Altogether, this is a really nice zoo that I plan on returning to in the future! read more

Buttonwood Park Zoo has solidified itself as one of the best smaller zoos in New England in my personal opinion. While it is small indeed, I think that this zoo in particular does so much with the space that they have, and present a clear understanding of the balance between natural spaces for our local wildlife, and displaying those species that people come to a zoo to see. I am going to outright address the elephant in the room, Emily. It is so disheartening to see that Ruth the Elephant has passed, leaving Emily alone, but I have utmost faith and confidence in the keepers that they are doing everything in their power to give her the best life she can possibly have. I understand criticisms in where she could be transferred to a sanctuary, but what people don't understand is that transporting an old proboscidean like herself could be seriously harmful. I have faith that supporting Buttonwood Park Zoo directly helps Emily as she is nearing the unfortunate final stages of her life. However, so thankful to Buttonwood Park Zoo for providing for her for years upon years. Her previous life as a circus elephant was sad and abusive, but happy to see she has landed in an AZA Accredited facility where we are sure she is receiving the best care she can get. Onto the rest of the zoo though, while they don't necessarily have any heavy hitters like Giraffes or Zebras, the typical mainstays of an African Savannah, they certainly have a lot of other species in very generous enclosures that I think a lot more people would appreciate. One of my favorite habitats is the American Prairie Habitat, where they currently house American Bison, White-Tailed Deer, and flocks upon flocks of geese, ducks, and other waterfowl. It's one of my favorite sights in the entire park. But even beyond that, their North American collection stands as a pretty solid one. Canadian Lynx, Cougars, a Coyote, and Bobcats all call this place home. They're extremely charismatic carnivores and I am extremely pleased with the amount of space they have to roam and explore. The Bear Habitat as well is pretty large, though they were hibernating due to the season when we went. The Otters have an expansive habitat too, but they were receiving medical attention the day we had went so we didn't get the chance to see them. The Harbor Seals have a pool too, not necessarily the biggest but they were properly enriched with a ton of toys in their habitat. In my personal taste as a Roger Williams Park Zoo veteran, I would have loved to have seen our dear old Bubba end up here instead of Woods Hole, but I'm sure they're caring for him well over there too. In terms of other outdoor species though, I don't have a single issue with what species are here. The Elephant, Emily, has a ton of outdoor space for when it's warmer out, with a lot of enrichment for her to use, and the Red Pandas have probably one of the most intensive climbing structures I've seen for a species of this caliber. It's very good. The Red Crowned Cranes also have a great habitat, too. When I come here though, my focus always goes towards the indoor tropical house. It's a fantastic collection of South American species mixed alongside Native and Exotic Saltwater Fish. Each viewing port has a different country in mind, and the species they have here are very good for either a zoo enthusiast or a family coming to take their kids here. The primates are always active and, again, I want to stress, very well cared for. I've been to so many others facilities in New England, and seeing all these negative reviews claiming that Buttonwood is one of the worst ones is baffling to me. I am not going to go ahead and name names, but there are much worse ones. Trust me. Soapbox aside, this building is great. The education is out-of-this-world, the theming in here is beautiful. The tanks as well are very well maintained. There's additional tanks as well in the Food Court building too, again, well maintained per usual. Overall this park has solidified itself as one of my favorites in New England. As a Rhode Island native it's a bit of a hike to get out here (40+ minutes! That's a lot for us!), but it's always worth it. Makes a good pairing with the Whaling Museum if you're hoping to learn about nature in all different ways. Beyond excited to visit again, and wishing the keepers all of the best in the wake of Ruth's passing. The memorial once you enter the facility was extremely touching too. It's very lovely to see how many lives this pachyderm has touched. I hope the keepers are proud of giving her the best life they could have possibly given her. read more

If you're considering supporting this zoo, I urge you to think twice. This facility has a long, documented history of neglect and mistreatment of its animals, with Ruth the elephant being a heartbreaking example. Here's what your money supports: * Years of Neglect: Ruth endured severe physical and emotional suffering under their care. Veterinary records show she was prescribed off-label medications that harmed her, without proper reevaluation. * Employee Whistleblowing: Even their own employees exposed the mistreatment, risking their jobs to bring the truth to light. * Global Shame: This zoo has been flagged as one of the worst globally for elephant care, consistently failing to meet basic standards for animal welfare. * Profit Over Care: While Ruth and other animals suffered, the focus was on expanding enclosures for exotic animals not native to this area--purely for financial gain and public attraction. This is not just about one elephant; it's about a pattern of abuse, neglect, and prioritizing profit over the welfare of living, sentient beings. When you visit, your money directly funds a business that puts animals in unsafe, unhealthy, and unnatural conditions. There are better ways to educate children and enjoy wildlife than by supporting a facility that has failed so profoundly to care for its animals. Please consider where your dollars are going and the message you're sending by giving your support. Ruth deserved so much better. Don't let more animals suffer the same fate. read more

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Beautiful zoo! We came here with my kids and it was awesome! Great views of all the animals and a fun stroll in the park. They did an amazing job remodeling. A+ read more

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What?!? This review is after seeing the Buttonwood Park Zoomobile at my local library. What a disgrace! Despicable. TLDR- during the 45 min Pre-K and K Zoomobile Habitat Program they showed us a PIGEON. Only a pigeon! No other animals. The program started with a 30 minute lecture (minimal child participation). It was well done. No big complaints about the presentation besides the LACK OF ANIMALS. The kids gradually lost interest. That will happen at this age with even the best presentation. By the time the "zoo animal" came out we had lost about 1/5 of the kids, they simply left. 30 mins with no animals is too long! Then they brought out a PIGEON. You could not touch it. You had to sit down. And that was it. The handler walked it around and told us about pigeons. Then they answered questions. Program over. We saw they had another live animal box which we found out had a turtle. It was for the 1st graders at the next show. We could not see it. Calling yourself a zoomobile and showing kids a pigeon is false advertising. It honestly might be criminal. 45 mins and one animal for Pre-K / K kids is outrageous and embarrassing. If the zoo has determined it's too cruel to bring interesting animals, you don't have them, or they're not available, then don't do the show! Cancel it! Bring a lizard, rat, snake, hamster, bunny, or even a dog. My daughter doesn't have outrageously high expectations. The website shows a possum, beaver, falcon or hawk? and some sort of lizard. Where are they? What a waste of a morning! We were deceived about seeing fun animals (I inadvertently lied to my daughter ). I feel bad for the kids. At least I found a frog outside the library after the show. Certainly better, and more zoolike, than the pigeon. Shame on Buttonwood Park! Just to be clear, the presenter was good. No complaints about them, just the lack of animals. read more

Ruth's tragic death was the result of negligence, maltreatment, experimental off-label drug use, inexperienced vets with zero background caring for Elephants. For years advocates have been pleading with the Zoo and the mayor to get Ruth and Emily (the elephants) a veterinarian who specializes in elephants / have them transferred to an elephant specific sanctuary. But time and time again the zoo declined, because they knew it would expose the gross negligence these animals have had to endure. They were not being treated and cared for properly and Ruth is now deceased after being robbed of her dignity. This was avoidable and Buttonwood Park Zoo is to blame. These people are NOT animal lovers and do not have animals best interest at heart. read more

Took our youngest there today and she was excited when we said we were going to the zoo...then we got there and she suddenly got bored. So did we. The exhibits are small. The animals seem depressed. Its almost as if they said "Ok, what's the bare minimum this animal needs? Divide it in half. The animals will be fine!". Never again. Sticking to RWPZ and Southwicks from now on. read more

Surprisingly nice little zoo. The park itself is very pretty. They have some unusual animals, such as beavers, a bob cat, and bison. The enclosures are spacious and the animals seem content. They have a small, but terrific aquarium. I enjoyed my lunch at the little cafe. I was surprised to find out it is all on only seven acres. It is a very well planned zoo. They have more and better varied exhibits than the Franklin Park Zoo read more

This is such a nice little zoo! It is very beautiful place. There is plenty of parking and the staff were very helpful. I really enjoy this place read more

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My family and I were able to make a morning appointment where only a number of guests are allowed to enter each time slot. We knew in advance that some of the exhibits would not be opened for the time being due to the pandemic restrictions and that there would be some plexi-glass in front of exhibits that may make it tricky to view some animals when it is bright. Since we had never been, it was actually really nice to have arrows directing us through the zoo. Our almost 2-year-old was thrilled to see the elephants Up close and personal without anyone else around so we were able to takeoff our masks and set up our camera with a timer and get a great bunch of photographs. We would definitely go again especially now that they are doing stories and characters on different dates. Their Facebook page is the go-to for up to date information. read more

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This is a perfect zoo for little ones!! It's a great size and they have a great selection of animals. The staff is great too. You can tell they enjoy doing their job! read more

We were looking for something to do last minute in a Sunday and were able to get tickets here. It's definitely a smaller zoo, but that doesn't always matter. Our daughter got to see seals, elephants and buffalo. They also had a nature area thing, which was a hit, large sandbox for the kids. Overall the zoo is clean, they are following all covid protocols. We did need to wear our mask the entire time we were in the park. We will be back! read more

It's a nice zoo with a nice kids area. But one guy runs the carousel and the train. We spent half our time waiting in line. And you can't go see animals in between because it will be full by the time you come back. I'm writing this on the train, watching him run the carousel. It's ridiculous. read more

This was the first time I have ever been to the zoo in New Bedford and I heard a lot of great things about this place and it is amazing to come to see the animals and also have a birthday party there too read more

Park was a lot of fun to bring my family to, we brought our own picnic lunch and it was a beautiful day. But there were no shows or show schedules posted. The coyote was pacing, not a healthy way to live. With very little effort by the Park management, this could be a much more fun and interactive experience. read more

Who gets tired of these cute animals? No one. However, I felt that there were not many animals for each species. I saw one cougar, one bobcat, one eagle without their companions:( Anyways, doesn't hurt to go if you are around. But I wouldn't return. read more

Buttonwood Park Zoo - Zoos Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

Buttonwood Park Zoo June 5, 2022 I visited the zoo with a free Wareham library pass and it was a beautiful sunny day, I couldn't of asked YHWH for more beautiful weather. It was the perfect day for a zoo visit. It wasn't too busy with guests so it wasn't crowded. There was 2 birthday parties going on in the building when I was there, but at different times. I find that to be a wonderful idea for parents, the kids were having a blast at the zoo. I arrived at 10:30am and some of the animals were still resting, sleeping or not yet active for viewing yet. Around 11:30am-12:00pm the zoo keepers were feeding them so I decided to walk around the zoo a couple more times to see if I could see the animals I missed from walking around the first time around. Luckily I got to see them all. I like this zoo because it's small and it's perfect for small children because its not an excessive amount of walking. I do however wish that they had more animals to see. My ultimate favorite is the moon jellyfish located in the tropical building a mask is required to enter. The moon jellyfish are just simply exquisite, unique and amazing. Watching them swim around in a circle together and how they glow and breathe. It's an amazing feeling being able to see underwater life on the surface of the earth. The other amazing under the sea creature was the orange starfish with the purple background it was artistic and beautiful display. That starfish liked to pose for the perfect picture. The seahorses were adorable clinging to plants and hanging out in their tank. I love opossums and I was hoping that he would be on display, but he doesn't have his own habitat he is only visable for shows. Overall I had a wonderful time. I got a cookie ice cream sandwich at the cafe and I stopped by the gift shop on the way out and bought a small opossum and a Buttonwood Park Zoo t-shirt. All the zoo staff is helpful, professional, and friendly. I definitely will visit this quaint adorable zoo again in the future. Highly recommend for ALL ages! Go and have a Zoo-Terrific Time! read more

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We went here today! A must see! What a really nice zoo. Its a smaller zoo but it is wonderful. It is a great zoo for the price. The animals looks happy here. It was like they were posing for the pictures. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

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Love this place, we will definitely be back! Although carousel and some of the exhibits are closed due to the pandemic, the staff are super helpful and guide people in a kind manner. We love Deb! She gave us food to feed the beautiful ducks at the zoo. My son loves it there and the gifts arent as expensive as other zoos. We will be back! read more

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What a nice way to spend a few hours. This is a clean zoo with very nice exhibits. Lots of animals to view. The park has a nice flow to it. Looking forward to returning. read more

Wonderful little community Zoo, we purchased a membership for the first time here. Well worth it to get the kids out for a few hours. With Covid, the buildings and childrens area are closed, which cuts down on the things to see. Nice, large elephant paddock for the two older female elephants. Cool seal, Beaver and Red Panda areas as well. Give it a try. read more

I heard a few good feedback and recommendations about this zoo that I finally went. Heavens! This is a NEIGHBORHOOD park with a "zoo'. The cages are so small; the bears, cougar and elephants are stressed out. There ought to be a petition to get these animals out of there and released in a larger habitat. Keep the smaller birds and reptiles -- they are probably better off in that conditioned environment and not hunted BUT please, not the larger animals. This is a strange concept in a residential neighborhood. I felt sad when I left. Shaking my head. read more

Buttonwood Park Zoo - Elephants that are bored in this small "play space". - Zoos Near Me - New Bedford, Massachusetts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CjD8O8ilNg&frags=wn After watching this video about an elephant in their care, I am very dissapointed. read more

Roger williams is sooooooo much better for slightly more money you will have a drastically better experience.

My boyfriend and I travel to specifically visit zoos and honestly we weren't expecting much due to size BUT we were pleasantly surprised. Buttonwood does an amazing job with the space they have. We look forward to returning in a few years as their expansion continues. It only took about 90 minutes to walk through so a perfect quick trip. The price is right as well. Thumbs up Buttonwood! New Bedford, you are fortunate. read more

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Amazing place. My absolute favorite zoo around, so many beautiful animals up close, including monkeys, otters, red pandas, and so many more.

This zoo is small yes but a great zoo. In my eyes it's better then Roger Williams any day. They train ride is cute but the line does get long. They animals looked happy and healthy. My 1 year old loved it see everything they offered. Face painting was a nice touch to add that extra fun. Loved the farm area with the play area. Wasn't to pricey for what you get but it did make me mad that they say online open till 5pm and closed @ 4 instead. Gift shop was small and pricey and the lady @ the counter had a bad attitude. The bear exhibit had garbage in it didn't like that. All around good day they even have a area where you can pet sharks star fish crabs and other fish. I drove from Attleboro to see this zoo and would definitely return. read more

Excellent work on the gardening here. It is a short time when you are by the zoo and realize that you really are still in New Bedford. There has been a ton of bad remarks made of the town and the people yet there really is some beauty to be found all over and this is one group that is in on it. read more

This zoo is small but I really enjoyed it. Lots of different animals to see plus has a train ride and a carousel. For the most part was clean and tickets prices were affordable. They do offer a program through the public libraries in Massachusetts that get you 4 free tickets but you have to reserve them quickly! Only complaint is some of the animals looked like they could use more enrichment yo could see trails where they were walking in circles from boredom which is really sad. read more

This summer we were trying to find a place that was perfect for our toddlers. We've done Roger Williams, we had just been to Drumlin Farm in Lincoln... I felt they were overpriced, couldn't get near the exhibits, too large for our little kids. Anyways, that was my perspective coming to this place. I was so happy I found this place. I'm not sure what people were saying about the enclosures, nothing seemed too small for me. The mountain lion (or was it a cougar) (or is there a difference) was having a ball in his/her enclosure. There were trees that it was climbing up, it was running back in forth. I have been to zoos that keep animals in little metal pens with hardly enough room to stand up. To paint this place in that light is unfair and biased. Everything was the perfect height for my daughter (who was 2 1/2 at the time) it was a beautiful day but it wasn't crowded. The elephants were pretty far away and it was so hot they weren't doing a whole lot of anything, but it looked like a lot of other elephant enclosures, (I think if you look at Roger Williams it is certainly as dusty as this one, but its better laid out) The train (tractor) that drove around the entire place was a big draw for my daughter. She still looks at the videos and says "first choo choo ride!" with pride. I have recommended this place to anyone with small children. It is small, cozy and the staff was so friendly. We didn't end up eating there but the concession area was clean and reasonably priced, lots of room. I was really impressed. Perfect for small kids, field trips. And I thought as a Rhode Islander that Roger Williams was the best! but after a couple of trips where the place was so crowded and overpriced, I was ready for somehting else. And this was it! I can't believe I had never heard of this place prior! read more