Tuesday

Aug 4, 2020 at 9:31 AM Aug 4, 2020 at 9:31 AM


NEW BEDFORD -- The Buttonwood Park Zoo is once again open seven days a week, according to a news release from zoo officials.

The coronavirus pandemic closed the zoo entirely back in March, and it slowly started to reopen five days a week in June.

“The Zoo is thrilled to expand our reopening schedule to include seven-day a week guest access,” said BPZOO Director Keith Lovett in the release. “We have received wonderful guest feedback on how comfortable they feel in our reconfigured Zoo and by being open all week, we are able to accommodate more guests, while still being able to meet social distance guidance.”

All guests, including BPZOO members are still required to reserve tickets online prior to visiting the Zoo at bpzoo.org/visit-overview, the news release said. Additionally, admission passes are again available through participating libraries. Tickets are available to purchase at the front desk, but admission cannot be guaranteed due to capacity limitations.

All the initial health and safety guidelines put in place in the first phase of reopening are still present, including requiring protective face coverings for all guests over the age of five, with a strong recommendation of face coverings for those ages 2 to 5, the news release said.

Social distancing markers are still in place, as is the one-way traffic flow around the Zoo. Indoor exhibits remain closed. The Northwood’s Gift Shop is operating an outdoor kiosk, and the Bear’s Den Café is offering window service. The BCSB Wildlife Carousel and the Baycoast Bank Black Bear Express remain closed.

“Although some of the Zoo’s buildings have remained closed based on State capacity requirements, the Zoo has been able to create several new experiences on our outdoor campus. These new experiences include increased “keeper chats” at our elephant habitat and other areas in the Zoo, the opening of new outdoor spaces for some of our birds and reptiles, and relocating the Zoo’s ever popular sloth pair, Bernardo and Sandy, to an outdoor Zoo habitat,” Lovett stated in the news release.

For more information about the Zoo’s programs, animals and exhibits, visit www.bpzoo.org.