Conservation
Conservation in a zoo? In a major shift of emphasis, zoos are evolving from recreational facilities into conservation organizations. This transformation involves changes in almost every aspect of the Zoo, from how animals are cared for to the types of programs offered to the amount of resources dedicated to protecting species in the wild.
In old zoos, animals were often housed alone in sterile cages for easy viewing. In modern zoos, animals are housed in normal social groups in natural settings – which is better for the animals and more educational for the public. Zoos now work to preserve animals and their habitats in their home countries.
Research is essential to these efforts. It is through research that we gather the information needed to make important conservation and management decisions. For example, in order to maintain animals in naturalistic settings, we need to know what their habitat is like in the wild. The list goes on and on, and requires work both at zoos and in the wild. The Buttonwood Park Zoo embraces this new philosophy.
In support of our mission we are a vibrant conservation organization, with projects in our own backyard and beyond. Thanks to the support of our generous visitors and our dedicated staff, the Buttonwood Park Zoo has raised over $85,000 to directly support wildlife conservation programs around the world.
Visit our conservation pages to see how we are helping to save endangered species.
