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 BPZOO Provides Home to Orphaned Black Bear Cubs 

 BPZOO Provides Home to Orphaned Black Bear Cubs 

BPZOO Provides Home to Orphaned Black Bear Cubs

New Bedford, Massachusetts: The Buttonwood Park Zoo has a deep, rich history of caring for black bears and is once again providing a home for an adorable pair of cubs recently orphaned in the wild.

BPZOO has been without black bears since last September, with the passing of 23-year-old Toby. He, along with two females Amy and Ursula, had lived at BPZOO since 2000.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game contacted BPZOO in late June, inquiring if there was space for two cubs who had been orphaned because of bear/human conflicts in Homer and Eagle River in Alaska.

“Providing a home to orphaned, non-releasable wildlife is paramount to our mission,” said Zoo Director Gary Lunsford. “Given that BPZOO has been caring for black bears since our inception in 1894, we jumped at the opportunity to work with officials in Alaska to provide a forever home to these cubs in need.”

The two cubs, an approximately eight-month-old male, and a seven-month-old female, arrived at BPZOO the last week in August and are currently quarantining under the watchful eyes of BPZOO vet staff.

“We are already getting a clear picture of their individual personalities,” said BPZOO Veterinarian

Emmy Budas. “He is the sweet and gentle type – gently taking treats from us, while she is showing us her sassy side. Both cubs are eating well and appear to be in excellent health.”

After spending time getting to know their personalities, zookeepers and veterinarian staff carefully considered names for the cubs. With a nod to their Alaskan homeland, the male cub has been named Moose, the official state land mammal, and the female Oona, named after an inland lake, not far from Juneau.

Moose and Oona will remain in quarantine for approximately 30 days to ensure they are in good health and to give them time to adjust to their new environment.

Black bears have been making local headlines this summer, spotted lumbering through towns on the South Coast and South Shore. As their natural habitats here, and in Alaska, continue to shrink, bear/human conflict increases with detrimental implications for the animals. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, or MassWildlife, offers a variety of resources on their website to prevent conflicts with black bears, including limiting food sources, protecting pets, crops, bees, and livestock with electric fences, or removing bird feeders.

“We look forward to introducing the new bears to the community,” Lunsford said. “We expect this will happen sometime towards the end of September. In the meantime, please do your part to keep bears wild. You should never feed or otherwise approach a wild bear. Be respectful of nature so that we can protect it together.”

About Black Bears

American black bears are one of eight species of bears found around the world. Common across North America, they are currently present in 40 U.S. states, 12 provinces and territories of Canada, and 6 states of northern Mexico. Loss of habitat and unregulated hunting resulted in the extirpation of black bears across large portions of their range by the early 1900s. While the loss of forest cover has eliminated black bears from many areas, their numbers are increasing. Climate change seems to have enabled black bears to range farther north. American black bears are the smallest of the three bear species in North America, ranging from 200 – 600 pounds, with males being significantly larger. The average life expectancy for American black bears is 20 years.

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BPZOO Welcomes Two Endangered Red Panda Cubs

BPZOO Welcomes Two Endangered Red Panda Cubs

We Welcome Two Endangered Red Panda Cubs

New Bedford, Massachusetts: The Buttonwood Park Zoo is proud to announce the birth of two red panda cubs, the second successful litter in BPZOO’s 129-year history.

two new baby red panda cubs born May 2023
red panda cubs born may 2023 at buttonwood park zoo

Red Panda cubs at 9 days old

BPZOO’s female red panda, 5-year-old Marie, gave birth to two cubs on May 27, 2023. The cubs underwent initial health screenings at 3 days old and with one weighing in at 58 grams and the other at 125 grams. Marie, now a seasoned mom, is spending time behind the scenes bonding with the cubs. Mom and babies are all doing well.

The cubs will remain in the nest box, which is inside the red panda’s night house, for approximately the next two months. Red pandas are born with their eyes closed and they typically open somewhere between day 17 and 19; now 30 days, both cubs’ eyes have opened, and they have begun to explore the nest box. The cubs will venture outside when they can safely navigate the perching in their habitat.

The cubs will remain with Marie for at least a year.

BPZOO is offering a unique opportunity to glimpse behind the scenes at these adorable babies with a series of photos and videos available through the “Red Panda Pals” program. For a $50 donation, participants receive exclusive content, have the chance to submit a name suggestion, a limited-edition symbolic adoption package, and a chance to meet the cubs once they join their parents in the outdoor habitat. A portion of the proceeds from this program will support BPZOO’s global red panda conservation efforts.

Jacob, BPZOO’s 6-year-old male red panda, and Marie were brought to New Bedford based on a recommendation as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP), which the Buttonwood Park Zoo is actively participating in. The goal of the SSP is to cooperatively manage animal populations to ensure the sustainability of a healthy and genetically diverse population while enhancing the conservation of this species in the wild.

BPZOO is a Partner in Conservation with the Red Panda Network by helping in their campaign to Plant a Red Panda Home in Nepal. Once restored, the critical forest corridor that connects Nepal and India will be part of the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung Red Panda Protected Forest in Eastern Nepal: the world’s FIRST protected area dedicated to red panda!

About Red Pandas

Red pandas, Ailurus fulgens fulgens, live in high-altitude temperate forests of Nepal, northeastern India, Bhutan, and part of China. Listed as Endangered by the International Union of Conservation of Nature, the global red panda population has declined by 50% over the last 20 years. Primarily threatened by habitat loss, red pandas are also susceptible to climate change, poaching, livestock herding, and disease. It is estimated that there are less than 10,000 and as few as 2,500 red pandas remaining in the wild. Currently, there are 240 red pandas at 85 AZA-accredited institutions that are working together to save this endangered species.

Primarily bamboo eaters, red pandas need to eat 20-30% of their body weight each day due to the high amount of indigestible fiber present in bamboo. Thanks to the success of the Zoo’s Community Bamboo Program, the red pandas, elephants, and others enjoy various species of bamboo harvested from private landowners throughout the community.

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Baby Sloth

Baby Sloth

BPZOO WELCOMES SECOND BABY SLOTH

The Buttonwood Park Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a second Hoffman’s two-toed sloth to 13-year-old female Sandy and 21-year-old male Bernardo. This new baby arrived on August 26, 2022 and is thriving under the care of both Sandy and BPZOO staff.

Zoo guests may have spied the new baby during routine, weekly weight checks that allow animal care staff to monitor growth and eventually determine sex, which can be an extremely tricky process in sloths. The baby will cling tightly to its mother’s fur, high in the trees, until it is old enough to begin exploring the habitat. Young sloths remain near their mothers for around a year. Ziggy, who turned one in June, recently moved into “Brazil”, the habitat directly next to “Peru”, to give the new baby a chance to bond with Sandy.

Bernardo, Sandy, big brother Ziggy and baby are four of 77 Hoffman’s two-toed sloths living among 34 facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Buttonwood Park Zoo proudly cooperates with AZA members to manage the zoo population of this species through the Species Survival Plan while enhancing the conservation of this species in the wild.

BPZOO’s resident sloths serve as ambassadors for their species. Thanks to the donations made to our Conservation Kiosk, we proudly support The Sloth Institute in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Funded 100% by donations, The Sloth Institute works to protect and enhance the welfare and conservation of sloths through education, research, rescue, rehab, and release while also conducting vital research, conservation, and education programs to ensure their survival.

BPZOO offers a daily “Keeper Chat”, an opportunity to learn more about these fascinating, slow-moving animals, at 10:00 am in Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs.

About Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloths

Hoffman’s two-toed sloths, Choloepus hoffmanni, are native to Costa Rica in lower Central America, across Panama, northwestern Colombia and Ecuador, and into portions of Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. Currently listed as a Least Concern species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Hoffman’s two-toed sloths do not have any major threats at the global level. However, subpopulations in the northwestern part of its range, especially in Colombia and Central America, are declining due to severe habitat degradation and fragmentation. Wild-caught individuals, especially offspring, are sold as pets to tourists in Colombia. This illegal trade is increasing and represents a cause of concern due to its impact on the wild population. Two-toed sloths may live around 20 years in the wild and over 40 years in a zoological setting. This herbivorous, nocturnal mammal has been exhibited in AZA zoos since 1946.

Name Our Sloth!

Name Our Sloth!

Baby Sloth Needs a Name

Here’s an opportunity of a lifetime. We are inviting YOU to help us name our four-month-old baby Hoffman’s two-toed sloth. Born on June 22, 2021, to first time parents Sandy and Bernardo, this cutie is the very first sloth to be born here in our 127-year history.

Our friends and followers have suggested some names (over 500 to be exact) and together with our naming committee which included local radio personality Michael Rock from FUN 107, five names were selected to be put to a community vote!

For just $1.00 you can vote AND support sloth conservation. For every dollar donation, your name is entered in for the chance to win. The winner will be selected at random and receive a private meet and greet with the baby sloth inside the Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs building.

The name who receives the highest donation wins!

Name options for the baby sloth:

  1.  Arlo
  2. Moby
  3. Lento
  4. Herman
  5. Ziggy

Or text SLOTHNAME to 41444

For a good cause!
The proceeds will go directly towards sloth care here at the Zoo and conservation in the wild.
BPZOO will be supporting The Sloth Institute, an in-situ conservation organization in Costa Rica that works to enhance the welfare and conservation of sloths through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of hand-raised and injured sloths while also conducting vital research, conservation and education programs to ensure their survival.

DID YOU KNOW: There are six species of sloths that live in the tropical forests of Central and South America, ranging from critically endangered to least concern.

Although listed as least concern according to the IUCN, in parts of their range Hoffman’s two-toed sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) are declining due to severe habitat degradation and fragmentation. Electrocution from electrical wires and death as a result of increasing roads also pose a threat to these slow-moving mammals. Wild-caught individuals, especially offspring, are sold as pets as part of the tourist industry. This illegal trade is increasing and represents a cause of concern due to its impact on the wild population.

PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE:

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING GLOBAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS!