Roger Williams Park Zoo

www.rwpzoo.org


Opened 1872

 

City: Providence

Country: USA

State:  Rhode Island
 

Species  160

Dubbed “the finest zoo in New England” by the Boston Globe. Walk through this beautifully landscaped 40-acre zoo – one of the nation’s oldest – and encounter African elephants, Masai giraffes, zebras, red pandas, snow leopards, moon bears, gibbons, giant ant eaters and more in naturalistic settings.

Last visit 2014


Roger Williams Park Zoo
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence
RI 02907
USA

Phone nr 401-941-4998


Open minimum 10am-4pm , except Thanksgiving, Christams eve and Christmas day

Entrance

• Adult 21,- $
• Child 15,- $

Membership (includes the Annual entrance)

• Adult 89,- $
• Family* 169,- $

*Family membership are valid for 2 adults and up to 4 children. Check on line for other membership levels

There are several daily feeding shows, for the time please ask at the till station.

Feel free to take as many pictures as you want. If you publicate the pictures online plese mention the Zoos name


History:

The Roger Williams Park Zoo first opened in 1872. It began as a limited collection of small animals, including raccoons, guinea pigs, mouse, squirrels, rabbits, hawks, peacocks and anteaters. The zoo's first building, the Menagerie, opened in 1890. In the 1900s, the facility began to spread out over the entire park, featuring a variety of animals such as monkeys, hoofstock, bears, and big cats. Many new exhibits opened over time. In 1929, the Menagerie building was converted to a birdhouse; this was followed by the opening of an elephant house in 1930. In the 1930s, a new sea lion pool was constructed. Bunny Village, one of the zoo's most popular exhibits, opened in 1949. In the mid-1960s, the zoo started to show visible signs of neglect. In 1962, Sophie Danforth founded the Rhode Island Zoological Society, an organization to increase public awareness of the neglect, and to raise funds for improvement. Its goal is to provide public support for improvements to the Zoo, such as funding new exhibits, improving old exhibits, and providing the groundwork for research, educational programs, and zoo conservation. Today, Rhode Island Zoological Society remains as the non-profit organization that supports and manages the Zoo. Like any other organization, the Society needed members to help complete their goals. Members would be kept informed and help promote visiting the zoo. Members paid dues, which went towards buying animals and zoo supplies. However, this was not enough. To fill the gaps, the Society opened a gift shop in 1970, as well as food concessions, and all funds benefited the zoo. In 1978, the zoo closed for two years to embark upon an upgrade project. A children's nature center was added, as well as a naturalistic polar bear exhibit, a wetlands trail, and a North American bison exhibit. The zoo reopened on June 1, 1980. In the 1980s, a South American Pampas exhibit and a lemur exhibit were built. In 1986, the zoo's old barn was converted into an animal hospital, education department, and an administrative offices center. As a result, the zoo became the first in New England to receive accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In 1987, a new master plan was formulated to dramatically expand the zoo over the next decade. Over time, many new exhibits were built, including a new sea lion exhibit (1987), a humboldt penguin exhibit (1988), Plains of Africa (1991/1993), Madagascar (1995), and Marco Polo Trail (1996). In 1989, the old Menagerie building was once again renovated - this time into a new gift shop. Another master plan was formulated in the late 2000s, dubbed "The New Zoo". Almost every area of the zoo will be affected and the changes will be momentous – all aimed at enhancing the visitor’s experience and understanding of the natural world. Capital improvements include renovations on the Plains of Africa exhibit, renaming it Fabric of Africa. The renovated area includes an outdoor elephant enclosure twice as big as the previous one with an immersion pool for bathing. A new veterinary hospital opened in the spring of 2011, helping to ensure continued top-notch healthcare for the zoo’s animal collection. In 2012, Hasbro's Our Big Backyard, an interactive playspace, was opened. Featuring hands-on educational fun and an interactive tree house, it opened June 4, with a second phase featuring native New England animals scheduled for completion in 2014. Originally the North American trail was supposed to host the return of the polar bears, but due to the economic downturn the zoo has decided that a new polar bear exhibit was not feasible. Because of that, the zoo is now planning for a big cat exhibit as an alternative, and in the summer of 2012 opened new exhibits for takins, red river hogs, and king vultures.In 2014 the zoo opened a walk in wallaby enclosure and a childrens zoo. 2015 a new Materplan was aproofed. The Zoo announced Tree Kangaroo Awareness Month to celebrate the opening of its new Matschie’s tree kangaroo exhibit in the Australasia building, making the new baby, Holly, visible to the public for the first time. The second phase of the ALEX AND ANI Farmyard opened featuring the Farmhouse Stage, chickens, and Flemish giant rabbits as well as additional interactive play opportunities. Additionally, the Zoo took over the management of Roger Williams Park Carousel Village. New animals joined in 2017 the Zoo family including New England's only Komodo dragon, Kunekune pigs, American alligators and Watusi cattle. In September the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride took off allowing visitors to ride 115 feet high above the Zoo with views of the City of Providence and Narragansett Bay. The Zip Ride is riding out over the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular adding a new thrill to a Rhode Island Halloween tradition. The Faces of the Rainforest exhibit opened in November 2018 as part of phase one of the Zoo's 20 year Master Plan. The beautiful exhibit urges everyone to become a "face" of the Rainforest, and learn how everyone can protest the flora and fauna of the South American Rainforest.