Master Plan Includes New Aquatic Exhibit At Buttonwood Zoo

The Director of the Buttonwood Park Zoo is discussing the facility's updated master plan.

The $22 million plan will be carried out over three, five year phases, and will include more exhibits featuring endangered and exotic species like tigers, snow leopards and red panda's.

Zoo Director Keith Lovett tells WBSM's Tim Weisberg, there is also is a new aquatic exhibit being planned. "We will have a lot of North Atlantic species, and its not just a display of these species, its talking about how important the ocean is to our environment in New Bedford, and keeping our ocean and fresh water systems healthy."

Lovett says some changes are already happening. He's encouraging zoo keepers to engage visitors in conversations about the zoo. "When people come to the zoo of course they want to see the animals, but they also want to know the stories about the animals and the stories of the zoo keepers, and what it takes to take care of these animals on a daily basis. So we've really made it a much more personal experience, a much more interactive experience," said Lovett

Lovett says funding for the project will come from some public sources, and private fund-raising.