Entrance sign |
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| Date opened | 1963[1] |
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| Location | Mendon, Massachusetts, USA |
| Land area | 300 acres (120 ha)[2] |
| Number of animals | ~500[1] |
| Number of species | 100+[3] |
| Website | www.southwickszoo.com |
Southwick's Zoo is a 300-acre (120 ha), privately-owned and operated zoological park located in Mendon, Massachusetts, USA. It was opened in 1963, and remains family operated to date.
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The Southwick homestead (which the zoo now occupies) dates back to 1803 when it was a working dairy farm. In the 1930s, Justin F. Southwick started collecting exotic poultry. His son (Justin A. Southwick) shared his father's love of birds, and became a leading authority on migratory waterfowl. In 1953 he sold the dairy herd to concentrate on birds. In 1956 he placed a donation box at the barn where he kept his birds, which let him purchase more for his collection.[1]
The family opened the zoo in 1963. In 1965, they formed two companies: Southwick's Wild Animal Farm Inc. and Southwick's Birds and Animals Inc., with Justin A. Southwick as president of both, his son Dan as vice-president of "Birds and Animals" (which traded, sold, and leased animals), and his son in law Robert Brewer as vice-president of the "Wild Animal Farm". The Brewer family moved away for a while to other opportunities, and Dan Southwick took over the businesses in 1971. With his death in 1977 the zoo suffered for a while until the Brewer family moved back and took over the operations.[1]
The zoo opened a new chimpanzee exhibit in 2001, and the SkyFari in 2008.
This exhibit is home to many North American animals including elk (wapiti), red deer, great blue herons, river otters, swans, foxes, and painted turtles. Visitors are take around this exhibit on the Woodland Express, a rubber-tired train.[4]
This 35-acre (14 ha) walk-through exhibit lets visitors get close to, and even feed, the resident animals. Residents of this exhibit include fallow deer, painted turtles, native birds, and frogs.[3][5] Visitors can also see this exhibit from the air on the Skyfari.[6]
The zoo started with an interest in migratory waterfowl, and birds have always had a special place. Birds can be found in exhibits throughout the zoo including the Earth Discovery Center and Parakeet Landing, a walk-through aviary that lets visitors come in contact with parakeets and cockatiels, as well as feed them. Birds at the zoo include macaws, cockatoos, conures, eclectus, cockatiels, ostriches, emu, rhea, African crowned cranes, flamingos, Mandarin ducks, Polish chickens, fancy pigeons, and kookaburra.[7]
This is the zoo's education center, and in addition to the education programs it houses many smaller animals including macaws, bush babys, porcupines, [[turtle]s, snakes, bearded dragons, and other reptiles.[3] Some of he animals housed here have been rehabilitated after injury or donated by owners who could no loner care for them.[7]
A petting zoo, pony rides, and camel rides are available at the zoo. At one time, elephant rides were also offered, but the zoo no longer keeps elephants. A play area for children is also available, with play structures made from recyclable materials.[5][8]
The Skyfari Sky Ride, which takes visitors over a large portion of the zoo in a triangular pattern, was opened in 2008. Visitors can see alligators, watusi cattle, camels, chimpanzees, mandrills, and elk, as well as fly over Deer Woods, in a two-seat chair lift.[6][9]
The zoo has had education programs since it opened in 1963. These were initially run by Robert Brewer, and are now provided by Earth Limited, which was founded by Betsey Brewer and includes a staff of certified teachers, education coordinators, college students, volunteers, and interns from area colleges.[10][11]
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Southwick%27s_Zoo Southwick's Zoo] at Wikimedia Commons
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