Roger Williams Park Zoo

1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI 02905, USA

Address:	1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI 02905, USA
Phone:	+1 401-785-3510
Site:	rwpzoo.org
Rating:	4.5
Working:	10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 5

Tyler Ferreira

Do not support Zoos! Many people aren’t aware of the cruelty behind zoos (Also Seaworld)! "When I was a kid, I went to the zoo all the time with my family. I loved pandas as a kid (still do!), and I thought being able to see them in person would be neat. But once I saw them “up close and personal,” I realized that the animals were miserable. It instantly became very clear to me that the animals imprisoned in zoos are sad and don’t want to be kept in artificial environments, have people gawk at them, listen to children who bang on the windows of their enclosures, or have cameras flashing in their faces. To put it simply, zoos are imprisoning animals who want to be free. Captive animals are deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, and as a result, they become bored and lonely and many even suffer from a condition called “zoochosis.” If you’ve ever witnessed a captive animal rock and sway back and forth, you’ve seen the disease firsthand. This condition is so rampant in zoos that some zoos give animals a mood-altering drug, such as Prozac, because the public has started to catch on. Some animals are so unhappy that they risk their lives in desperate attempts to free themselves. At the Dallas Zoo, a gorilla named Jabari tried to escape by jumping over the walls and moats of his enclosure, only to be fatally shot by police. A witness later confessed that teenagers were taunting him by throwing rocks. Animals are unable to thrive in small enclosures, especially with unnatural weather and climates. For example, elephants typically walk up to 30 miles in just one day, but Lucy, the lone elephant at the Edmonton Zoo, is locked inside a barn when the zoo is closed and during Edmonton’s frigid winter months, which means she spends most of her time indoors, without much room to move. The near-constant confinement because of the harsh weather has caused Lucy to develop painful arthritis. In reality, most people only spend a few seconds at each display, waiting for the animals to do something “exciting,” but they gain little, if any, true understanding of the animals. In addition, captive animals don’t get to choose their mates, and they are sometimes artificially inseminated so that their babies can be sold or traded to other zoos. This often results in miscarriages, death at birth, or the mother’s rejection of her young. The Chinese government “rents” pandas to zoos worldwide for fees of more than $1 million per year! Traveling and roadside zoos are even crueler. Animals are often kept in barren cages, such as concrete pens, and in stressful environments, with nothing more than an old tire or a log to stimulate their minds and enrich their lives. People have also been sickened—and some have died—after contracting diseases from animals in petting zoos. Instead of going to the zoo, you can learn about animals by watching nature documentaries or observing the animals in their own natural habitats instead. Now that I know the reality behind zoos, I don’t go to the zoo, and I encourage my friends and family to boycott them as well. I love animals, and I want to see them free, not held captive behind bars!" That was a in depth, accurate, detailed piece written by Michelle Carr. I highly recommend you do not support the Zoos.. especially if you love animals! I also highly recommend looking into Veganism. It has changed my life, and has helped animals, and our environment!

sidehop

We were just here recently and the kids seemed to enjoy it a lot. The zoo is open all year round which of course limits some exhibits that cannot have certain animals outside during the winter. We saw Id say 90% of the animals. This zoo is all outdoors with the exception of small butterfly garden during warmer months (about 1/2 the size of York Wild Animal Kingdom). Youll do a bit of walking here but feel its a lot more open for the animals. The selection of animals are great and while some were hiding or sleeping, we did get to see something a little different from York which of course is open less than five months out of the year. I wont list them all but I feel this zoo had more variety. For the most part the zoo is clean, bathrooms throughout, there are few places to eat and overall price is not bad ($15 for adults and $10 for kids 3+). If you have little ones, I would highly suggest a stroller as the park is fairly stretched out but have plenty of room for even a big stroller to go around no problem. One of the attraction we feel the kids actually enjoyed are the play areas near the butterfly garden. Theres a good Id say an acre full of kids to play with water area, a covered house, and a park-like setup that they can play for hours. Overall the zoo portion is okay for first time visit but I feel theres a lot more walking to do (but good for the animals) but of course the kids can still enjoy the park area as well.

Caryn Fantasia

We have been zoo members for the last 3 years, my daughter has loved the zoo. Since she was just 6months old we would attend weekly during the good weather and even sneak in some quick trips on mild winter days. This summer (2017) we have found on many of our trips the animals are not even out, and those that are are lethargic. Ive tried to change up our visiting times with no success. Sections of the zoo are closed for construction, and the crowds at some attractions like the barnyard and big backyard are unmanageable. Large visiting camp groups take over, and camp supervision is minimal. One of the main walkways is now closed and has been repurposed for train rides, which means you can no longer walk a full loop and have to double back making the area near the elephants and restaurant bottleneck with crowds. There are other attractions like face painting, camel and train rides but those are at an additional cost. Last summer they started serving alcohol at some of the concession stands which in my opinion really has no place at this type of facility. More than 2/3 of your guests will be driving children home after consuming the alcohol. Sadly we will not be renewing our membership, in fact I wish we didnt have 7 months left on our current one. This year it has been a waste.

Chris Mannix

Want to go to the Zoo? Botanical center? Carousel? Casino? Maybe have some boating adventures on the 100 acres of ponds? Maybe you want to just sit in the grass and have a picnic or walk the many paths and trails and enjoy the sounds of nature. You can tour the rose gardens and enjoy the many public sculptures. Take the kids (or yourselves) to the museum of natural history and planetarium. Enjoy a concert or other events at the Temple to Music, participate in benefit walks for various causes, Pride celebrations, baseball games, kids & adults playing football or frisbee, tennis, running & power walking. There is no shortage of activity whether in groups or just by yourself to clear your head and be at peace. For 125 years folks have enjoyed the 435 acres that is Roger Williams Park. Since the park is 5 minutes from home I enjoy these many pleasures regularly year round. Even if it is snowing and 25 degrees, grab a sled or some skis or just grab your dog and enjoy the open space.

GlockASP

My family and I come here at least twice a year. Three hours round trip for us to to get here. Why do we come here, this Zoo has something a bit special, Elephants. My son loves them and we can spend the entire day just watching them. For the folks that just dont know how expensive it is to not only care for and to feed them but also to build an adequate enclosure for them. The expense is enormous. So for a Zoo this size to have them is outstanding. (Those that feel the entrance fees are not reasonable, reconsider how much it costs to house and care for the animals you are there to see.) This Zoo has a lot to offer for its size. the parking is free but it is limited. The bathrooms are normal for public bathrooms, and there are family bathrooms too. The food available is as with most attractions overpriced. If you plan to come to the Zoo more then once as a family, buy a membership, well worth it and it can be used at other places.