PDF - Emily Roche
Transcription
PDF - Emily Roche
Oh my, lions and tigers and giraffes – right here in Central Massachusetts at Southwick’s Zoo W hen I told friends and family I was going to visit Southwick’s Zoo, I got a universal reaction. “Oh really?” everyone said, eyebrows arched in pleasant surprise. “That is so cool — I didn’t think that place was still around.” Well, Southwick’s Zoo is very much still around. Since Justin and Clarice Daniels Southwick opened it in 1963 with a collection of exotic birds and other assorted animals, this zoo, located off a quiet street just off Route 16 in Mendon, has grown into New England’s largest zoo, attracting more than 200,000 Precious the Tiger chilling out. (Emily Roche photo) visitors each season. “One hundred acres are in a forestry in the world), and some llamas strolling Today, Southwick’s Zoo is a program,” explained Betsey Brewer, who around their spacious pen. Further major regional attraction and education is Justin and Clarice’s granddaughter. along the path in their own private park center is home to over 500 animals, “The zoo itself is on between 175 and complete with a blue wading pool stand some endangered. The zoo’s collection 200 acres. [The Wetlands habitat and the pink Chilean flamingoes, waiting to is wide-ranging and includes more Woodland Express train ride] is 50 acres, be admired. than 100 different species, including and Deer Forest is Africa is well represented at the the exotic, I-can’t35.” zoo. Leo and Lexie are Southwick’s believe-I’m-seeing The grounds lions, and a 6-acre section, appropriately these-in-CentralDayTripper are easily navigated named the African Plains, is home to Mass-ones such via the zoo’s wellsome zebra, water buffalo, and an ostrich as giraffes, lions, Emily designed, very or two. Giraffes, possibly the most rhinos, and fabulous Roche clean walking beloved animals in the zoo, are located pink—not plastic— paths. Just about in their own section near the petting zoo. flamingoes. every continent For those who want a taste of the Sahara, “I’ve been is represented at double-and single-humped camels can coming here since I Southwick’s — walking the zoo is sort be found right next door (Camel rides are was a little kid,” said Amy Parsekian, a of like taking a United Nations tour of available). And if anyone’s interested in fellow day-tripper who was visiting the the animal kingdom. In fact, there’s so just hanging around, there are monkeys, zoo with her husband John and their son, Michael. “It’s been one of our best trips much to see and do at the zoo, it’s hard to lemurs, and gibbons throughout the zoo who can show you how it’s really done. here in a long time. We’ve seen a lot of decide where to begin your world tour. Map in hand, I decided to start my Just beyond the Plains is Deer things that have changed since last year, tour in the Australian Outback, where Forest, the fenced-in area that lets you even.” some red kangaroos, sitting on their walk around with and feed the doe-eyed, powerful legs on a hot summer afternoon, fallow deer who live there. Animals from around the world “I’d have to say that Deer Forest The zoo is still privately owned and and a smaller but similar-looking wallaby greeted me with silent curiosity. is the most popular thing here,” Betsey operated by the descendants of Justin and After receiving a loud and robotic Brewer said. “Because you can go in and Clarice, the Brewer family. The zoo sits “Hello! Hello!” from one of the gorgeous, see the deer and get up really close.” on over 300 acres of land and, besides jewel-colored macaws, I saw other What’s it like inside Deer Forest? animals, includes other attractions such representatives from South America, Well, depending on the type of deer you as camel and elephant rides, a carousel including some capybaras, which look see, it can either feel like you are an and other rides for young children, and like a cross between a mouse and a really extra in Bambi or, if you see the ones a small outdoor show area that features short pony (they are the largest rodents with antlers, a bit like Christmas. The barnyard-themed reviews. 14 Central Mass Magazine September 2007 only thing missing, as one little boy in a stroller pointed out, is Santa. A visit to Southwick’s just wouldn’t be complete without checking out the popular and fascinating Red Bat exhibit. It’s been at the zoo for a long time and, even though I didn’t catch its origins, I have a sneaking suspicion it has strong ties to the Southwick and Brewer families. A Family Affair Southwick’s growth and success is solely due to the hard work, dedication, and passion of the Brewer family. According to the zoo’s site, the zoo grew rapidly after it opened and the Southwicks formed two privately-owned corporations: Southwick Wild Animal Farm and Southwick Birds & Animals. Justin and Clarice ran the zoo with their son Dan and their daughter, Justine and her husband Robert Brewer. After a few years, Justine and her family moved to Vermont to run another business, leaving the management of the businesses to Dan. Southwick’s fell on hard times in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Dan died unexpectedly, leaving the zoo in disarray. In 1980 the Brewers moved back to manage the zoo, and Justine, Betsey, and the four other Brewer children have been running it ever since. When you consider that the zoo has always been privately owned and does not receive any federal, state, or local aid, it’s a small miracle it exists today at all. “The first 10 years [back] were brutal,” recalled Betsey. “My mother and I lived in this house and we didn’t have heat. We lived worse than the animals!” Educational commitment “The premise of every zoo is you want to pull people in for entertaining purposes,” Betsey said, “and once you get them in there hopefully you can educate them.” Southwick’s takes its commitment to education and community development seriously. The leopard exhibit, currently under construction and scheduled for a grand opening next spring, brings that philosophy to life. The exhibit was built with the help of a group of seventh grade girls from the Miscoe Hill Middle School in Mendon. Southwick’s designed the project to help them increase their skills in science and math, engineering and technology. On the day I visited, Betsey gave some students from Tufts University’s veterinarian school a lesson in the fine art of using a blow-dart gun to try and sedate an animal, using a trash can as a target. The zoo’s commitment to education is so strong that Betsey started EARTH Limited, a non-profit educational center located inside the zoo. EARTH Limited’s mission is to provide environmental and conservation education with an emphasis on animal ecology, endangered species and threatened habitats. The center offers a wide variety of educational programs at the zoo and will expand its horizons to the small island of Utila in the Western Caribbean when it opens the Blue Moon Eco Lodge next year. The Brewers’ devotion to the place THINKING OF PURCHASING A HOME IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS? is evident as you walk around the clean, well-maintained grounds and facilities. That, I think, is what keeps families coming back year after year. “It’s like a family tradition I remember from being a kid,” said Nicole Lavalle, who had her small child in tow. “There aren’t that many places you can go and remember it from being from when you were a kid. And it has the same charm, only it’s bigger and better.” l If you go Southwick’s Zoo is located 4 miles off Route 16 in Mendon at 2 Southwick Street. The zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, holidays included, through October 21. Admission is $12.75 for children aged 3-12 and seniors 62 and over; $16.75 for adults 13 and up; free for children 2 and under. For more information on the zoo, including educational, animal adoption, and volunteer opportunities, visit www. southwickszoo.com or call 1-800-258-9182. For more information on the EARTH Limited, the non-profit education center located at the zoo, visit www.earthltd.org. Emily Roche can be e-mailed at [email protected] Nu-Kar Automobile Sales is proud to announce its 50th Anniversary. We’d like to thank you for helping make it possible. We hope our relationship with you will continue for many years to come. Sincerely, Call Giovanny Zuniga today low refinancing rate$ debt consolidation free pre-approvals NO application fees 2 week closings available for a personal evaluation 508.667.4998 NOW OFFERING…reverse mortgages senior discounts - commercial/mixed use properties - investment purchases NU-KAR AUTOMOBILE SALES 7-11 Park St. Ayer MA 01432 (1957) 50th Anniversary (2007) Don Chapman 978-772-2912 Lic # MC 0623 Central Mass Magazine September 2007 15