Our Mission
As leaders in conservation and animal care, we create engaging experiences that empower guests to join us in conserving wildlife and wild places.
It’s Always an Adventure at Roger Williams Park Zoo!
In 1872, Roger Williams Park Zoo, the country’s third oldest Zoo, opened its doors to the public with a collection of small animal exhibits within the newly formed Roger Williams Park in the heart of Providence.
Today, located amid 40 acres of beautiful woodlands, the Roger Williams Park Zoo provides visitors the opportunity to see animals from all over the globe – some species more than a million years old. Each year approximately 800,000 visitors from across the state—and even around the world—enjoy the Zoo’s amazing animals, nationally recognized events, and award-winning educational programs. The Zoo’s naturalistic surroundings are home to more than 100 species of animals including a Komodo dragon, African elephants, zebras, red pandas, Masai giraffes, snow leopards, bears, anteaters, flamingoes, sloths, and more!
Kids from two to 102 have the opportunity to feed giraffes and an array of farmyard animals. For something slightly out of the ordinary, visitors can enjoy our Explore and Soar area and experience an exhilarating zip ride and a train excursion through the woodlands.
AZA-Accredited
Roger Williams Park Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), American Humane certified, and is home to many endangered species. Our accreditation is assurance that visitors are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for guests, and a better future for all living things. This includes our participation in cooperative conservation and breeding programs to help ensure the future survival of many endangered species. About AZA Accreditation >
You are part of our mission the moment you visit.
Each time you visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo, make a contribution, purchase an item from us, or share your knowledge about wildlife and conservation, you help us take another step in achieving our mission.
For 150 years, the Zoo has connected people with wildlife to inspire a love and appreciation for the environment and its animals. From our hands-on Wild Connections animal encounters, to witnessing our giant otters splash and slide down their waterslide—these moments tell a story and create connections that last a lifetime. It is with each experience that we create future leaders with a desire to protect and save species.
Roger Williams Park Zoo is supported and managed by the Rhode Island Zoological Society (a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization) and is owned by the City of Providence.
Discover More
What started as a scattered collection of small animals on display purely for entertainment has evolved into “New England’s great zoo” (The Boston Globe) and one of our region’s foremost centers for conservation and environmental education.