Behind-the-scenes, dramatic improvements to the Zoo include a much-needed, freestanding veterinary hospital for continued top-notch healthcare for our approximately 800 animals, including many threatened and endangered species.

The core responsibility of any zoo is to provide the best possible lives for the animals in its care. Roger Williams Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and has a history of providing a high level of care for all its animals. 

While other capital campaign projects, both completed and yet to come, have higher public visibility, none will be more important than this new facility to assure the highest quality animal care for the hundreds of animals in the Zoo’s care.

Compared to other zoos of its size, Roger Williams Park Zoo has an impressive veterinary staff,
including two full-time veterinarians and veterinary technicians. But over the years they have been challenged by the space limitations in the basement of what was originally a working barn. The current hospital requires that a variety of medical functions be performed in the same space.

The new hospital, with 55% more square footage, will provide appropriate and separate facilities for each function. The setting for the new hospital will be removed from other zoo operations, providing a quieter area for care for sick and quarantined animals, as well as excellent access to a dedicated service road and secured gate. This is important for more efficient animal handling for new animal arrivals or departures. The new veterinary hospital will include an expanded animal care center for sick and quarantined animals and a spacious state-of-the-art surgical suite.
                                                                                
Timeframe and budget:$3.8 million. Design begun 2008; groundbreaking in October 2009; set for completion in December, 2010.

More: About the Ground Breaking

Rhode Island Zoological Society donors joined Zoo officials on October 5, 2009 to mark the start of construction of the new veterinary hospital, slated for opening in late 2010.

“One of the core responsibilities of any AZA-accredited zoos is to provide the best possible care for the animals in its collection,” commented Jack Mulvena, Executive Director of Roger Williams Park Zoo and the Rhode Island Zoological Society. “We are excited that soon we will have a facility that further helps us fulfill that responsibility most efficiently and effectively.”

Sophie Danforth, the founder of the Rhode Island Zoological Society, and Stephanie Chafee, former Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Society, provided the lead gifts for the hospital construction, which will cost approximately $3.8 million. At the ground breaking ceremony, Danforth and Chafee announced that the hospital is being dedicated and named in honor of past Board Chair John J. Palumbo for his many years of exceptional service to the Zoo and Society.  Palumbo’s 7 year tenure as Chair of the Board of Trustees is second only to that of Danforth. Other funding is provided by the Helen Walker Raleigh Animal Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation, the Marie Keese LeLash Foundation, individual donors and bond monies approved by voters in 2006.