Capron Park Zoo is a compact, AZA-accredited zoo in Attleboro, Massachusetts, that proves big wildlife experiences don’t need big acreage. Spread across just 8 acres of land donated by the Capron family, the zoo opened in 1937 after a fundraising campaign started by local schoolchildren more than a decade earlier in 1925. Today it’s home to roughly 100 animals representing about 44 species, drawing more than 120,000 visitors a year.
Despite its modest footprint, Capron Park Zoo punches above its weight with exhibits spanning North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Visitors can spot white lions, Amur leopards, meerkats, lemurs, kangaroos, and emus, plus an indoor rainforest exhibit housing fruit bats and porcupines and a dedicated nocturnal building. The zoo’s active education department, launched in 1991, runs programs that connect guests with the animals and the broader mission of conservation.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Attleboro, Massachusetts
- Opened: 1937
- Size: 8 acres
- Species: About 44 species, ~100 animals
- Annual visitors: More than 120,000
- Famous for: Indoor rainforest exhibit and white lions, on an 8-acre footprint
A Zoo Built by the Community
Capron Park Zoo’s roots trace back to 1925, when local schoolchildren began raising funds with the goal of building a zoo in their city. Their efforts paid off when the Capron family donated land, 8 acres of which became the zoo that opened in 1937. That grassroots origin still shapes the zoo’s identity as a community-focused, accessible attraction rather than a sprawling theme-park-style destination.
The zoo expanded its mission in 1991 with the opening of an education department, which runs a docent program, summer and vacation-week programs, story hour, and outreach programs. That focus on environmental education reinforces the zoo’s role as a teaching institution as much as an exhibit space.
What You’ll See
Despite covering just 8 acres, Capron Park Zoo organizes its exhibits by continent, featuring animals native to North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Highlights include white lions and Amur leopards, along with meerkats, lemurs, kangaroos, and emus.
Two standout features set the zoo apart from other small-city zoos: an indoor rainforest exhibit home to fruit bats, porcupines, and a two-toed sloth, and a nocturnal building that lets visitors observe animals active after dark. As an AZA-accredited facility, Capron Park Zoo also participates in Species Survival Plan breeding programs aimed at conservation of threatened species.
Explore more: Explore more Zoos & Aquariums.
Capron Park Zoo FAQs
When did Capron Park Zoo open?
Capron Park Zoo opened in 1937, after local schoolchildren began fundraising for the project in 1925. The land was donated by the Capron family.
How big is Capron Park Zoo, and how many visitors does it get?
The zoo covers 8 acres in Attleboro, Massachusetts, is home to about 100 animals representing roughly 44 species, and welcomes more than 120,000 visitors a year.
Is Capron Park Zoo accredited?
Yes, Capron Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participates in Species Survival Plan conservation programs.
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Photo: John Phelan / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.