Zoos house animals in spaces that mimic their natural habitat to make sure they stay healthy, feel comfortable, and don't spontaneously evolve opposable thumbs. Watch wildlife in their element with today's Groupon to Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford. Tickets for children ages 3–12 are $3, and children younger than 3 get free admission. Choose between the following options:

•For $6, you get two general admission tickets (up to a $12 value).
•For $12, you get four general admission tickets (up to a $24 value).

Keepers at the Buttonwood Park Zoo ensconce an eclectic array of North American wildlife and critter conservation programs on tree-lined grounds founded more than 100 years ago. An idyllic covered bridge begets the Buttonwood Farm's rare breeds of swine, livestock, and feathered fowls, while a towering pair of Asian elephants vow never to forget a peanut-shaped face that crosses their path. An exhibit encompassing local fauna reveals the majesty of black bears and bald eagles alongside such maritime marvels as American lobsters, marbled salamanders, and undomesticated inner tubes.

Kid-friendly attractions grant riders and parents pride in knowing that each attraction's proceeds benefit Buttonwood Park Zoological Society's educational programs and family events. A stable of saddle-strapped ponies tote children on clopping circuits of their fenced-in pen ($3 per ride, not included with today's Groupon), and the wildlife carousel offers circular excursions for those with rein allergies ($2 per ride, not included with today's Groupon). Guests can dust off age-old conductor caps for a rousing choo-choo ride across the zoo's verdant terrain ($2 per ride, not included with today's Groupon).