NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday morning at Buttonwood Park Zoo to celebrate the opening of its Animal Ambassador Center.

The $2.7 million facility features viewing areas and a recreated habitat for the zoo’s Animal Ambassador Program, which brings rescued and rehabilitated animals to schools, libraries and public events for hands-on learning experiences.

The zoo also welcomed twelve new animals, including two red foxes, poison dart frogs, a green aracari and a skink. The foxes — siblings named Finn and Fern — are less than a year old and were among hundreds reportedly rescued from an abusive fur and urine farm in Ohio earlier this year.

According to nonprofit organization Humane World for Animals (HWA), more than 300 animals were saved from the no

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