The Bronx Zoo New York City
The Bronx Zoo – Tourist Attractions in Bronx, New York City
“the world’s greatest zoo” – Home of the Wildlife Conservation Society
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The Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo
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The Bronx Zoo is a world-famous zoo located within the Bronx Park, in the Bronx borough of New York City. The largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, the Bronx Zoo comprises 265 acres of parklands and naturalistic habitats home to over 4,000 animals, many of which are endangered or threatened species. Focused on conservation, it opened on November 8, 1899, with 22 exhibits, 843 animals, and the goal to “advance the study of zoology, protect wildlife, and educate the public”. Entry fees help preserve the species housed in the exhibit. Heins & LaFarge designed the original permanent buildings as a series of Beaux-Arts pavilions grouped around the large circular sea lion pool.
The Zoological Park (Bronx Zoo) was one of the first zoos in North America to move animals often organized by families in Linnaean classification from cages to more naturalistic environments (e.g., “The African Plains”) and mixing species to replicate the region the species originate. Physical barriers such as moats, sometimes invisible to viewers, separate predators from prey. The zoo is especially known for its “Wild Asia” tramway, a monorail that allows spectators to observe Asian animals, and “Jungleworld”, an indoor exhibit on plants and animals from tropical rain forests. The zoo also boasts the Congo Gorilla Forest, the largest manmade rainforest in the world at 6.5 acres. Other large indoor exhibitions include “World of Darkness”, which showcases nocturnal animals including caimans, bats, and naked mole rats. The building is kept completely dark during visitor hours to keep the animals active. The lights are turned on after closing, letting the creatures sleep. The zoo is also home to several indoor bird houses including “World of Birds”, the famous two-story bird house containing hundreds of species. Here visitors can see the keepers toss live crickets to white-throated bee-eaters, as the birds catch the crickets midflight. The feeding can be seen daily at 2:45 pm local time.
Bronx Zoo – A flash back
TITLE: Chimpanzees, most man like of the apes, Bronx Park, New York
CREATED/PUBLISHED: [no date recorded on caption card]
Photo Source: digital file from b&w film copy neg.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-47701 (b&w film copy neg. of half stereo)
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
There are two other special enrichment sessions at the zoo. Visitors can watch keepers feed penguins at the Russel B. Aitken seabird colony, and see the special presentation at Tiger Mountain. At the latter, keepers perform daily checkups on the Siberian Tigers through mesh, giving viewers an up close look at the tigers.
Other exhibits of note include the Birds of Prey Aviary sections, containing Andean Condors, the largest bird of prey, and the Aquatic Bird House. This indoor bird exhibition allows visitors to see larger, aquatic birds with no glass to inhibit photography.
The most recent exhibit finished is for African Wild Dogs, located near the cheetahs. Future expansion includes the rennovation of the Lion House on historic Astor Court, which is being transformed into a Madagascar exhibit, showing lemurs, fossas, and a crocodile. This project is expected to be complete sometime in 2008.
One of the zoo’s most famous residents was a bison called Black Diamond which was the model used by James Earle Fraser for the buffalo nickel coin issued from 1913 to 1938, and more recently a one ounce gold bullion coin, the gold buffalo. The Bronx Zoo is owned and operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society, formerly known as the New York Zoological Society. WCS operates four other parks in New York City: Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium.
With award-winning, cutting-edge exhibits featuring over 4,000 animals, there is no other zoo in the world that offers the diversity, superb viewing, and world-renowned expertise that assures a rewarding experience and the knowledge that visitors can make a difference in the world around them..
The New York Pass grants you free general admission to the Zoo.
Address
Bronx Zoo, The Bronx, New York, NY 10460
Address
By Subway:
Take either the #2 or #5 train uptown to East Tremont Ave/West Farm Square. Exit to the left, through the turnstile. At street level, walk straight ahead (follow train uptown) on Boston Road 2 1/2 blocks to the Bronx Zoo gate.
By Car:
Major Deegan to Van Cortlandt Park South exit. From exit turn east and continue straight to Mosholu Parkway. Right onto Mosholu. Go to Southern Blvd., turn right and go straight for about a quarter mile. Look for Zoo on left, proceed to end of Zoo property and turn left into parking lot
By Bus:
Liberty Lines BXM11 route takes you from mid-town Manhattan directly to the Bronx Zoo! This express bus runs up Madison Ave., picking up at 27th, 32nd, 39th, 47th, 54th, 63rd, 70th, 84th and 99th Streets. The Bronx Zoo is the first stop after 99th Street.
In the Bronx, both the Bx9 and Bx19 routes have a bus stop at our Southern Blvd. Gate. This stop is located at 183rd Street. The Bx12 and Bx22 can also be taken to Fordham Road and Southern Blvd. You must then walk 5 blocks south on Southern Blvd (the Zoo will be on your left) to the Southern Blvd and 183rd Street entrance.
Hours
The Bronx Zoo is open 365 days a year. Bronx Zoo spring/summer hours and rates are in effect April 3th through October 30th, 2004.
Regular Spring Hours: Open Close
Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 10:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
Holidays 10:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
Admission
Thursday – Tuesday Adults $11.00 Child (2-12) $8.00 Seniors (65 +) $8.00
Children under 2 years are always free.
Wednesday Suggested donation is the same as general admission.
Congo Gorilla Forest – A $3.00 Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit entry fee allows visitors to vote their admission to African conservation projects.
Exhibit fees are applicable 7 days a week.
The New York Pass grants you free general admission to the Zoo.