| The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the | | | | Mountain, an award-winning three acre home for |
| United States, comprised of 265 acres of natural | | | | Siberian tigers; Himalayan Highlands, a one-acre habitat |
| habitats and over 4,000 animals. The Zoo was | | | | authentically decorated by a Tibetan monk; Baboon |
| opened on November 8, 1899 and was focused on | | | | Reserve, with a simulated archaeological dig; the |
| conservation-something it still practices today. The | | | | Bengali Express, a two-mile monorail ride through |
| Bronx Zoo is owned and operated by the Wildlife | | | | various habitats; the Aquatic Birdhouse; the Giraffe |
| Conservation Society (formerly known as the New | | | | Building, and the World of Reptiles. The Children's Zoo |
| York Zoological Society) and was one of the first | | | | features a variety of interactive activities, such as |
| zoos in America that moved animals from cages to | | | | climbing a spider's web, crawling through a prairie dog |
| sprawling, replicated living environments. Species are | | | | tunnel, slithering like a lizard down a hollow tree, and, |
| mixed to create a more realistic environment for the | | | | of course, a petting zoo. |
| animals and the zoo patrons. The Zoo charges entry | | | | The zoo has a special relationship with bison and |
| fees to assist in the upkeep and preservation of the | | | | snow leopards. The bison model for the buffalo nickel |
| exhibit's species. | | | | was a Bronx Zoo resident. Furthermore, many of |
| One of the jewels of the Bronx Zoo is the Congo | | | | today's bison in the Western U.S. are descendents of |
| Gorilla Forest, which features over 400 animals and | | | | Bronx Zoo bison. William T. Hornaday cultivated a |
| 55 different species (and 22 gorillas), as well as | | | | deep interest in the American bison, which once |
| 15,000 plants representing 400 species. The 6.5 acre | | | | numbered over 50 million. In the 1890s, less than |
| forest is the largest man-made rainforest in the | | | | 1,000 bison were thought to exist in the wild. In |
| world. The Congo Gorilla Forest is also home to Patty | | | | October of 1899, Hornaday acquired bison for the |
| Cake, the first gorilla ever born in New York City. | | | | Bronx Zoo and began to build a herd. By 1907, the |
| Additionally, the Bronx Zoo has almost an acre of | | | | Bronx Zoo was able to ship fifteen bison to |
| indoor Asian rainforest. Another interesting habitat is | | | | Oklahoma's Wichita Mountain Preserve. Shortly |
| the African Planes habitat, where the zoo workers | | | | thereafter, bison were provided to Montana, South |
| have integrated a number of predator/prey species | | | | Dakota, and Nebraska. Many of the bison in the |
| separated by an elaborate system of moats. Lions, | | | | Western U.S today are descended from the bison at |
| zebras, giraffes, and other savannah-dwelling animals | | | | the Bronx Zoo. Likewise, the Bronx Zoo was the first |
| live in this habitat. | | | | zoo in the Western Hemisphere to exhibit and |
| Other attractions include World of Darkness, an | | | | successfully breed snow leopards; a total of 82 cubs |
| indoor exhibit devoted to nocturnal animals; Tiger | | | | were born between 1966 and 1999. |