Visit The Bronx Zoo In NYC

The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in theMountain, an award-winning three acre home for
United States, comprised of 265 acres of naturalSiberian tigers; Himalayan Highlands, a one-acre habitat
habitats and over 4,000 animals. The Zoo wasauthentically decorated by a Tibetan monk; Baboon
opened on November 8, 1899 and was focused onReserve, with a simulated archaeological dig; the
conservation-something it still practices today. TheBengali Express, a two-mile monorail ride through
Bronx Zoo is owned and operated by the Wildlifevarious habitats; the Aquatic Birdhouse; the Giraffe
Conservation Society (formerly known as the NewBuilding, and the World of Reptiles. The Children's Zoo
York Zoological Society) and was one of the firstfeatures a variety of interactive activities, such as
zoos in America that moved animals from cages toclimbing a spider's web, crawling through a prairie dog
sprawling, replicated living environments. Species aretunnel, slithering like a lizard down a hollow tree, and,
mixed to create a more realistic environment for theof course, a petting zoo.
animals and the zoo patrons. The Zoo charges entryThe zoo has a special relationship with bison and
fees to assist in the upkeep and preservation of thesnow 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 Congotoday's bison in the Western U.S. are descendents of
Gorilla Forest, which features over 400 animals andBronx Zoo bison. William T. Hornaday cultivated a
55 different species (and 22 gorillas), as well asdeep interest in the American bison, which once
15,000 plants representing 400 species. The 6.5 acrenumbered over 50 million. In the 1890s, less than
forest is the largest man-made rainforest in the1,000 bison were thought to exist in the wild. In
world. The Congo Gorilla Forest is also home to PattyOctober 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 ofBronx Zoo was able to ship fifteen bison to
indoor Asian rainforest. Another interesting habitat isOklahoma's Wichita Mountain Preserve. Shortly
the African Planes habitat, where the zoo workersthereafter, bison were provided to Montana, South
have integrated a number of predator/prey speciesDakota, 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 animalsthe 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, ansuccessfully breed snow leopards; a total of 82 cubs
indoor exhibit devoted to nocturnal animals; Tigerwere born between 1966 and 1999.