Bronx Zoo: Get Up Close And Personal With Exotic And Endangered Animals
Big Apple’s wildlife enthusiasts have been flocking to Bronx Zoo since 1899 for an exclusive peek into the natural world. With a hardwood forest spread across 265 acres, the zoo houses over 640 species and 11,000 animals. As the flagship park of the Wildlife Conservation Society, it cares for an amazing variety of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, birds, and invertebrates.
From Nile crocodiles, leopards, anacondas, and bald eagles to Asian elephants, Caribbean flamingos, and lemurs from Madagascar, there are many wild friends to meet here. Giraffes, gorillas, grizzly bears, lions, king vultures, penguins, and zebras are some other animals that you can visit. You can also meet exotic beauties like the Okapi, Nubian ibex, Malayan Tapir, poison dart frog, and tufted puffin. Let’s learn more about the zoo so that you can plan a visit without any hitch.
Background on Bronx Zoo
In the last 125 years, the zoo has achieved many milestones and promoted environmental conservation. It saved the bison from going extinct in 1907, while in 1916, it set up an animal hospital. Hellen Keller, the famous deaf-blind author and activist, was one of it’s most famous visitors. Throughout 1981, 1990, and 2014, the zoo witnessed the birth or debut of endangered species like the gaur, the Sumatran rhino, and the flare-horned markhor.
From 1980 onwards, Bronx Zoo started setting up intriguing exhibits involving animals from different ecosystems, including the Himalayan Highlands, Congo forests, and Madagascar. It also returned over 10,000 Kihansi spray toads to Tanzania, rescued and treated 81 African gray parrots, and conducted 1000 health checks on blue iguanas before releasing them back onto the Grand Cayman Island. Premiering on Animal Planet in 2017 was a key milestone, too.
Where is Bronx Zoo and how do you get there?
The zoo has a sprawling presence on 2300 Southern Boulevard. It is easily accessible by public transportation and car.
From Manhattan:
- Take the BxM11 express bus and get off at Gate B.
From Queens:
- Take the Q44 bus to 180th Street and Boston Road, then walk north to Gate A.
From the Bronx:
- Take the Bx9 or Bx19 buses to 183rd Street and Southern Boulevard, near Gate C.
By Subway:
- Take train #2 to Pelham Parkway. Exit to the street via elevators, then walk west to Gate B.
By Train:
- Take the Harlem Line of Metro North to Fordham. From there, take the Bx9 bus to 183rd Street and Southern Boulevard.
By Car:
- If using a car service, get off at the Southern Boulevard Gate.
- Parking is available at Southern Boulevard and Bronx River Parkway.
- Additional parking is available at Fordham University.
What to expect when you visit the Bronx Zoo?
Usually, from early November to late March or early April, the zoo is open from 10 am to 4.30 pm. During warmer months, it’s open from 10 am to 5 pm (5.30 pm on weekends and holidays).
Provisions for visitors with disabilities include wheelchair-friendly buildings, a zoo shuttle, and an accessibility map. You can request personal assistance and enjoy rides like Nature Trek, Bug Carousel, and Wild Asia Monorail. Manual wheelchairs are also available for free at the South Boulevard entrance. The zoo offers strollers and electric convenience vehicles for rent as well.
To enter, you must carry a date-specific ticket. For a smooth experience inside, use the park’s interactive map and mobile app. Note that animal exhibits usually close 30 minutes before the zoo closes. Note that kids under 17 need adult supervision at all times.
Dancing Crane Café is the main restaurant opposite the Bronx Zoo Store. At 17,500 square feet, the eatery offers outdoor and indoor seating and serves various beverages and dishes.
What else can you do when you visit?
At Jungleworld, watch orange and black langurs frolic amidst lush branches and groom each other. Enjoy a ride on the Wild Asia Monorail and spot rhinos, red pandas, and elephants on the route.
To soak in panoramic views, choose the Nature Trek experience and navigate swinging bridges to admire its fantastic landscape. You can also watch zookeepers feeding penguins and sea lions and ask questions about the species, how adorable is that?
And don’t forget to check out the bug carousel, with a vibrant grasshopper, praying mantis, and dung beetle, it will also draw your little ones’s attention and is a joyful ride.
You could also book an in-person encounter with cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, or camels to make your trip more memorable. And meet the wild celebrities featured on the ZOO (Animal Planet).
After exiting the zoo, you can go on a Harlem walking tour or head to a nearby pub with lively music.
Bronx Zoo is an exciting place to forge friendships with four-footed, feathery, and slithery beings from the wild side. You can spend hours watching them, learning about their anatomy and habits, and grabbing a bite at the nearby restaurant.
FAQs
Is the Bronx Zoo closed on any day?
The zoo is closed on holidays like Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and New Year’s Day.
How long does it take to explore the Bronx Zoo?
It usually takes 2 to 2.5 hours to explore the zoo. However, depending on the activities or exhibits you have signed up for, you might need more time.
Is admission free on any day at Bronx Zoo?
On Wednesdays, a limited number of visitors are admitted for free. That’s why you must make an advanced reservation for your tickets. Booking facilities open at 5 pm on Mondays.
So, if you are ready for a rendezvous with quirky-looking giant anteaters, deadly king cobras, colorful Cuban Amazon parrots, or cheeky white-cheeked gibbons, a visit to Bronx Zoo is what you need.
Are you looking for more? Get an eagle’s eye view on a helicopter ride to admire all the gems peppering New York—from the Bronx Zoo and Central Park to the Empire State Building, Times Square, Chrysler Building, and more.
The post Bronx Zoo: Get Up Close And Personal With Exotic And Endangered Animals appeared first on Secret NYC.