NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

The Bronx Zoo, headquarters for the Wildlife Conservation Society, is the largest urban zoo in the United States. Its woods, streams and parklands encompass 265 acres. Within this enclave live more than 4,000 animals representing some 1,000 species.

Visitors view animals in spacious, naturalistic habitats. The Congo Gorilla Forest is a dramatic jungle walk through with glass walls that make the visitor wonder who is really on display—the animals or the visitor. The Bengali Express monorail carries visitors through two miles of the open-air Wild Asia exhibit where Siberian tigers, Asian elephants, Indian rhinoceroses and rare sika deer roam. The Zoo Shuttle and several camels offer other means of transportation.

The Himalayan Highland exhibit recreates the lofty terrain of snow leopards, white-naped cranes and other species. The Sea Lion Pool is a freshwater environment fabricated to look like a rocky California beach. The Baboon Reserve is a fascinating simulated archaeological dig tracing the evolution of gelada baboons. The Children's Zoo is a fun place to pet tame creatures only too eager to be close to people-but don't feed them! Here, youngsters can crawl through prairie dog tunnels, climb spiderwebs and listen to the call of the wild through simulated fox ears.

Rain or cold weather are no deterrent to several major interior exhibits including Jungle World, a tropical rain forest for Asian wildlife with waterfalls, ravines and exotic plants; the World of Darkness, home to dozens of nocturnal species; and the Reptile House, where crocodiles, snakes, turtles and a reptile nursery are on display. There's also the Lion House, the Monkey House, the World of Birds, the Giraffe Building, the Aquatic Bird House, the Mouse House and more.

The Bronx Zoo opened in 1899. Since 1941, when its first naturalistic habitats appeared, it has been a major international attraction. It is the flagship and home office and research center of the Wildlife Conservation Society (originally the New York Zoological Society), which also operates the Queens Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, the New York Aquarium and the Wildlife Survival Center at St. Catherine's Island, Georgia. The society oversees some 270 wildlife conservation projects in 52 nations and has helped establish 110 wildlife parks and reserves globally. The zoo shares Bronx Park with the New York Botanical Garden. With some planning both can be visited in the same day.

• Directions: Bus: The BxM11 express bus is a fast and inexpensive way to travel between the zoo and Manhattan. It makes stops along Madison Avenue, between 26th and 99th Streets, then travels directly to the zoo’s Bronx River entrance.
  Subway: 2 or 5 train to East Tremont Avenue - West Farms Square. At street level, walk straight ahead (follow train uptown) on Boston Road 2.5 blocks to the Zoo’s Asia gate entrance.

• ADA Compliant Restrooms
• Disability Access: Fully accessible
• Disability Assistance: Limited number of wheelchairs and strollers are available for rent
• Gift Shops: Souvenirs, toys, games, T-shirts, posters, books
• On-Site Food: Cafeteria, food stands and picnic areas
• On-Site Parking: $13 for cars, $16 for buses.

Get involved with Bronx Zoo

• Memberships