New York Zoos

The evolution of this city landmark launched the modern trend in urban zoos around the nation, with the transformation of cages and menagerie-style zoos into natural habitat exhibits that educate, involve, and connect people to our natural world.

At the beginning the collection was simply a growing group of donated animals - from 72 "white swans" to a black bear cub. Now in a steamy rain forest or in an icy Antarctic penguin habitat, the Wildlife Center at the Central Park Zoo introduces visitors to fascinating animals - from tiny leafcutter ants to tremendous polar bears. Explore the Tropic Zone, a beautiful tree filled rain forest environment, the Temperate Territory, where sea lions and monkeys frolic, or the Polar Circle, where you can watch polar bears swim underwater thanks to a Plexiglas’s wall.

If you are visiting the zoo with kids, don't miss the wonderful Tisch Children's Zoo, designed especially for children under 7 age, letting little animal, lovers meet gentle creatures up close. This "Enchanted Forest" features a petting zoo with goats, sheep, cows, pigs and other furry animal friends. Admission to the children's zoo is included in the price of admission to the main zoo.

The Prospect Park Zoo opened on October 5, 1993, becoming the fifth facility in Wildlife Conservation Society's, the unique network of wildlife parks in New York City.

After serious troubles, a groundbreaking project occurred in August for Prospect Park zoo, 1989. Some architectural aspects of the old zoo were saved, but inhumane conditions that existed there were eliminated. Naturalistic habitat exhibits replaced bars, cages, and pits. And three major exhibit areas were designed to engage children, especially, in learning about wildlife: The World of Animals, Animal Lifestyles, and Animals in Our Lives. These approaches to wildlife education are based on WIZE (Wildlife Inquiry through Zoo Education), the nationally-acclaimed education programs developed by Bronx Zoo educators. The Prospect Park Zoo's education department offers year-round classes and programs, too, for school groups and general public.

Queens Zoo is a tribute to American animals and was opened to the public on June 25, 1992. It was the second of three "city zoos" to be renovated and operated by Wildlife Conservation Society.

The zoo perimeter is a pathway that leads visitors to pockets of wild habitats, from the Great Plains to the rocky California coast to a Northeast forest. At home in these naturalistic settings are spectacular American species: American bison, mountain lions, California sea lions, American bald eagles, Roosevelt elk, and more. South America is represented as well. In addition, Queens Zoo is also the only New York home to spectacled bears, endangered natives of the Andes Mountains.

Bronx Zoo is the heart of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the main purpose is work to save wildlife and wild places around the globe. 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; with award-winning, cutting-edge exhibits featuring over 4,000 animals.

Whether you're nose-to-nose with Western lowland gorillas in our famous Congo Gorilla Forest , spotting snow leopards in our naturalistic Himalayan Highlands Habitat, or experiencing almost an acre of an indoor Asian rain forest, you're always within roaring distance of the world's most amazing wildlife. In the end, you'll know that your admission fees went to a conservation organization that has more expert researchers in the field than any other.

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