Bronx Zoo --
Wildlife Conservation Park
Fordham Road and the Bronx
River Parkway
The Bronx
(718) 367-1010
website: www.wcs.orgSummary:
With over 6,000 animals, the 265-acre
Bronx Zoo is the largest city zoo in the
United States. We think it is also the
best. Ride a camel, glimpse the
endangered snow leopards and red pandas,
and hop on the "Bengali
Express" monorail to see the animals
in recreations of their natural habitats.
And don't miss the Congo Gorilla Forest
exhibit.
Nothing beats a trip to
the zoo. There are endless reasons to
visit: go to learn something about an
endangered species, go to see the baby
animals born in the last year, or go just
to see the joy on children's faces.
Background
The Bronx Zoo, officially
know as the Wildlife Conservation Park,
was founded in 1895 by the New York
Zoological Society. The Society changed
its name to the Wildlife Conservation
Society (WCS) in 1993 to reflect its role
in protecting animals and ecosystems
around the world. Indeed, throughout its
history, the WCS has taken on
responsibilities of international
significance and now serves as a breeding
ground and refuge for many endangered
species.
The Bronx Zoo has long been
an innovator in its mission to save
wildlife and inspire people to care about
our natural heritage. It was the first
U.S. zoo to employ a full-time
veterinarian, the first to establish an
animal hospital, and was one of the first
to abandon cages in favor of more
naturalistic exhibits.
What To See
Astor Court, in the northern
part of the Zoo, is the oldest section of
the wildlife park. You will find, though,
that with the exception of the Primate
House (where no women were allowed during
Victorian times because of the monkeys'
reputation for, well, monkey-business),
the buildings surrounding the court are
now empty (although not for long --
renovations are in the works). The lions,
elephants, and rhinos were all moved to
more comfortable surroundings outdoors as
part of the shift away from jail-like
cage displays to replicas of the animals'
native habitats.
Be sure to time your visit
to this section of the Zoo to coincide
with the feeding of the sea lions (3:00
pm daily) whose pool is at the far end of
the Court. While the sea lions are fun to
watch all the time -- there are almost
always a few old-timers sunning
themselves on the rocks while the young
pups dive-bomb into the depths -- they
are especially lively when dinner
arrives.
The crocodiles also put on a
good show at feeding time (2:00 pm,
Thursday). You will see first hand that
they are completely aware of their
surroundings at all times, and are not as
lazy and languid as they sometimes appear
to be.
The bison are a bit out of
the way, but it is worth the trek over to
see them, if only to glimpse the animal
that symbolizes the American West. The
Bronx Zoo actually had a hand in keeping
this species alive: in the early part of
this century, when the American bison was
almost extinct, the WCS developed a
breeding program for them that set the
standard for cooperation between zoos and
nature reserves worldwide.
Don't Miss
Our favorite Zoo sights are
(in no particular order):
- Polar bears (in warm
weather you are likely to see
them paddling around the pool).
- The sleek and
elegant black leopards in
JungleWorld.
- The views of Wild
Asia (especially the Siberian
tigers and Asian elephants) from
the "Bengali Express"
Monorail.
- Young grizzly bears
recently rescued from Montana and
Wyoming. Check out the size of
their paws and the length of
their claws.
- Africa's "big
cats," including the
cheetahs and lions.
To make sure you see all
your favorite animals during your visit,
be sure to get a copy of the animal
directory/map available at the entrance
gate.
Congo Gorilla Forest
In an effort to fulfill its
educational and wildlife preservation
missions, the Zoo constantly adds new
animals, updates existing exhibits, and
develops new attractions. The Congo
Gorilla Forest, the zoo's newest major
attraction, is a 6 1/2 acre and $30
million project that recreates an African
rain forest, making a wonderful home for
gorillas who have been displaced from the
Congo. As well as providing a habitat for
gorillas, the jungle features about 400
species of plants chosen for their
ability to recreate the rain forest feel,
while surviving a typical New York
winter.
Tiger Mountain
Want to see a tiger up
close? Come explore Tiger Mountain, the
Bronx Zoo’s spectacular new tiger
exhibit that puts you just a (safe!)
whisker away from the largest member of
the cat family. Tiger Mountain is
three acres that recreate the natural
habitat of the Siberian tiger. But there
are some unique additional amenities like
a pool and a sprinkler that speak to the
Bronx Zoo’s innovative animal
enrichment program, developed to help
animals live stimulating, healthy lives.
Tiger Mountain features six stars in
stripes, the latest in animal enrichment,
and the most up-to-date information on
the Wildlife Conservation Society’s
global efforts to save this majestic
endangered animal.
When to Go
Try to arrive at the Zoo
when the gates first open in the morning.
Not only will you beat the crowds, but
you will find that the animals are
generally livelier before the mid-day sun
slows them down. Check the Zoo's website
for updated information about hours,
admission fees and current exhibits and
events.
Short on cash? You can save
the admission fee by visiting the Zoo on
Wednesdays, when this charge is waived.
You might also consider joining the
Wildlife Conservation Society as a way to
save money. WCS membership provides free
admission to the Bronx Zoo, the Aquarium
for Wildlife Conservation
(on Coney Island in Brooklyn), the Central
Park Zoo Conservation Center
(in Manhattan), and the Prospect
Park Wildlife Conservation Center
(in Brooklyn). It also entitles you to
free parking at the Bronx Zoo and the
Aquarium, free tickets for Zoo rides, and
discounts on classes and events sponsored
by the WCS. We have attended several of
these special classes and they were
excellent. If a family of four visits at
least two parks during the year, an
annual membership will just about pay for
itself.
Getting There
By subway, take the #2 to
Pelham Parkway and walk west to the
Bronxdale entrance.
A number of bus routes
provide Zoo access. Take the Bx9 or the
Bx19 to the Southern Boulevard entrance.
You can also take the Q44 bus, which lets
you off 3 blocks south of the Asia
entrance, or the Bx12 to Southern
Boulevard, which is a short walk up
Fordham Road to the Rainey Gate. For a
few extra dollars, you can also take the
express BxM11 from Madison Avenue to the
Bronxdale entrance. Call Liberty Lines at
(718) 652-8400 for the BxM11 schedule and
fares.
If you prefer to drive, from
the east side of Manhattan, take the FDR
to the Triboro Bridge to the Bruckner
Expressway east to the Bronx River
Parkway north to exit 6 (marked Bronx
Zoo); from the west side of Manhattan,
take the West Side Highway to the Cross
Bronx Expressway east to the Bronx River
Parkway north to exit 6. From
Westchester, take the Cross County
Parkway to the Bronx River Parkway south.
From Queens, take the Bronx- Whitestone
Bridge to the Hutchinson River Parkway
north to the Cross Bronx Expressway west
to the Bronx River Parkway north. From
New Jersey, take the George Washington
Bridge to the Cross Bronx Expressway east
to the Bronx River Parkway north.
Parking is located just off
Exit 6 of the Bronx River Parkway. Note
that there is a nominal charge for Zoo
parking.
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