New York is an exceptional city. It impresses with its scale, attracts with its freedom and captivates from the first minutes. In the end, you either fall in love with it forever, or quickly get tired of the city’s frantic rhythm 24/7. However, the original feature of New York is a wide range of opportunities, freedom of action and a diverse range of emotions from what you see around you. Yes, this bustling city is not typical for a quiet family vacation that we are used to. However, there are places here that are worth seeing at least once in your life. These include one of the largest city zoos in the United States – the Bronx Zoo. Read more at new-york.name.
Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo houses animals from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. About six thousand animals live on 107 hectares, some of them endangered. The animals are kept in the most natural conditions for them, moving freely on their territory. Thus, you will not see any cages here. The strongest double glass separates them from predators. Well over two million people visit the zoo every year.
Various recreation programs have been developed for the comfort of visitors: some choose an introductory two-hour tour, while others wind thousands of steps to walk around the vast territory of the zoo. There are various recreation areas on the territory, as well as interesting educational programs for adults and children.
The history of the Bronx Zoo
With the active support of the American non-profit human rights organization Boone and Crockett Club and its active members Madison Grant and C. Grant La Farge, the New York Zoological Society was established in 1895. Subsequently, it was renamed the Wildlife Conservation Society, whose main function was to preserve and protect wild animals and develop zoological science in general.
In 1898, the local authorities of New York City allocated 250 acres of land in the Bronx Park to the zoological community to preserve all endangered species. This is how the North American bison were saved from extinction in the early twentieth century.
In November 1899, the Bronx Zoo was inaugurated. Under the leadership of the famous American zoologist and conservationist William Temple Hornaday, more than 800 animals were presented to visitors. For more than thirty years, he served as the zoo’s director and was one of the first to stand up for the protection of US wildlife.
Gradually, the zoo began to receive animals from different parts of the world, of which there were only a few left in the wild. These were carnivorous tylacines, Berber lions, American buffaloes and bison. The populations of the first two have not been preserved and the other two are still endangered.
In 1916, the world’s first veterinary hospital was built on the territory of the zoo, where sick animals were examined, treated and cared for.
In 1926, the Bronx Zoo became one of the first zoos in the United States of America to receive specimens of huge stork-like birds – whale beaks. The same year, the zoo got a pair of adult Komodo dragons for the first time.
African Plains and Himalayan Highlands
In 1940, the Bronx Zoo was the first to house animals in spacious enclosures. This innovation was applied before the opening of the Lion Island arena, which clearly showed the wild life among the plains of Africa. A little later, visitors were able to watch the life of wild animals in the closest possible natural conditions.
Mighty lions, beautiful giraffes, zebras and gazelles move freely through their territory, among deep ditches and green pastures. Every year the population of these animals increases.
In 2010, in cooperation with the well-known American tabloid New York Daily News, a contest was held among readers to choose the best names for three newborn lion cubs.
The Himalayan Highlands exhibition, which was created in July 1986, is very popular among the zoo’s guests. The peculiarity of this exposition is the most accurate reproduction of the natural environment of the Himalayan mountain peaks. For this purpose, the most rocky and hilly territory of the zoo was found. The visitors’ favorites are snow leopards and western red pandas.
Reptile World and Madagascar
The World of Reptiles exhibition has become one of the most visited since the beginning of the zoo’s creation. The history of the World of Reptiles began under the leadership of an experienced zoologist Raymond Lee Ditmars. Before starting to work at the zoo, the scientist had his own collection of reptiles, which included 45 snakes.
Visitors to the zoo enter a hall that contains terrariums with a variety of reptiles. In addition, there is also a nursery where newborn reptiles are born. Thanks to such activities, the zoo staff prolongs the life of those reptile species that are already on the verge of extinction – Egyptian turtles, Panamanian frogs, Cuban crocodiles and northern caimans. For example, the Kihansi frogs from Tanzania are no longer found in the natural environment, but their population is preserved in the zoo.
Four species of lemurs, turtles, huge Nile crocodiles, Madagascar cockroaches and many other animals that vividly represent life on the island of Madagascar. It is worth noting that this exposition was reorganized from the previous exhibition, which was about the life of a family of lions. The Lion’s House was opened back in 1903, but the exposition was completed in the late 1980s.
Already in June 2008, a new Madagascar story was launched, which was very popular with the zoo’s guests.
Children’s petting zoo
For the youngest visitors, the Bronx Zoo has a children’s petting zoo. It was first opened in 1941, with a nursery also operating alongside. In the early 1980s, a new Children’s Zoo was organized, which immediately became popular among families with small children. Within a few months, it was visited by hundreds of thousands of people.
At the end of May 2015, the renovated Children’s Petting Zoo was launched. Children are happy to feed llamas, goats, domestic geese, alpacas, lambs and many other animals. In addition, there are various playgrounds. The youngest guests have fun and spend their spare time with benefit.
Sights that are the decoration of the zoo
Interestingly, some of the zoo’s architectural buildings are among the landmarks of New York City. For example, the Rainey Memorial Gate, which was designed by American sculptor Paul Manship in 1934. The bronze gate with inset 26-ton granite slabs is made in the Art Deco style, depicting animals and plants. In 1972, this monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The appearance of the Rockefeller Fountain in the zoo is quite original, as it is one of its main decorations. The Italian sculptor B. Catella built the fountain in 1872, which became a landmark on the square near Lake Como in Italy. In 1902, American financier William Rockefeller bought the architectural structure for $637 and a year later installed it in the zoo.
An equally impressive symbol of the zoo is the Ice Age stone, presented in the form of a 30-ton pink granite cube, which is seven feet high.
The Bronx Zoo is not only a story about wildlife, but also about immersing yourself in centuries of history, walking along long forest and park trails, contemplating the architecture around you and getting the most aesthetic pleasure. Visiting the Bronx Zoo in New York is an excellent idea. This is a unique opportunity to see animals from all over the world and to hide from the noisy sounds of the metropolis.