This article is about the zoo; for the TV series see The Bronx Zoo (TV); for the book "The Bronx Zoo" about the Yankees, see Sparky Lyle, its author.

The Bronx Zoo is a world-famous zoo located within the Bronx Park, in the Bronx borough of New York City. The largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, the Bronx Zoo comprises of parklands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows. The Bronx Zoo is south of the New York Botanical Garden. Privately owned estates previously occupied the land which became of the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden. In the 1880s, New York State set aside the land for future development as parks. In 1895, New York State chartered the New York Zoological Society (later renamed to Wildlife Conservation Society)^[1] for the purpose of founding a zoo.

The zoo opened its doors to the public on November 8, 1899, featuring 843 animals in 22 exhibits. Heins & LaFarge designed the original permanent buildings as a series of Beaux-Arts pavilions grouped around the large circular sea lion pool. ^[2] In 2006, the Bronx Zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals, many of which are endangered or threatened species.^[3]

Recent news

Bronx Zoo made the news in August 2006 when it agreed to enter a rare snow leopard cub, Leo -- found in northern Pakistan -- into its breeding program. The 13-month-old cub was found stuck in mud following a landslide in Naltar Valley which killed its mother. A Pakistani shepherd in the area found the cub with its female sibling, but the latter died a week later due to malnutrition. He then handed over the cub to Pakistani authorities who took care of him, but since there are no captive breeding programs or rehabilitation center for snow leopards in Pakistan, it was decided to hand over the cub to Bronx Zoo. The leopard will be returned to its place of birth following construction of a rehab facility in the Naltar Valley with US cooperation. http://www.dawn.com/2006/08/08/top14.htm http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=N08466169 http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=August&x=200608081806162scnitram7.682437e-02

In November 2006, the Zoo opened up brand-new eco-friendly restrooms outside the Bronx River Gate. According to the Clivus Multrum company, which built the composting toilets chosen by the Zoo, these facilities will service 500,000 people and save of water a year. http://www.clivusmultrum.com/new_projects.shtml http://poopthebook.com/blog/?p=9 In March 2007, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Fordham University Graduate School of Education announced they will offer a joint program leading to a Master of Science degree in education and New York state initial teacher certification in adolescent science education (biology grades 7-12). The program will begin in 2008 and is the first of joint degree program of its kind. http://www.fordham.edu/Campus_Resources/Public_Affairs/topstories_856.asp The zoo's new Madagascar exhibit opened June 20, 2008.

In June 2008, The Wildlife Conservation Society opened the Madagascar! exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. The exhibit attempts to recreate a small section of what many people call the eighth continent. It contains a variety of wildlife from Madagascar, including lemurs, hissing cockroaches, sifaka monkeys, and the Nile crocodile.

Gallery

<gallery> Image:Bronx Zoo.jpg|Monkeys hanging out inside the 37,000 square foot Asian rain forest at the Bronx Zoo. Photo by Aaron DeNu. Image:William Hornaday.jpg|Zoo Director William Temple Hornaday feeding one of his charges in 1920. Image:BronxGorilla.JPG|CONGO GORILLA FOREST: Western Lowland Gorilla, Gorilla gorilla Image:Stavenn Grus nigricollis 00.jpg|HIMALAYAN HIGHLANDS: Black-necked Crane, Grus nigricollis Image:Stavenn Pavo muticus 00.jpg|JUNGLE WORLD: Green Peafowl, Pavo muticus Image:Stavenn Lophura nycthemera 01.jpg|PHEASANT AVIARY: Silver Pheasant, Lophura nycthemera Image:Stavenn Leucopsar rothschildi 00.jpg|WORLD OF BIRDS: Bali Starling, Leucopsar rothschildi Image:BxZ Paradisaea minor 04.jpg|WORLD OF BIRDS: Lesser Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea minor Image:Stavenn Polyplectron napoleonis 00.jpg|WORLD OF BIRDS: Palawan Peacock Pheasant, Polyplectron napoleonis Image:BxZ Seleucidis melanoleuca 00a.jpg|WORLD OF BIRDS: Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Seleucidis melanoleuca Image:Siberian-tiger.JPG|TIGER MOUNTAIN: Siberian Tiger, Panthera tigris altaica

</gallery>

References

1. ↑ Brief History of the Bronx Zoo
2. ↑ Bridges, William. Gathering of Animals: An unconventional history of the New York Zoological Society. New York: Harper & Row, 1974.
3. ↑ annual_06.v8.indd

See also

• Wildlife Conservation International
• Ota Benga

External links

• The Bronx Zoo website
• Bronx Zoo Photo Gallery & Walking Tour
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Bronx Zoo
• Congo Gorilla Forest

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