Bronx Zoo - New York City

 

Location – 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, New York City

 

Entry Price – Prices do vary dependent on desired experience and what day you are visiting. 

Total Experience Tickets (recommended)

March to May, Adults $29.95US Children (3 to 12) $19.95US Senior (65+) $24.95US

June to November, Adults $33.95US Children (3 to 12) $23.95US Senior (65+) $28.95US

Opening Hours – Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Weekends & Holidays 10am to 5.30pm

Bronx Zoo web page 

 

 

Layout

This is a large zoo, claiming to be the largest urban zoo in the world. The zoo has four entrances with the Southern Boulevard, Asia and Bronx River entrances serviced by large car parks. The fourth being the main entrance off Fordham Road.  Your experience may differ depending on which entry you come in by.

 

 

The zoo is divided up into many sections. At the southern end is where you can see Lions, Giraffes, Zebras and African Wild Dogs whilst walking through the African Plains. This area is adjacent to the Congo Gorilla Forrest, home to Gorillas and other Primates.  You can take a monorail through Asia, ride a camel or take a stroll over the Himalayan Highlands. The Northern end is home to Bird aviaries, Tiger Mountain, Children Zoo, Bison range and Monkey House and the centre of the zoo is the location of the Butterfly Garden, Reptile Pavilion, Bears and Nocturnal House amongst many other attractions. The entire zoo is connected by a shuttle service.

 

Each section of the zoo has restrooms, cafes, retail stores and other facilities that have been themed to fit their location. All are very well signed and conveniently located.

  

One of the many peacocks roaming the zoo

 

Extra Activities

Grab the total experience tickets so that you can view the entire zoo or you will end up paying separate amounts, at more cost. Jungle world, Wild Asia Monorail, the shuttle, Butterfly Garden and the Congo Gorilla Forest are just some of the exhibits and activities that will cost extra if you don’t purchase the Total Experience tickets at the gate.

 

There are a good amount of shows and exhibits located over the entire zoo. A few are seasonal and some are only for a short time so please check the web page and plan your visit. With so much to see and do you probably won’t be able to do it all in one day, but you can definitely give it a go. There is a traditional carousel for the little ones and the price is included with your Total Experience Tickets.

 

There is a heavy emphasis on education and conservation messages at most enclosures with some great interactive displays.

 

 

Part of Tiger Mountain conservation display

 

Breeding Programs  

This zoo is one of five zoos and aquariums in New York City managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Visit their website via this link to see the awesome work that they are doing to protect animals in so many regions around the world. It’s nice to know your entry ticket is helping out with this work.

 

 

Stu’s Favourite Bit

I had lots to choose from but I have to mention the feeling I had whilst sitting back at a cafe at the African Somba Village, eating a hot dog and looking up at the Baboon Reserve.This is one of the largest primate enclosures in the US. It’s a replica of a hill side on the African Alps and it is spectacular. You have a vista sprawling out in front of you as you watch Baboons and Ibexes mingle whilst displaying their natural behaviors in their complex social groups. I could have easily spent a large portion of the day right there. Oh yeah - and the hot dogs were pretty good too. 

 

Go HERE to see a selection of animals found at this zoo at 

stu @ the zoo TV

 

Grab a hot dog with a great view

 

 

Gelada Baboons at Baboon Reserve

 

 

Stu’s review and tips

I’ll try and keep this review brief, but being such a large zoo it’s going to be a bit difficult . I’ll start by saying I was a tiny bit disappointed on the day of my visit. This was my first big northern hemisphere zoo, and it was cold, so I did not know what to expect. I knew the monorail; butterfly gardens and a few other exhibits wouldn’t be open but was surprised at how many animals did not venture out in cold conditions. It makes sense of course, but I was shocked to see up to six giraffes housed in a small indoor enclosure. As you can see by the photo below, you could be forgiven for thinking that I was at the natural history museum. I’m probably being a little harsh so this has prompted me to look into enclosures for hot and cold climate zoos. So I’m not going to pass judgment until I do more research and do a separate post on this subject.  

 

Not the Natural History Museum

The zoo is big and there is so much to see that it was a little overwhelming. I loved the size of some of the Savannah enclosures (even if they were empty) the indoor Madagascar and Jungle World enclosures are amazing and a must do. It appeared like entire Eco systems had been created with several species together in one enclosure.

 

Entrance to Madagascar enclosure

The way the zoo has incorporated conservation messages at some of the enclosures is very clever. No more so than at Tiger Mountain. The interactive display leaves you in no doubt in the tiger’s precarious position in the wild, and the part humans are playing in this. 

 

The Congo Gorilla Forest is another spectacular indoor outdoor enclosure but a small word of warning. We paid for a Total Experience ticket that incorporates all entry prices, so we just went straight in. However others paid for the pleasure of seeing gorillas at the enclosure entry. Once in we walked the entire enclosure (again, great conservation messages) only to find a sign at the very end announcing that due to the cold weather the gorillas will not be on display outside. Maybe I missed them inside but being a gorilla fanatic, it was disappointing.

 

The zoo shops do not stock memory cards for your camera. They do provide disposable cameras.

 

The zoo shuttle only picks up from two locations, there are multiple drop off points but you can only get on near the Asia entrance and at the centre of the zoo near the main zoo shop.

 

You easily forget that you are in one of the world’s largest cities. The paths and surroundings are heavily wooded and the themes of some of the enclosures are quite effective. Some of the signage does look a little tired though.

 

Beautifully presented enclosures

  

This visit to the Bronx Zoo was a learning experience for me. My biggest hint for this zoo is do your research if you are keen to have a particular experience. This is a world class zoo that has done an outstanding job in combining, education with a sense of discovery.

I do intend to go back during warmer months. So let’s just call this my Winter Review of the Bronx Zoo.

Must See Animals  

Penguins 
Sea Lions 
Gorilla 
Giraffe
Bison
Gelada Baboon
Elephant 
Tiger 
Lion 

© April 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

In Focus - Orang-utan

Status: Critically Endangered

Geographic Region: Asia

Meaning of name: Person of the forest     

Habitat: Rain forest

Threats: Around 80% of habitat lost due to deforestation

Left in Wild: Approximately 3500      

Captive Population: Approximately 665

Melbourne Zoo

The Orang-utan is one of the great apes and the largest arboreal (living among the trees) mammals found on earth today. There are two species of orang-utan, Sumatran and Bornean. They are a highly intelligent species known to solve complex problems, using tools and planning for tasks in advance. Orang-utans are solitary animals rarely meeting others of their species unless mating; they live for on average for 35years in the wild and 60 years in zoos.

 

Stu’s zoo pick for orang-utans

Perth Zoo, Australia is a world leader in the breeding of the Sumatran orang-utan having successfully bred 26 orang-utans since 1970 as part of its captive breeding program. In 2006 Perth Zoo released one of its female orang-utans, Temara into Bukit Tigapuluh National Park as part of a release program to help re-establish a viable population of Sumatran orang-utans.

Orang-utan at Perth Zoo

Zoos breeding programs play an important role in species’ survival by increasing the diversity of their gene pool. The healthier and more diverse a specific population becomes the more opportunity there is of increasing population numbers and therefore lowering the possibility of extinction. 

 

Singapore Zoo has the world’s largest orang-utan enclosure and population. There are three separate enclosures. An island (which is a natural enclosure as orang-utans can’t swim); enclosed cages for breeding; and free range areas where large trees have been fitted with hot wire around their trunks stopping orang-utans from coming down the trunks and escaping. This allows for the primates to freely swing between trees throughout the zoo.   I am hoping to review Singapore Zoo in 2014

Australian Orang-utan Project 

www.orangutan.org.au/index.htm 

Taronga Zoo review

Location - Bradley's Head Road, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia 

Entry Price – Adults = $44AUD Children (4-15) - $22AUD Children under 4 free 

Opening Hours - 9.30 am to 5 pm (winter, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm June to August).Open every day of the year including Christmas Day.
Taronga Zoo web page

Front Entrance

Layout 
Taronga Zoo has been built on a hill overlooking Sydney Harbour, so the property has many stairs and steep paths especially at the lower end of the zoo. Wheelchair accessible lifts and ramps  provide easy access to all areas for people with disabilities. An ATM is located at the front entrance plaza.

Cafes and restaurants are scattered throughout the park with picnic tables provided at many locations. The zoo is easily navigated via a main path that winds throughout the entire zoo. Smaller loop paths that run off the main path take you deeper into individual sections.

There is a large variety of enclosures including reptile house, Australian night life (nocturnal) exhibit and walk through bird aviaries. Seals and penguin exhibits are located at the lower end of the zoo.  

A cable car connects the lower section of the zoo to the front entrance. The zoo is heavily wooded with a great variety of plants on show that provide plenty of shaded areas. 

Extra Activities
The Sky Safari cable car is a great way to see the animal enclosures from a different perspective. Stations for the cable car are located at the front and back end of the zoo and it operates between 9.30 and 4.30. The price is included in the entrance ticket.
Taronga Zoo offers a variety of zoo keeper talks, photo opportunities with popular animals and shows throughout the day.  A selection of personal animal encounters including zoo keeper for the day are available. 
  
Breeding programmes
Western Lowland Gorilla, Snow Leopard, Tasmania Devil, Little Penguin


Stu’s Favourite Bit 
Hard decision, but if I had to choose it would be the Western Lowland Gorilla enclosure. Especially at 11.30am because it’s feeding time with commentary from a zoo keeper. It’s fascinating to watch as the gorillas negotiate complex social protocols while they search for food that has been strategically hidden around the enclosure by the keepers

Feeding time at the gorilla enclosure

I also have to mention the Himalayan Tahrs enclosure. The enclosure is called Tahr Mountain. This is a rocky exhibit where you can see the Himalayan Tahrs perched up high on very narrow ledges, mimicking their natural mountain behavior.

Awsome views

Stu’s review and tips
I won’t beat around the bush - Taronga is one of my favorite zoos. It’s the type of zoo that has surprises around every corner. They have managed to design impressive enclosures that not only show off the animals but encourage natural behavior. The zoo keeper talks are very educational and I would encourage visitors to try and plan your visit around these talks and shows.

Some of the best views of Sydney Harbour can be seen from the zoo, especially the outlook of the giraffes enclosure, but there are great photo opportunities all over the ground for budding photographers. This zoo feels bigger than it actually is, mainly because the layout is a little tricky, especially on the feet, some of the paths are quite steep and there are numerous stairs to negotiate.

There are quite a few cafes and kiosks around the property and the food quality and choices are surprisingly good. If you are looking to bring your own lunch the zoo offers excellent shaded picnic locations. 

My only gripe would be the penguin and seal enclosures at the bottom end of the zoo. They look sterile, lots of cement and glass. They do offer good viewing opportunities form above and below the water line but I think this area is in need of an upgrade to a more contemporary habitat. 
For a great day out, grab a ferry and tickets from Circular Quay which includes return ferry across the harbour, a bus to the top of the zoo and zoo entry. The package including the Sky Safari cable car is Adults $52.00AUD Child (4-15yrs) $26.00 AUD.  

Do your feet a favour and start your zoo experience from the main entry plaza at the top of the zoo. When you finish at the bottom of the zoo make your way to the Sky Safari cable car station and take a leisurely ride back up to the top.
Before going to Taronga Zoo check out their web page and plan your day, they have plenty of shows and talks and if you don’t plan well you could miss out. 

Take advantage of Taronga Zoos cute little free iPhone app called Monkey Mayhem its great for kids and enhances their adventure

Stu on ferry to Taronga Zoo

Must See Animals

 

Gorilla 

Penguin

Giraffe 

Elephant

Lion  

Tiger  

Koala 

Sea Lion