| The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo | | | | animals; Tiger Mountain, an award-winning |
| in the United States, comprised of 265 acres | | | | three acre home for Siberian tigers; |
| of natural habitats and over 4,000 animals. | | | | Himalayan Highlands, a one-acre habitat |
| The Zoo was opened on November 8, 1899 and | | | | authentically decorated by a Tibetan monk; |
| was focused on conservation-something it | | | | Baboon Reserve, with a simulated |
| still practices today. The Bronx Zoo is owned | | | | archaeological dig; the Bengali Express, a |
| and operated by the Wildlife Conservation | | | | two-mile monorail ride through various |
| Society (formerly known as the New York | | | | habitats; the Aquatic Birdhouse; the Giraffe |
| Zoological Society) and was one of the first | | | | Building, and the World of Reptiles. The |
| zoos in America that moved animals from cages | | | | Children's Zoo features a variety of |
| to sprawling, replicated living environments. | | | | interactive activities, such as climbing a |
| Species are mixed to create a more realistic | | | | spider's web, crawling through a prairie dog |
| environment for the animals and the zoo | | | | tunnel, slithering like a lizard down a |
| patrons. The Zoo charges entry fees to assist | | | | hollow tree, and, of course, a petting zoo. |
| in the upkeep and preservation of the | | | | |
| exhibit's species. | | | | The zoo has a special relationship with bison |
| | | | and snow leopards. The bison model for the |
| One of the jewels of the Bronx Zoo is the | | | | buffalo nickel was a Bronx Zoo resident. |
| Congo Gorilla Forest, which features over 400 | | | | Furthermore, many of today's bison in the |
| animals and 55 different species (and 22 | | | | Western U.S. are descendents of Bronx Zoo |
| gorillas), as well as 15,000 plants | | | | bison. William T. Hornaday cultivated a deep |
| representing 400 species. The 6.5 acre forest | | | | interest in the American bison, which once |
| is the largest man-made rainforest in the | | | | numbered over 50 million. In the 1890s, less |
| world. The Congo Gorilla Forest is also home | | | | than 1,000 bison were thought to exist in the |
| to Patty Cake, the first gorilla ever born in | | | | wild. In October of 1899, Hornaday acquired |
| New York City. Additionally, the Bronx Zoo | | | | bison for the Bronx Zoo and began to build a |
| has almost an acre of indoor Asian | | | | herd. By 1907, the Bronx Zoo was able to ship |
| rainforest. Another interesting habitat is | | | | fifteen bison to Oklahoma's Wichita Mountain |
| the African Planes habitat, where the zoo | | | | Preserve. Shortly thereafter, bison were |
| workers have integrated a number of predator | | | | provided to Montana, South Dakota, and |
| prey species separated by an elaborate system | | | | Nebraska. Many of the bison in the Western |
| of moats. Lions, zebras, giraffes, and other | | | | U.S today are descended from the bison at the |
| savannah-dwelling animals live in this | | | | Bronx Zoo. Likewise, the Bronx Zoo was the |
| habitat. | | | | first zoo in the Western Hemisphere to |
| | | | exhibit and successfully breed snow leopards; |
| Other attractions include World of Darkness, | | | | a total of 82 cubs were born between 1966 and |
| an indoor exhibit devoted to nocturnal | | | | 1999. |