Been in Bronx zoo 4 days ago and truly enjoyed my visit, due to unusually sunny Wednesday. Many animals were active outside including huge Thomson's gazelle herd in African plains.
Was aware of the winter limitations, but this didn't fade my visit and gave me some more time to explore another areas of this enormous zoo.The beautifully preserved historical buildings felt it similar to the classic European collections, but with a Tierpark Berlin scale.
Even not seen the CGF in its full glory, this is, undoubtedly , the Bronx's best exhibit. All the habitats are very well made. The glass tunnel is fantastic and education part is superb.
One of the Bronx's strongest sides, besides their great conservation role is the way they involve the public in it. I have not spoken with any volunteers , but there are many educational displays throughout the zoo, that engaging all generations in an animal welfare.
The collection is very diverse, with some special highlights from European view point, like Napu, Wolf's guenon,Silver leaf monkey, Slender-horned gazelle, Eastern spotted Skuns, Tuffed puffin, Storm's stork, Small penguins, Kiwi, Maleo etc.
The zoo is very consistent and present all animal classes in very good to great exhibits, generally adequate for the residents. The Ungulates and the Carnivores are particularly lucky to live here, with very few notorious exceptions (the Leopard aquarium in the Jungle world).
The Bird collection is also not to miss and even in a old buildings, still has world class appearance. Educational displays in the Bird house also need to be mentioned. I had the rare chance of watching singing Capercaillie in the wild during lekking period, but their exhibit in the Bird house stunned me.
The Mouse house is rare nerd destination. Only Plzen's collection can compete with it, but the presentation in Bronx is better . I missed the Northern Luzon giant cloud rat, but not sure if it still in the collection.
I do not think, that Jungle World or Madagascar can match, what Europe has to offer as of best Tropical/Desert buildings, but the attention to the detail there is very good. The Javan Lutong mangrove trees and Gharial river in the Jungle world and the Spine forest in Madagascar are great zoo scenes.
The legendary Lion/Nyala connected enclosure in African Plains is something, that I wanted to see for a long time and was not disappointed. It would be great, if Burgers was brave enough to do the same in Rimba with Tiger/Banteng connection.
@lintworm explained, that they considered it, but there was not enough space for a moat. Tigers probably do better in long jump than Lions, but the moat in Bronx is not so very wide, actually.
The next door Baboon reserve is one of the best of it's kind. I like love the Zurich's and San Diego's, but the huge horned Nubian ibex bachelor herd really impresses here.
South-east Asian, African and Northern hemisphere fauna is very well represented in Bronx with Australia and South America left bit behind. Nevertheless, one of the best places in the zoo is the Aquatic walktrough aviary, representation of the Patagonian cost.
I had a pretty nice overall feeling with Bronx, but need to visit it during the warm months to rate it properly. There are some flows, like a bad signage (especially in the Bird house) and not so very clean facilities, but nothing painful. The animals well being is what truly matters here
P.S. One message for the first time New York visitors: If you hesitate to visit the American museum of national history - don't! The African mammal hall is something that you can not see anywhere in Europe. The attention to detail in dioramas is unbelievable with remarkable animal specimens and adequate flora and landscape.
