Finally, a new part! I continue my trek from the World of Reptiles and we shortly come up to our next set of exhibits. This next post will cover a handful of exhibits that are not only found in the same area, but also all share the theme of showcasing animals found in mountainous regions.
Gelada Reserve
Big Bears
Himalayan Highlands
The first one we will look at is another one of the Bronx Zoo's most notable exhibits. This is none other than Gelada Reserve.
This exhibit opened in 1990 and depicts the highlands of Ethiopia. The exhibit spans two acres and features rocks, cliffs, and earth banks. Highly-landscaped viewing areas provide both open and covered viewing areas for the exhibit's 3 species; Ibexs, Hyraxes, and the start of the show; Geladas. You may also see the zoo's free-ranging peafowl join in as well.
In addition to the main viewing areas, there is also the Somba Village, which features a cafe where you can grab a bite and even watch the Geladas from the outdoor picnic area.
The exhibit won the AZA Exhibit Award in 1991 and was notable for featuring the only Geladas in the country until 2017 (when San Diego opened their own Gelada exhibit as part of their new Africa Rocks exhibit complex). In addition, at the time of its opening, it was also the country's largest primate exhibit.
Gelada (Theropithecus gelada)
Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana)
Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis)
This is, simply put, a fantastic exhibit, and gives the Bronx Zoo yet another top tier primate exhibit. The enclosure is large and, thanks to the landscaping, the barriers are mostly out of sight. The pathways and visitor areas are also intricately landscaped and themed, giving the complex an excellent immersion factor. The species mix is also very unique. It's very rare for me to see primates mixed with ungulates, and it's even more rare for them to add something like Hyraxes to the mix. Previously, I have only seen Hyraxes in smaller outdoor exhibits that were netted over (Omaha) or indoors (North Carolina, Smithsonian). Seeing a small mammal like this in an uncovered outdoor exhibit was definitely a treat.
We backtrack a bit and travel from the highlands of East Africa to our next pair of exhibits. This next set of enclosures doesn't really have an official name; it was previously known as Big Bears back when the zoo had both Brown and Polar Bears. However, after their last Polar Bear passed away, their old exhibit was converted to house Dholes, a canine found in Asia.
These are two side-by-side enclosures that are technically grottoes. One is home to Brown Bears, the other is home to Dholes.
Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) (Subspecies not specified)
Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
Overall, these are a solid pair of exhibits. While they are grottoes, they are also fairly spacious and lushly-planted, avoiding the common pitfalls that plague grotto-style exhibits. The bears have pools to bath in and a very large rock formation that they can climb. This is, in fact, one of the better Brown Bear exhibits I have experienced. The Dhole exhibit is also fairly solid, although nothing special.
As we continue down the main trail, we come to the last exhibit we will cover in this post; from the warm and open grasslands of the Ethiopian Highlands, we now come to the cooler and forested regions of the Himalayan Highlands.
This exhibit is themed and landscaped to invoke the mountain forests of the Himalayas. The exhibit's main attraction is a pair of Snow Leopard enclosures. There is also a habitat for Red Pandas here, as well as an exhibit for cranes just outside the main exhibit area. Like Gelada Reserve, the area is highly themed, and takes advantage of the natural terrain in the area to create its habitats.
The Red Pandas were off-exhibit here during my visit, although they were visible from the Wild Asia Monorail.
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) (Off-exhibit)
White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio) (Signed under synonym Grus vipio)
A Red Panda may now be back on exhibit here, although the Wild Asia Monorail exhibit is still used (@Mary)
Like Gelada Reserve, this is another fantastic exhibit where the Bronx Zoo really pulled all the stops in landscaping and theming both the visitor areas and the animal exhibits, which really adds to immersive. The Snow Leopard exhibits are pretty solid, with plenty of cover and climbing for the cats themselves. They are probably on par with the exhibits at Central Park, which utilize a similar design (and definitely a far cry from the Snow Leopard exhibits I previously saw at Philadelphia and Turtle Back).
Three more excellent summaries of the Bronx Zoo! I loved your detailed walk-through of the Reptile and Amphibian House - that's quite a collection! I like that they exhibit eight very different species of poison dart frogs and a wide diversity of lizards and turtles! Thank you for these greatly informative postings!
I know updates have been slow as of late, had a lot going on lately. But I am back with another update. We have traversed the caves and cliffs of Madagascar, the forests of the Congo, and the highlands of Africa. It is now time to dive into yet another set of iconic exhibits at the Bronx Zoo.
We are now headed into Wild Asia.
As we are greeted by a thematic entrance way and walls of bamboo, we descent into Wild Asia and find ourselves on an open plaza. This plaza serves as a launch pad for the area's two exhibits; Wild Asia Monorail and JungleWorld.
There is also a cafe here where you can grab a bite. We will mainly be covering the Monorail in this post (as JungleWorld is getting its own post), but before we catch a ride, there are actually a pair of exhibits out in the open here. One is home to a pair of domesticated camel species, while the other is an aviary home to ibises.
Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius)
Domestic Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) (Signed as Waldrapp Ibis)
Afterwards, we finally jump in line to board what might be one of the zoo's most unique exhibits; the Wild Asia Monorail.
Wild Asia Monorail originally opened in 1977. The ride takes visitors across the Bronx River and into a 40 acre expanse of forests, open meadows, and hills where a variety of Asian megafauna can be seen in large and naturalistic habitats. The track spans 1.6 miles and is elevated above the ground, providing sweeping views of many of the habitats and the various animals found within.
Wild Asia Monorail is a star attraction, and thus requires a separate admission fee unless you bought the full ticket. The Monorail's trains are designed to have visitors facing out the left side of the train when seated, providing (mostly) unobstructed views. This is also done to help hide behind-the-scenes areas from view (by placing them on the right side of the track and thus obstructed from view), although this doesn't always work due to the track layout (you can clearly glimpse the large barn complex when coming up to the tiger habitat).
But perhaps this attraction's biggest bragging right is that it is now the last remaining operational Zoo Monorail in the country, as others such as those at Dallas and Miami have recently bitten the dust. Equally impressive is that this exhibit managed to survive a string of budget cut-induced closures that claimed the Rare Animal Range, the (original) World of Darkness, and a section of the African Plains, as other zoos have decommissioned their monorails due to costs and maintenance difficulties. The Bronx Zoo seems highly committed to keeping their monorail running, as it is the only way to see the animals on the other side of the river.
Note!: For some of the species listed here, I did not record exactly how they are mixed and what exhibits they are in. This mostly concerns the various deer species. I will provide a full species list at the end of this post.
As you board the monorail, the train makes a turn and immediately crosses the Bronx Zoo, as if you were symbolically crossing an ocean and traveling to Asia itself. You are treated to a good view of the river and you may even spot some local wildlife.
The monorail then comes up to the first enclosure; a large, hilly, and mostly open expanse of grassland where you may see some hoofstock, such as Bactrian Deer and Blackbuck. On my visit, there were quite a few Indian Peafowl gathered here, with males displaying to the females. The monorail makes a large swooping curve and we come up to our next major point of interest; a large exhibit for the only truly wild non-zebra horse left in the world; the Przewalski's Horse. This exhibit has sparse, but highly mature trees that provide lots of shade while still being mostly open.
The monorail continues (now paralleling the Bronx River Parkway) onward towards another large and hilly exhibit that is similarly shaded. This exhibit features Gaurs, a large species of wild bovine. On my visit, the gaurs were gathered up on a hill; they were only distantly visible from here, but we a better view of them later. In the meantime, the monorail swoops left and partially encircles an exhibit for one of two species of carnivoran visible from the ride; the Tiger.
The monorail then passes by another stretch of the Gaur habitat; here, I was able to get a better view of these large ungulates.
The monorail then begins to enter a large rightward curve; a large complex of barns sits on the inside of this curve, and is hidden from view for most of the time due to the design of the trains (although you may be able to see it from the approach to the tiger exhibit just before the left turn).
The monorail then passes another exhibit, which I think might be the same exhibit as the very first one that you hit once you cross the river. This exhibit is home to several species of deer and blackbuck.
The monorail makes a sharper right hand turn and we then come to a small exhibit hidden in the bush, home to Babirusas. Immediately afterwards, we then come up to the zoo's largest (and most controversial) animal; the Asian Elephant. The exhibit is decently sized and has a large pool for the (lone) elephant on display.
Afterwards, the monorail turns left and begins the parallel the Bronx River Parkway again. We then come up to another expanse of woodland habitat, where we find the 2nd largest animal on the monorail tour, the Indian Rhinoceros. The exhibit notably contains some mud wallows, a favorite feature of this large rhinoceros.
The monorail continues along and eventually comes up to what might be the largest enclosure on the tour. This is a large wooded habitat home to various species of Asian deer and antelope. The exhibit is hilly and features a lot of rocks. A variety of deer, such as Axis Deer, Sambar, and Eld's Deer, mix and mingle here. The monorail then traverses a large left hand uturn, with the exhibit on the inside of the curve.
Visitors are given long-lasting and sweeping views the exhibit. One must have a sharp eye to spot all the deer in this exhibit, as they have plenty of space to roam and lots of places where they can be hard to spot.
The monorail continues onward and eventually makes a right hand turn as it crosses back over the Bronx River. But we are not done yet, as there are actually two more exhibits on this side of the river. The first exhibit is very large and hilly, with a large rock feature dominating the landscape. This is no accident, as the exhibit is home to two species of wild goat; Markhors and Tahrs.
The other exhibit is located in the corner of the goat habitat and is a sectioned-off area enclosed by high transparent walls and features climbing structures. This exhibit is home to some of the zoo's Red Pandas. While the Red Pandas were previously not visible at Himalayan Highlands, they were visible here, and I believe the zoo now separates their animals. Shortly after the Red Panda exhibit, the monorail traverses an undeveloped section of forest, eventually making its way back to the station and ending the ride.
Here is the species list for the Wild Asia Monorail. Note that there is no signage here; all animals were ID'd by tour guides.
Wild Asia Monorail is a fantastic experience all-around, and while I had, in the past, been a bit apprehensive about exhibits where animals were only visible from vehicular transportation, Wild Asia Monorail has shown that these exhibits can be highly enjoyable. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly, and the ride itself is smooth and well-paced.
The exhibitry here is fantastic and some of the best in the zoo. The exhibits are all very large, lush, naturalistic, and highly dynamic. The zoo takes excellent advantage of the existing terrain to create a highly immersive series of habitats that suit their respective animals quite well. The large exhibits also benefits the ride itself, as it provides plenty of opportunities to view these animals and trying to find everything on the tour provides an enriching experience. The animal mixes here are very interesting, and the collection itself is actually fairly unique. While you do have your elephants, Rhinos, Red Pandas, and Tigers, we also have Markhors, Tahrs, Przewalski's Horses, Gaurs, and one of the biggest collections of exotic deer in the country. There was something interesting to see around every corner.
That being said, I do have to address the Elephant in the room. As in, I do have to literally address the Elephant in the....well...."room". See, the zoo only has two Asian Elephants ( Happy and Patty), and they are kept separate from each other. This is due to a failed introduction that occurred in 2002 when Patty (and her late partner Maxine) attacked Patty and injured her partner, Grumpy, who would later have to be euthanized due to her injuries. Patty has been kept alone since. Patty was also left on her own as well when Maxine was euthanized due to serious health complications in 2018.
This means that the zoo keeps both of its elephants separate from each other, which is obviously not the way to house elephants in the modern era. The zoo does the best it can to care for Patty and Happy, but obviously, the optics are pretty bad, which has made the Bronx Zoo a target of criticism and even lawsuits. While I do believe the zoo could have done things differently, I also think they are trying the best they can with the situation they ended up in.
Regardless, it does end up dragging the exhibit down a bit, and I cannot say that it's a good Elephant exhibit even if the actual habitat itself isn't that bad (although it could be bigger).
Unfortunately, there is not much the zoo can do to immediately rectify this, as they have determined that moving either elephant to another facility would be too risky given their age, and that they are well-bonded to their keepers and adjusted to their habitats. That said, the zoo has gone on record to state that they would not house elephants like this again once their current individuals pass (as least, that is how zoo director Jim Breheny worded it on The Zoo). Whether this means the zoo will never house Elephants again at all or just not in the way they are now, I cannot tell.
Outside of the Elephant situation though, I still think Wild Asia Monorail is a great exhibit. I rode it on all three days I have visited the zoo and managed to see everything on display.
Fantastic photos and thank you for another very detailed description of the Bronx Zoo's exhibits! I've seen film clips of this on The Zoo but I never knew which exhibits were part of Asia and how they were arranged. There is certainly a diverse collection of deer and I love it!
We are not done with Asia yet! This post will be dedicated to the other star attraction found at the zoo's Wild Asia zone. In contrast to the Wild Asia Monorail, which featured sprawling, open, exhibits home to hoofstock and Tigers, this next exhibit takes us deep in to the dense jungles were snakes stalk the undergrowth, monkeys and gibbons swing through the trees, and gharials and turtles bask and chill on the river banks. This is JungleWorld.
JungleWorld opened in 1985 at a cost of $9.5 million after 8 years of planning and construction. It is the largest building and indoor exhibit on zoo grounds, encompassing an acre and standing 55 ft tall at its highest point. The interior of the building recreates the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and the Indonesian archipelago and is home to over 60 species of wildlife, including a variety of free-roaming birds and bats. The exhibit path takes visitors through 4 distinct tropical biomes including a volcanic scrub forest, a mangrove forest, a lowland evergreen forest, and a montane rain forest. There are also 3 museum-like subgalleries featuring a selection of smaller wildlife.
JungleWorld is a star attraction; like the monorail, it requires a separate ticket if you purchased a limited admission ticket (but is otherwise included in the full experience admission).
As you enter JungleWorld, you immediately find yourself in a tall room adorned with banners and architecture from Southeast Asia. This room introduces you to the exhibit and even contains a map of the various galleries and habitats depicted within.
The pathway then transitions into the first major habitat of JungleWorld; the Scrub Forest. The elevated pathway is flanked to two major exhibits, lined with tall mud banks and dense foliage. Otters can be seen frolicking in the water, while tree-kangaroos take to the...well...trees. You might also glimpse some fruit bats in the trees above.
The pathway enters a dark corridor that takes you into the first of 3 subgalleries in the building. This gallery focuses on Mangrove Specialists, and contains two exhibit tanks depicting a sampling of aquatic wildlife. Unfortunately, one of the tanks was unoccupied on my visit.
Ceylon Green Puffer (Dichotomyctere fluviatilis) (Off-exhibit, Signed under synonym Tetraodon fluviatilis)
Diamondfish (Monodactylus argenteus) (Off-exhibit, Signed as Mono)
Spotted Scat (Scatophagus argus) (Off-exhibit)
The pathway re-enters the light and you find yourself in the next major habitat; the Mangrove Forest. This gallery consists of a single large habitat recreating a mangrove bank. A large body of water separates the path from the exhibit, where lutungs jump and climb amongst the tall mangrove trees. Like the scrub forest, fruit bats also like to hang out here.
Javan Lutung (Trachypithecus auratus) (Signed as Ebony Langur)
Small-clawed Otters used to be housed here with the monkeys a while back and...well...we all know how that turned out.
The pathway then enters a 2nd subgallery, the Tropical Rain Forests, although this one is only home to a single species; the Giant Cloud Rat, which we have also seen back at the Mouse House.
Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat (Phloeomys pallidus)
You then emerge from the gallery and find yourself in a cave, behind a small waterfall. A large gap lets you look out from behind the waterfall into a large exhibit where massive trees tower over a large pond. The pathway emerges from the cave, and you are now in the Lowland Evergreen Forest.
The pathway is once again flanked by two large habitats. On your right is the aforementioned large swamp exhibit, home to a troop of Silvered Leaf Monkeys. On your left is another large enclosure depicting a sandy river bank, which is home to the building's largest inhabitant; the Malayan Tapir.
While the tapirs and monkeys are the highlights here, they are far from the only animals seen here. Another major star of this section are the white-cheeked gibbons, who mainly roam the forest above the tapir exhibit. Unlike most gibbon exhibits, their area is very densely-planted, and the gibbons can easily disappear into the bush. You'll need a sharp eye if you wish to see them.
Joining the gibbons, tapirs, and monkeys are a variety of free-roaming birds such as waterfowl, herons, pigeons, orioles, storks, and lorikeets, along with the aforementioned fruit bats. Birds can be found at all levels, and as mentioned before, this habitat is complex, and rewards the observant traveler.
This section is also notable for containing an empty exhibit that was previously home to leopards. The exhibit is designed to also look out into the monkey exhibit behind it. The exhibit has been unused for a while and is actually boarded up, although you can see into it from the sides. As of now, I have no idea what they plan on doing with this space, but I think a small arboreal species would suit this space nicely (as it's too small for leopards, but it is otherwise well designed and furnished, and I would hate to see it go to waste).
The pathway once again enters a dark corridor, which brings us to the last subgallery; The Meaning of Diversity.This gallery showcases the diverse array of wildlife that call the tropical forests home, and features many of the building's smaller inhabitants, including treeshrews, pythons, and a variety of small reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Annam Stick Insect (Medauroidea extradentata) (Signed as Baculum spp.)
Spiny Leaf Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum)
Tiger Barb (Puntigrus tetrazona) (Signed under synonym Barbus tetrazona)
Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) (Signed as Asian Black-spined Toad)
Asian Yellow-spotted Climbing Toad (Rentapia hosii) (Signed as Yellow-spotted Tree Toad under synonym Pedostibes hosii)
Black-breasted Hill Turtle (Geoemyda spengleri)
Solomon Islands Skink (Corucia zebrata) (Signed as Prehensile-tailed Skink)
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina orientalis)
Yellow-footed Peninsular Black Scorpion (Chersonesometrus fulvipes) (Signed as Philippine Forest Scorpion under synonym Palamnaeus fulvipes)
Common Treeshrew (Tupaia glis)
Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) (No longer present per @ThylacineAlive)
Giant Stag Beetle (Serrognathus titanus) (Signed under synonym Dorcus titanus)
Weevil Beetle (Macrocheirus praetor)
Giant Dead Leaf Mantis (Deroplatys desiccata)
Atlas Beetle (Chalcosoma atlas)
The Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) may have been replaced with Centralian Carpet Python (Morelia bredli) @ThylacineAlive
Also in this gallery is a window that looks out into a forest, and is a bit of a preview for the last major habitat in the building. One of the zoo's gibbons seems to love perching at this window, watching the visitors as they gaze out the window. Here, YOU are the curiosity.
But before you enter the last habitat, the pathway actually briefly exits the building, where you emerge onto an outdoor deck overlooking the Bronx River. Here, you may glimpse native wildlife like herons or turtles. The pathway then reenters the building, where we then enter the last major habitat; the Lower Montane Rain Forest.
The main highlight here is a large river that cascades down a waterfall, and is flanked with tall, overgrown, cliffs. A large group of gharials are the main inhabitants here; you may see them chilling on the rocks or the river banks, or maybe taking a swim in the water, where they are accompanied by a variety of freshwater fish and turtles.
The Bronx Zoo is notable for being the main US importer of Gharials; most, is not all, gharials in the US come from the Bronx Zoo's imported groups.
Another interesting element is that this section and the previous Lowland Evergreen Forest are actually one continuous habitat; you may see the gibbons, birds, and bats on this side as well, perched in the trees high above the river (although the gibbons seem to prefer the former section.
The pathway initially stays high up, allowing you to look over the river from the cliffs above. The pathway then descends as it parallels the river, and it eventually comes up to a section that provides underwater viewing.
Asian Brown Tortoise (Manouria emys emys)
Black Pond Turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) (Unsigned)
Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy)
Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus) (Not seen)
Painted Batagur (Batagur borneoensis)
Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) (Not seen, Signed as Fly River Turtle)
After you complete your trek through the montane rain forest, the pathway enters a small corridor before it finally terminates at the exhibit's exit, putting you back out into the Wild Asia Plaza.
JungleWorld is yet another fantastic exhibit in the Bronx Zoo's already-extremely loaded lineup. The Bronx Zoo's talent for landscaping, design, theming, and attention to detail are all fully on display here, as the habitats are all very well constructed and immersive. The way the paths integrate with the environments are also admirable, and the use of naturalistic barriers is also a huge plus. Many of the exhibits are also well-furnished, landscaped, and solid in terms of space.
The collection here is also fantastic and, similar to Congo and Madagascar, I enjoyed the variety of species exhibited here and the integration of species of all sizes, big and small. The building also holds quite a few rarities that I haven't seen elsewhere, including the monkeys, the toads, and the tree-kangaroos. The integration of both exhibit animals and free-roaming birds in the same space helps create a very lively habitat where you may never know what you'll see. The lush landscaping also provides many hiding spots for the roaming animals, and encourages exploration and patience to find them.
Of course, the building isn't without a few flaws, and I'd say the big sore spot here is definitely the tapir exhibit. I do feel it's a bit on the small side (although it's not THAT small), but the bigger issue is that it's fairly featureless and lacking in furnishings, mainly just being a big sand pit with a pool of water. The space could definitely suit other animals better, especially after an overhaul. The otter and tree-kangaroo exhibits are also fairly average; they're not bad, but there is a lot of room for improvement, and the lack of underwater viewing for the otters (something shared by their Children's Zoo exhibit as well as that at Prospect Park) is also a bit of a bummer.
On the other hand, the primate exhibits here are some of the best I have seen, especially indoors. The gibbon habitat in particular beats a lot of outdoor exhibits I have seen; they are a large and tall space to room, and is lush with tropical plants to the point where they can easily hide. The Silvered Leaf Monkey exhibit is also excellent, with lots of climbing opportunities and varied space to roam, and I love the swamp-like setting. The Lutung exhibit isn't quite as spectacular, but it's still very good. The Bronx Zoo in general has some of the best primate exhibits out there (except for the new world monkey cages outside the Mouse House and, maybe maybe MAYBE, the Lemur exhibits depending on your point of view).
This section is also notable for containing an empty exhibit that was previously home to leopards. The exhibit is designed to also look out into the monkey exhibit behind it. The exhibit has been unused for a while and is actually boarded up, although you can see into it from the sides. As of now, I have no idea what they plan on doing with this space, but I think a small arboreal species would suit this space nicely (as it's too small for leopards, but it is otherwise well designed and furnished, and I would hate to see it go to waste).
See, the zoo only has two Asian Elephants ( Happy and Patty), and they are kept separate from each other. This is due to a failed introduction that occurred in 2002 when Patty (and her late partner Maxine) attacked Patty and injured her partner, Grumpy, who would later have to be euthanized due to her injuries. Patty has been kept alone since.
This is violent, but rather typical for elephants. Most older female elephants don't make new friends and fight. In so-called sanctuaries, too, there are separate paddocks because most elephants don't get on with each other. Elephant ladies can interact though the separation, but will never become one herd. In Asia, elephants are managed in direct contact, and if they start fighting, a human interferes.
Bronx zoos has several of the very best zoo exhibits in the world, and they are all decades old. It shows that it pays that a zoo employs specialized workers who know zoology, exhibit building and so on. Rather than just 'make a monkey exhibit with fake trees and plant some tropical plants around'.
Very nice to read about a zoo where my last visit is now more than 20 years ago but that I hope to revisit one of the coming years.
I remember seeing with the snow leopards also a rodent, which was in a glass terrarium and through which you could see the cats behind it. Does that still exist?
Glad to read that all those fantastic exhibits are still thriving.
Very nice to read about a zoo where my last visit is now more than 20 years ago but that I hope to revisit one of the coming years.
I remember seeing with the snow leopards also a rodent, which was in a glass terrarium and through which you could see the cats behind it. Does that still exist?
Glad to read that all those fantastic exhibits are still thriving.
This is an excellent review. The Bronx Zoo was the first big zoo I ever visited (back in 1981) and my family visited fairly regularly until we moved to Texas in 1985. Every few years after that I’d try to fit in a visit to the zoo when I visited family in Connecticut. My last visit was in June 2024. A miserably hot day, but I managed to see all the outdoor exhibits save the Children’s Zoo, and also visited Madagascar, the Mouse House, and Jungle World. I rode the Wild Asia Monorail twice.
It struck me that the Bronx Zoo has what may be the greatest collection of Asian mammals in the United States (from the Pere David’s Deer to the Camels). Is this so?
Keeping in the spirit of zoo fantasy we often indulge in on this site wouldn’t it be nice if the Wild Asia Monorail could be converted to a footpath around the exhibits? I guess guest safety could become an issue. Maybe a cafe, a few gift shops and watchful employees along the way would be needed? My one complaint about the monorail (aside from the lack of signage…no way around that I guess…maybe a guidebook) is the lack of time to document, photograph, and catalogue the species (especially deer) exhibited.
Further fantasy…add a few more charismatic Asian species to the zoo (easily sourced): Water Buffalo (of the long-horned domestic type maybe housed eventually in the current Elephant exhibit), and Takin. Maybe Asiatic Black Bears (sourced from Japan) that might give the species a shot in the AZA. I believe the zoo has Amur Leopards and Cheetah off exhibit…maybe we can see new exhibits for them.
A few other “Asian” species are also present at the zoo…if not properly included in the Asian collection. The Brown Bears on exhibit may be North American in origin, but the species (of similar subspecies) is common in north-east Asia. American Bison (Wood Bison) from Canada have been introduced into Siberia. Then there are the Lions…a subspecies of which inhabits India. Maybe get a Yeti to augment the Himalayan Highlands exhibit complex?
Anyway…you are writing a great review of my favorite zoo. Well Done and Thank You!
This exhibit also has unsigned Magnificent Tree Frog (Ranoidea splendida), which I had actually mistakenly identified as an Asian Yellow-spotted Climbing Toad. This is the frog pictured in said post. Credit to @Osedax for correcting this ID.
The treeshrews are actually Northern Treeshrews (Tupaia belangeri), which were also found in the Mouse House. The zoo has them signed as Tupaia glis in JungleWorld, which I understand to now be an error. Credit to @Chlidonias and @Great Argus for correcting this ID.
Your picture does put into perspective just how small the exhibit is for leopards, even if, in isolation, it isn't bad at all. I sincerely hope the zoo repurposes it for another species instead of bringing back leopards. I feel something like Binturongs would be a good fit.
My last visit was in June 2024. A miserably hot day, but I managed to see all the outdoor exhibits save the Children’s Zoo, and also visited Madagascar, the Mouse House, and Jungle World. I rode the Wild Asia Monorail twice.
It struck me that the Bronx Zoo has what may be the greatest collection of Asian mammals in the United States (from the Pere David’s Deer to the Camels). Is this so?
I am not sure about how the Bronx's Asian mammal collection stacks up as a whole, but their Asian ungulate collection is definitely one of the best in the nation from what I can tell, especially when it comes to deer. The San Diego facilities are the only ones I think that can match Bronx. And given the laws in place that make it difficult to transfer deer across state lines; it's looking like that's going to remain the case for a while.
Keeping in the spirit of zoo fantasy we often indulge in on this site wouldn’t it be nice if the Wild Asia Monorail could be converted to a footpath around the exhibits? I guess guest safety could become an issue. Maybe a cafe, a few gift shops and watchful employees along the way would be needed?
Given that it's a borderline miracle the Bronx Zoo's monorail is not only still operating at all, but operating well (it was running smoothly on my visits and had short wait times, even during the weekend) in spite of zoo monorails being on the verge of extinction and the Bronx Zoo having a history of closing exhibits due to operation costs, I understand the need to speculate about potential backup plans in case the monorail does go extinct. It would definitely suck as it's the only way to see the animals across the Bronx river and I sometimes worry about what would become of the exhibit if the monorail were to shut down.
Unfortunately, I don't think it would even be feasible. The monorail track is just over 1.5 miles long and crosses the river twice, and quite high off the water to boot. Granted, a hypothetical pathway wouldn't need to follow the monorail track exactly (like what Minnesota did), but it would still need to be at least a mile to be able to see everything (keeping in mind that the exhibits are spread out over a 40+ acre area). Given how big the Bronx Zoo is already, and just how much there is to see and do, adding a mile+ looping trail on top of that would just be too much.
You would also need to update many of the exhibits as they were designed with the monorail in mind. And you would definitely need a rest stop or two along the trail given how far it would need to go out from the rest of the zoo.
In the last part, we covered JungleWorld, which was actually the last exhibit I was able to tour on my first day at the zoo. I actually ran out of time and couldn't see everything in one day. This part will pick up from where I started day two, where we'll be putting the spotlight on a pair of exhibits located on the north side of the zoo.
Entering from the Fordham gate (again), we instead veer left as we head down a wooded trail. This brings us to a large open exhibit; the Bison Range.
This exhibit is one of the oldest on zoo grounds, and has been a feature since its opening. It's home to one of the few large bison herds in American zoos, and the Bronx has been a key contributor in the early conservation of this species, when they were on the brink of extinction.
American Bison (Bison bison)
Overall, this is a pretty solid exhibit; it's a good size and features a nice herd of bison; I even saw a few calves on my visit. The viewing is a bit awkward though, and I feel this exhibit could benefit from a raised observation deck or something similar.
We continue down the trail and this brings us to the main feature of this post; a sign introduces you to the next exhibit, as you take a trail up a hill and find your self at the entrance to World of Birds.
This is a large bird house that spans two floors and is home to a vast array of birds from around the world, all housed in multi-species sky-lit enclosures. The exhibit opened in 1972 and is known for its collection as well as breeding successes. Most of the enclosures are viewed through glass or netting, but the 2nd floor has two large walkthrough aviaries.
We enter the first floor, which primarily focuses on the views from below; many of the enclosures are tall, often requiring visitors to look up to see some of the birds. While there are no distinct "sections" or "zones", the building focuses mainly on tropical birds, in contrast with the Aquatic Bird House which emphasized species from temperate regions.
The first exhibit is notable in that it features no barrier between visitors and birds, but instead uses lighting contrasts to keep the birds contained (it is not a true walkthrough aviary). Bee-eaters are the main star here, and you might see one snacking on an insect it caught.
Blue-headed Wood-Dove (Turtur brehmeri)
Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana)
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat (Cossypha niveicapilla)
White-fronted Bee-Eater (Merops bullockoides)
White-throated Bee-Eater (Merops albicollis)
This exhibit complex isn't just focused on the birds themselves; the building also educates visitors on various topics like biodiversity, habitat destruction, bird lifestyles and evolution, the illegal pet trade, and more. The next couple of exhibits all contain various mixes of birds; some feature birds from a single region or continent, while others mix birds from different areas. This section also gives us a few non-bird residents such as tortoises and titis.
*Signed as Anthracoceros malabaricus, which does not appear to be a valid species, nor could I find a valid synonym. Could this be a possible signage error?
One notable non-animal exhibit here includes a room that showcases everything about bird eggs, hatchlings, and their journey from chicks to adulthood. One notable feature is a series of plaques containing pictures of robins at various life stages; from left to right, each plaque has progressively less pictures, showing just how perilous the journey to adulthood is.
We then come to a series of smaller enclosures that are flanked by mock trees, and feature birds-of-paradise as the main stars; we also see another non-bird species here; a chevrotain, which we also saw back in JungleWorld.
As we continue along the first floor, we start to see larger habitats and larger species mixes. One exhibit features a small sampling of Asian birds, while another focuses on nesting behaviors and construction, and focuses mainly on African birds.
Crested Partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
Finch-billed Myna (Scissirostrum dubium) (Signed as Grosbeak Starling)
The next group of exhibits all focus on tropical environments from each of the 3 main continents with rain forests; Africa, Asia, and then South America. The Africa birds exhibit is not as grand, but we do have parrots, peafowl, and hornbills.
Bearded Barbet (Pogonornis dubius) (Unsigned)
Congo Peafowl (Afropavo congensis)
Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus)
Guinea Turaco (Tauraco persa)
Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria)
Western Long-tailed Hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus) (Unsigned)
The largest of the exhibits here focuses primarily on Asian birds, and I believe this particular enclosure is also seen from the 2nd floor.
Asian Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)
Cotton Pygmy-Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus)
Crested Partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata) (Signed under Synonym Anas falcata)
Luzon Bleeding-Heart (Gallicolumba luzonica)
Mariana Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus roseicapilla)
Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica)
Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)
Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor)
Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)
Victoria Crowned-Pigeon (Goura victoria)
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)
The last exhibit focuses on South America and also carries the theme of protecting wildlife and engaging local peoples. This exhibit is also home to a species of tortoise.
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus)
Crested Partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps)
Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus)
Luzon Bleeding-Heart (Gallicolumba luzonica)
Red-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius)
Sun Parakeet (Aratinga solstitialis) (Signed as Sun Conure)
Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela)
The last exhibit with animals on the first floor is quite a departure from the previous exhibits, in that it recreates a temperate forest and features birds from Eurasia.
Asian Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) (Unsigned)
Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus)
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
One last room on the first floor doesn't feature any live animal exhibits, but instead is a memorial to all the various species of birds that have gone extinct in the modern era, mainly due to human activities. The walls are lined with murals of various bird species that are no longer with us.
We then exit the building, having completed the first floor of exhibits. Right in front of the exit is a ramp that takes us up to the 2nd floor. This ramp is accessible without having to go through the first floor first.
The first two exhibits on the 2nd floor are notable for being walk-through aviaries, and are in fact the largest exhibits within World of Birds. The first exhibit appears to depict an African woodland, with a mural of the savanna covering the wall, and designed to be seamless with the exhibit space. However, the species mix includes South American birds as well as African birds.
African Pygmy-Goose (Nettapus auritus)
Bearded Barbet (Pogonornis dubius)
Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)
Blue-headed Wood-Dove (Turtur brehmeri)
Eastern Crested Guineafowl (Guttera pucherani) (Signed as Kenya Crested Guineafowl)
Western Long-tailed Hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus)
There may now be a Yellow-billed Stork in this exhibit @Mary (might be either this one or the 2nd exhibit; post mentioned "first room you walk into")
The next room is also a walk-through aviary, and is even larger. This is the largest exhibit within World of Birds. This room recreates a tropical forest and is several stories tall. A large rocky cliff flanks the elevated pathway, and visitors look out into the exhibit at tree level.
There are birds here at all levels, on the ground, in the trees, and even up on the cliffs. Like the previous exhibit, this aviary mixes birds from different regions.
Amazonian Motmot (Momotus momota) (Unsigned)
Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
Bearded Barbet (Pogonornis dubius)
Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) (Unsigned)
Blue-headed Macaw (Primolius couloni) (Unsigned)
Golden-breasted Starling (Lamprotornis regius)
Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas) (Labeled as Inca Jay, but was only signed at the species level)
We then come up to a smaller Asian-focused bird exhibit, with monals and Malkohas, as well as the large Asian tropical forest exhibit we saw previously on the first floor. Aftwards, we come to another smaller exhibit for Tropcial American species.
Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) (Signed as Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo)
Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
Cotton Pygmy-Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus)
Crested Partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata) (Signed under Synonym Anas falcata)
Finch-billed Myna (Scissirostrum dubium) (Signed as Grosbeak Starling)
Great Argus (Argusianus argus)
Green Junglefowl (Gallus varius)
Luzon Bleeding-Heart (Gallicolumba luzonica)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Mariana Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus roseicapilla)
Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica)
Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)
Pheasant Pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis)
Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor)
Scarlet-faced Liocichla (Liocichla ripponi)
Victoria Crowned-Pigeon (Goura victoria)
White-throated Ground Dove (Pampusana xanthonura)
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus)
Black-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus aracari)
Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata)
Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)
The last couple of exhibits feature a mixed sampling of various birds with no real theme, with Hornbills, Toucans, and Parrots being the main focus here. With these exhibits, visitors are mainly seeing them from high up and looking down.
Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix) (Signed as Sulawesi Knobbed Hornbill under Rhyticeros cassidix cassidix, which is not a recognized subspecies)
Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
Victoria Crowned-Pigeon (Goura victoria)
Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)
The last stop within World of Birds is the nursery; visitors can look through windows into the nursery as the zoo hand-rears chicks that have recently hatched. On my visit, a pair of Pied Avocet chicks were being housed in an enclosure viewable to visitors.
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) (Nursery, subject to change).
After we pass the nursery, we then exit the building and take another ramp back down to ground level, where we started, thus completing our tour of World of Birds.
I've heard that there is an Emu exhibit here just outside the building, but I didn't see it, and I didn't see any signage pointing to it.
Is World of Birds the best bird house I have ever toured? Yes! And it's not even close. Granted, I haven't been to too many bird houses, but I have also done Philadelphia's McNeil Avian Center, Riverbanks' Bird House, and Smithsonian's Bird House. While those are all solid exhibits in their own right, none of them come close to matching World of Birds in any regard.
Of course, there's the collection; I counted 122 species that were either signed and/or seen in the exhibit. That doesn't just blow every other bird house out of the water; it's by far the most species-rich exhibit complex I have ever toured. Granted, I didn't see everything that was signed, but I still saw a lot of birds, and what I didn't see where mostly smaller birds that could easily hide in their exhibits. That large collection includes lots of rarities and species I either havn't seen before or seldom see, such as Birds-of-Paradise, the various hornbills, Malkohas, Occellated Turkeys, the Capercallie, Tinamous, Social-weavers, and much more. The collection is also highly varied from a taxnomic perspective, with lots of passerines as well as doves, toucans, barbets, hornbills, turkeys, parrots, and much more.
Also, this is still the Bronx Zoo, and everything that entails when it comes to exhibitry. The exhibits in here are all fantastic, with great landscaping, furnishing, and plantings that make them all highly naturalistic. The exhibits are also fairly large and tall, providing plenty of flight room. And the fact that all exhibits are also naturally-lit via skylights is also a huge plus. I also liked how they incorporated detailed landscape murals and were able to blend them in with the exhbits themsevles. The large tropical forest/cliff aviary on the 2nd floor is my single favorite enclosure, as I loved its large size, open space, and the large cliff that towers over visitors. The woodland and African weaver exhibits are also excellent.
That being said, I noticed that the exhibits towards the end of the 2nd floor, mainly the Toucan, Hornbill, and Parrot exhibits, weren't as good as the rest of the building; they seemed kind of bland and actually kind of stick out for how underwhelming they were.
World of Birds has the collection, it's got the rarities, and it's got the excellent exhibit design, so it's no wonder that it easily becomes my #1 bird exhibit. And I honestly don't see it getting usurped anytime soon (sorry Sylvan Heights, you are great, but you're no World of Birds).
We got two more parts to go. In the next part, we'll be going a little north, then finish off this review by going a little south.
The last exhibit on the first floor, the temperate forest with the chainsaw - years and years ago it used to house North American songbirds. I remember seeing cedar waxing and scarlet tanager signed. Nowadays the National Zoo and Columbus Zoo have similar aviaries. As a kid I thought the concept was silly and a bit boring (and I usually skipped that one) but in retrospect I wish more zoos paid attention to local animals.
@Astrotom3000 what was your success rate with seeing birds in those walkthrough aviaries? And are either of them also visible from the first floor or only up at canopy level?
Thank you for this detailed review! I appreciate all of the time that you put into documenting the bird community in each of those exhibits. I've read about about World of Birds since my childhood, but I've never made a trip to New York to see it, but it sounds incredible. It sounds like taking the San Diego Zoo's awesome bird collection and moving it indoors! This is an amazing collection and the only two boring species (out of 122) are Japanese Quail and Budgerigar. Just the first two large aviaries on the second floor contain as many or more species of birds than half of the zoos in the U.S. (not counting domestic species and rehab raptors).
I believe that Anthracoceros malabaricus is an early name for the Malabar Pied Hornbill; it's not the original scientific name, but it took prominence sometime in the early 1900s until fairly recently (maybe the 1980s). I can't find it right now, but I have an older copy of Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World from the 1970s and I'll see what it says about the scientific name that was widely recognized at that time.
It sounds like the Bronx Zoo uses some of the older common names in their collection too, which I really like. Crevice Tortoises used to be called Pancake Tortoises, Finch-billed Mynas used to be called Grosbeak Starlings (and still are by me!), Sun Parakeets used to be called Sun Conures (and always will be by me). I still call Golden-breasted Starlings by their old common name "Royal Starling" (taken straight from the specific epithet 'regius') and Crested Partridges by their old name "Red Crested Woodpartridge".
This is a fantastic review of what is almost certainly the best (most diverse and aesthetically pleasing) bird house in the U.S.!
Part 12 - Tigers, Ducks, and that one weirdly-named Deer
As we approach the tail-end of this review, we take a break from waltzing through the tropics and turn our focus to a pair of exhibits that showcase wildlife found in more temperate regions. These exhibits are located down the path from World of Birds and Bison Range. Like those exhibits, I did not get to this area until my 2nd day at the zoo.
The first exhibit we will look at is yet another one of the zoo's most notable exhibits; this is Tiger Mountain.
This exhibit opened in 2003, replacing an exhibit for wolves, and would go on to win the AZA Exhibit Award the following year. The exhibit showcases the tigers of Asia, the environments that they live in, and the threats that they face in the wild.
The exhibit features two enclosures with glass viewing, with one exhibit having a pond with underwater viewing and stocked with carp. Along the mulched trail, there are also scenery scattered through, providing educational opportunities for visitors to learn how tigers are poached in the wild and how rangers set off to protect them in their natural home, such as a base camp and a poacher's truck.
Tigers could also be seen off the Wild Asia Monorail. While that exhibit showcased them in a tropical environment, Tiger Mountain shifts the focus to a more northerly/temperate environment, which is the main home of the largest tiger subspecies; the Amur Tiger.
While not technically part of Tiger Mountain, just across from the complex is a large, open, exhibit home to a peculiar species of deer; the Père David's Deer.
The deer exhibit is fairly large, features multiple viewing areas, and features a moat. The deer share their enclosure with a species of swan.
Tiger Mountain is yet another fantastic exhibit in the Bronx Zoo's collection. The two tiger exhibits are fairly large, shaded, and do an excellent job of taking advantage of the natural terrain. The addition of a pond stocked with fish in a big cat exhibit is also a huge plus; the last time I saw a setup like this was at Jacksonville's Range of the Jaguar. The visitor areas are also well integrated; the pathways are unpaved and the whole area is very well landscaped and themed. I really enjoyed the various scenes scattered throughout the path, as it really helped heighten the immersion factor.
The exhibit is also located in a rather quiet part of the zoo, away from the other major exhibits, which makes this a rather peaceful area. The deer exhibit is also very solid.
As we continue down the main pathway, we come to the other exhibit that will be featured in this post; the Northern Ponds.
This is a series of natural ponds that host several species of semi-aquatic birds; mostly waterfowl, but we have yet another species of Asian crane here. During my visit, there was a crane chick visible, being cared for by its parents.
In addition, you may also spot turtles here, such as the native Common Snapping Turtle or the invasive Red-eared Slider.
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) (Unsigned)
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis)
Northern Ponds may not be the most interesting exhibit at the zoo, and gets quite lost in its absolutely stacked lineup. Nonetheless, I think this is a solid exhibit all-around. The birds have large enclosures to roam with plenty of land and water, and the exhibit's location in the zoo provides a tranquil atmosphere. Like Tiger Mountain, the viewing areas utilize unpaved pathway surfaces, which adds a little immersion to the complex.
That will do it for this part. I have one more exhibit to cover before I wrap this lengthy review up (it's been just over a month since I started this). But to address a few comments.
@Astrotom3000 what was your success rate with seeing birds in those walkthrough aviaries? And are either of them also visible from the first floor or only up at canopy level?
I would say that I saw maybe around 3/4 of the species that were signed, plus the multiple species I saw that were unsigned. Also, the two large walkthroughs are only accessible from the 2nd floor; they have no ground-level viewing.
I believe that Anthracoceros malabaricus is an early name for the Malabar Pied Hornbill; it's not the original scientific name, but it took prominence sometime in the early 1900s until fairly recently (maybe the 1980s). I can't find it right now, but I have an older copy of Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World from the 1970s and I'll see what it says about the scientific name that was widely recognized at that time.
That makes sense. The thing that tripped me up was that iNaturalist did not have Anthracoceros malabaricus recorded as a synonym or prior taxon name for Anthracoceros coronatus. Normally, they are good at recording this so that if you type in a synonym, they auto-correct it to whatever the currently accepted taxon name is.
It sounds like the Bronx Zoo uses some of the older common names in their collection too, which I really like. Crevice Tortoises used to be called Pancake Tortoises, Finch-billed Mynas used to be called Grosbeak Starlings (and still are by me!), Sun Parakeets used to be called Sun Conures (and always will be by me). I still call Golden-breasted Starlings by their old common name "Royal Starling" (taken straight from the specific epithet 'regius') and Crested Partridges by their old name "Red Crested Woodpartridge".
I actually think this is more of an iNaturalist quick; they can sometimes be a bit "rebellious" in regards to what English names they use by default. I have yet to visit a zoo that actually refers to Pancake Tortoises as "Crevice Tortoises"; likewise with Sun Conures instead of Sun Parakeet.
Another great review! Thank you for taking the time to write up these detailed summaries and to pepper them with great photo! I'm so happy to hear that the Bronx Zoo's Red-crowned Cranes raised a chick on exhibit this year!
I found my old copy of Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World from 1974. It looks like the taxonomy of the genus Anthracocerus has changed a little over the past fifty years. Back in 1974, there were five recognized species just like today, but they were different. Back then, the species Anthracocerus albirostris (Burmese Pied Hornbill) was considered to have a wide range that extended across India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and southern China. And the species A. coronatus was not recognized at that time. Sometime between the 1970s and the 1990s, A. albirostris was split into two species and the populations in India and Sri Lanka were assigned to the name Malabar Pied Hornbill (A. coronatus) and the populations east of India were combined with the former species A. convexus (Southern Pied Hornbill), and retained the name A. albirostris. It looks like the old name Anthracocerus malabaricus is a synonym for A. albirostris and not A. coronatus, which is probably why it didn't show up as a synonym on iNaturalist. The other three species in that genus have not changed in the past 50 years: A. malayanus (Black Hornbill), A. montani (Sulu Hornbill), and A. marchei (Palawan Hornbill). It's always nice to have an old reference book for backup!
After touring the temperate-themed exhibits for tigers, deer, and waterfowl in the previous part, we return to the tropics for what will be the final part in this review before we finally wrap things up. But instead of braving steamy jungles, we're headed to grassy plains where the..ahem...zebras and the antelope play. This section will focus on the African Plains.
The Bronx Zoo's African Plains first opened in 1941 and was among the first exhibits to utilize deep moats to display both predators and prey in naturalistic settings, as well as allowing large carnivores to be displayed without cages. The complex recreates the grasslands and savannas of Africa and features staples such as lions, giraffes, zebras, and a variety of antelope.
The exhibit consists of a long looping pathway that completely encircles the exhibit, and connects to other paths at the zoo in multiple locations, so your starting point will vary depending on where in the zoo you are coming from. On my visit, I started out at the Somba Village, and toured the complex in a clockwise direction.
Starting at the Somba village, we immediately come to a large grassy enclosure with scattered trees and some exposed rock; this enclosure is mainly home to gazelles. Continuing down the loop to the left, we come up to one of three large predators housed at this complex; the Lion. The lions are contained via deep moats, but the landscaping was designed to make it seem like the lions and antelope are sharing the same space.
Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)
Thomson's Gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii)
Lesser Kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)
Lion (Panthera leo)
Just past the lion exhibit is another enclosure for antelope; this enclosure features a tall wooden hut-like structure at one end. The pathway crosses over a gap and there is a smaller enclosure on the other side, that the inhabitants can access. It seems this pen can be made separate as needed.
As we work our way down the loop (going clockwise), we enter a stretch in which there are no exhibits. We pass by the entrance to Asia and past a large obstacle course known as the Nature Trek. In the past, there was actually another enclosure here that featured rarer antelope such as Blesbok and Oryx. Unfortunately, this enclosure was discontinued due to the budget cuts that occurred in 2009, and was replaced by the Nature Trek.
After we round the Nature Trek, we finally rejoin the plains and come across the next exhibit; a large grassy paddock home to Rhim (or Slender-horned) Gazelles.
Rhim Gazelle (Gazella leptoceros) (Signed as Slender-horned Gazelle)
Just past the Rhim Gazelle exhibit is another similar enclosure, but this time, home to Zebras. The species here are Grevy's Zebra, a species I haven't seen since 2022 (and also means I got to see all 3 species of Zebra held in US zoos in one year).
The next stop on our tour of the plains takes quite an interesting twist as we come up to a building with indoor exhibits; this is the Carter Giraffe Building.
This exhibit building contains three exhibits. All three exhibits feature skylights. One exhibit is an indoor pen for the Giraffes. One giraffe was using it on my visit, and this allows the giraffes to be visible during weather that is unsuitable for them to be outdoors.
Giraffe (Giraffa spp) (Signed as Giraffa camelopardalis)
The next enclosure is a large terrarium for dwarf mongooses and hornbills. This is identical to the setup we saw back at the Prospect Park Zoo's Hall of Animals, although the enclosure here is notably larger.
Common Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula)
Von Der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni)
The last exhibit is a nocturnal exhibit home to Aardvarks and owls. Visitors pass through dark drapes to see the dimly-lit enclosure. This is the first time I've seen Aardvarks since my visit to Omaha back in 2017.
Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)
Northern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) (Signed as White-faced Scops Owl under synonym Otus leucotis)
We exit the building and continue on our merry way along the plains loop. The next two exhibits are densely-planted and well-shaded exhibits home to a pair of grassland predators; the first exhibit is home to hyenas, while the next exhibit features a pack of wild dogs.
Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)
Our last stop on the plains tour is one more large grassy enclosure home to two of the plains more familiar residents; ostriches and giraffes. There are multiple viewing points for this exhibit and while the pathways are sunken a bit compared to the exhibit, this is of no consequence when you are viewing the tallest mammal and the tallest bird.
Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Giraffe (Giraffa spp) (Signed as Giraffa camelopardalis)
African Plains is another exhibit that tends to get lost among the zoo's lineup of top tier exhibits and yet, it's an excellent exhibit in its own right. This might be the 2nd-best African Plains exhibit I have seen in a traditional zoo (you'll never guess what 1st place is). The exhibits are all fairly large and are some of the most lush I've seen for these species. The zoo did an excellent job with designing these exhibits and really nailing the impression that you are actually out in the wild. The species lineup is fairly solid, with giraffe building housing some of the more unorthodox species (mongooses, aardvarks, owls). I also really enjoyed the mix of predators and prey on display here.
Like many other areas of the zoo, I really enjoyed how the pathways and viewing areas integrate with the exhibits. Many of the viewing areas are lined with dense plants, giving the impression that you are looking out into the plains from the bush. A few areas, such as the wild dog and giraffe exhibits, have small offshoot paths leading to viewing areas that are well themed and landscaped. The Bronx Zoo's natural terrain and temperate parklands lend themselves surprisingly well to this type of exhibit.
The giraffe building was definitely the one weakness here. The mongoose/hornbill exhibit was alright (it's definitely better than the one at Prospect Park). The indoor giraffe exhibit is kind of small; I don't know how the off-show accommodations are, as I cannot imagine the zoo's herd being held here all at once in the winter months. The nocturnal exhibit was fine for the owls, but felt kind of small for the aardvarks.
And that just about covers all the exhibits at the Bronx Zoo. Whew, that took a while. The next post will contain a condensed species list for easy reference, while the last post will be the usual conclusion and closing remarks. Stay tuned.
