Bronx Zoo Bronx Zoo News 2025

Update from Today’s visit (7/18/2025)

The Gaur are back on exhibit. It seems the fence is completely installed. The zoo did not make an announcement of their return anywhere as far as I know. Though someone please say if I’m wrong about that. I’ll post pics of the fence for visual context soon
Could you link it where when you're ready to post it?
 
Besides reviving World of Darkness, there have been numerous talks about making the former Rare Animal Range section to a South America area, but don't expect that for a long long long time considering ti took 15 years to revive World of Darkness.

The issue is more funding for projects as opposed to time. It's taken the zoo a long time to recover from the 2009 budget cuts ($15million cut in 2009, which is equal to nearly $22.5million today) and then they've had multiple large projects across the five collections (Ocean Wonders: Sharks!, the rebuilding/refurbishment of pretty much the entirety of NY Aquarium following Hurricane Sandy, the repairs to Prospect Park Zoo following heavy floods in 2023, BZ's Children's Zoo refurbishment, replacement of the ramp/refurbishment of the 2nd floor of World of Birds, catching up on all of the general habitat and exhibit maintenance that fell behind in the 5+ years following 2009). These have all required very large sums of money, especially in NYC which has some of the highest constructions costs in the world. One would hope that the WCS is now in a better place to get projects off the grounds more regularly, but I still wouldn't expect a new exhibit announcement in the next couple of years.

In addition to the loosely discussed South American exhibit, the Zoo has also expressed interest in redeveloping the Monkey House.

~Thylo
 
Besides reviving World of Darkness, there have been numerous talks about making the former Rare Animal Range section to a South America area, but don't expect that for a long long long time considering ti took 15 years to revive World of Darkness.

The South American zone has been long discussed on this forum. It would be a lovely addition to the Bronx Zoo but I can’t see it happening for a while.
 
Would it be better to visit in early August or Early June? I am trying to find a good date to visit the zoo and can't figure it if 2025 or 2026 would be better. Is there any species (dholes, storm's stork, ring tailed vontsira, etc..) that will no longer be on exhibit / passed?
 
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Would it be better to visit in early August or Early June? I am trying to find a good date to visit the zoo and can't figure it if 2025 or 2026 would be better. Is there any species (dholes, storm's stork, ring tailed vontsira, etc..) that will no longer be on exhibit / passed?
Don't see why August would be a worse time than June - the dholes are still fairly active, the zoo's dedicated to ring-tailed vontsira through its import of another pair, unsure about the Storm's stork. I'd honestly say to make the best of things while you still can.
 
Updates from today's visit:
  • One of the signs in front of the aye-aye exhibit was covered—I assume it was the fat-tailed dwarf lemur's...
  • The fence in the Père David’s deer habitat has been removed. The herd was enjoying the new growth!
  • The red panda was back on exhibit in the Himalayan Highlands.
  • I saw gaur on both sides of the new fence, with the majority on the sloping side.
  • New to WoB: Northern Lapwing, Muscovy Duck
  • Part of the board covering the Knobbed Hornbill exhibit has been removed, and I saw the fledgling with its dad.
  • The WoB nursery was fenced off, and according to the sign, there was a kiwi chick inside that requires privacy!
 
I applaud Bronx for managing to successfully breed a large hornbill other than Rhinoceros!

I know it's been a long time coming and a lot of effort put into trying to breed them. Unfortunately, it seems the female passed shortly after the hatching of the chick :( It makes for a bittersweet victory in breeding the species. I'm very happy that the male was able to care for and fledge the chick all on his own.

Between this and the kiwi chick, the ornithology department has had some notable accomplishments this year!

~Thylo
 
I know it's been a long time coming and a lot of effort put into trying to breed them. Unfortunately, it seems the female passed shortly after the hatching of the chick :( It makes for a bittersweet victory in breeding the species. I'm very happy that the male was able to care for and fledge the chick all on his own.

Between this and the kiwi chick, the ornithology department has had some notable accomplishments this year!

~Thylo
Had they followed Nashville Zoo's Example on Breeding the Rhinoceros Hornbill?
 
Had they followed Nashville Zoo's Example on Breeding the Rhinoceros Hornbill?

I'm not sure what they did differently, if anything. What does Nashville do for Rhinoceros Hornbill?

Are the Muscovy Ducks the wild form? If so that's quite the addition!

I believe so, they're from Pinola so I'd assume so. I haven't seen them myself or heard one way or the other, though, to be honest.

~Thylo
 
I'm not sure what they did differently, if anything. What does Nashville do for Rhinoceros Hornbill?



I believe so, they're from Pinola so I'd assume so. I haven't seen them myself or heard one way or the other, though, to be honest.

~Thylo
Nashville Zoo is known for their breeding program for the Rhinoceros Hornbill.

Rhinoceros Hornbill Conservation
 
Besides reviving World of Darkness, there have been numerous talks about making the former Rare Animal Range section to a South America area, but don't expect that for a long long long time considering ti took 15 years to revive World of Darkness.
Not only South America, also Islands of Indonesia and the Australian Outback.
 
Never heard of those proposals but I do recall the, “African
Don’t recall any Indonesian or Australasian (Though they are certainly underrepresented in that zoogeographic realm- in all their parks) plans but do recall plans for an, “African Village” renovation where the current, “Nature Trek” playground stands in the South East quadrant . It was to have housed warthogs, cheetah, secretary birds, beetles and the White rhinos relocated from Zoo Center, among other species .
And I recall the, “Flooded Forest” that was already being promoted to have replaced the “Lion House” and would have exhibited bush dogs, giant otters,ocelot, caiman, anaconda among other Neo Tropical species.
That became Madagascar!
The former, “ Monkey House” -which still exhibits Capuchin monkeys -after a fashion- could, in theory , be transformed into a “Flooded Forest” if they had the will and budget to do so .
Following the revitalization of the World of Darkness - a major coup- I find it unlikely that any major capital project will take place at the Bronx Zoo- particularly involving design , construction and financing from the ground up.
That does not stop them from adding new -and sorely needed - buildings to Central Park ( Orangutan), Queens ( Jaguars) or Prospect Park (Which was earmarked for Australasian specialties )
 
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