It is such a shame that the Bronx zoo in winter is more like a average to good zoo. Then in spring summer it becomes a great zoo. With all the animals on show using these great exhibits.
@zooman: you nailed it on the head, as arguably the greatest weakness of the Bronx Zoo is the climate that it is located in. To have the giraffes and other warm weather animals locked insided for days on end in the dead of winter is not exciting, and with Wild Asia closed down and even the gorillas not necessarily on display it wouldn't take as long to see everything. I've always felt that the weather has been the trump card for the San Diego Zoo, as apart from the reptile house that collection is all open-air all year long. However, I'd love to see Himalayan Highlands at the Bronx in the dead of winter!
Regarding climate: yes and no. For animals (and plants) from tropical and neotropical habitats, San Diego's weather might often be just fine and the husbandry is more economical (i.e. you don't have to spend a lot of indoor heating). Yet when it comes to species like red pandas, musk deer, saiga antelopes, snow leopards or the ever-popular polar bears, NY's cold winter might be more appropiate for the well-being of the animals-wheras I feel sorry for specimens of said "nordic" species living in SD...
