A zoo-based trip to New York City – Part Seven (Prospect Park Zoo)
Prospect Park Zoo (in Brooklyn) completed our coverage of New York’s animal collections, which we visited in the afternoon of the same day that we went to the aquarium (after a very pleasant spring walk through Prospect Park). The zoo can be approached either via the park’s Children’s Corner or an entrance from the main road. The ticket offices at the main entrance bear attractive carved murals of the larger animals that were presumably once kept here, and paired stone staircases wind down into the sunken zoo grounds.
The lay-out of the main zoo is like a smaller version of Astor Court at Bronx Zoo, with buildings surrounding the open semi-circular Sealion Court. The Californian Sealion enclosure predictably lies at the centre of this court and is the first exhibit encountered if one enters from the main entrance. The sealion pool here is, however, the smallest of the five seen on this trip, and houses only two female sealions. Of the three main buildings surrounding the court, only two now hold animals, with the third being turned over to classrooms for school visits. The remainder of the zoo is taken up by the ‘Discovery Trail’ to the south of Sealion Court (behind the education building) and a Children’s Zoo
(domestics only) behind the ‘Animals In Our Lives’ House.
The ‘Discovery Trail’ (which we opted to see first), winds its way around a series of outdoor exhibits before finally ending back in Sealion Court between the education and ‘Animal Lifestyles’ House. The first enclosure is a large pond for wildfowl and turtles which is viewed by a series of bridges. To the left of the pond is a small grassed hillock enclosure for Black-tailed Prairie Dog – one of those (increasing common, in Europe at least) small mammal enclosures with a tunnel and glass domes so kids can see the animals at eye height. All very nice, but no Prairie Dogs were visible.
After the wildfowl pond, is a gated Australian area featuring a well planted and netted enclosure for a pair of Dingos (presumably pure bred). I’ve no idea how many of these are still kept in Europe but it is a very long time indeed since I last saw one (perhaps even as long ago as my childhood in Australia, where every tin pot collection seemed to have them). Also in this area is a large enclosure for Emu. Previously kangaroos and wallabies were also kept (free roaming) here (hence the gates) but a sign highlighted that the zoo no longer kept kangaroos and that the ‘spare’ grassed area would be developed into ‘an exciting new exhibit’ (not sure what Australian options they might have beyond more kangaroos or parrots/ budgies?).
After the Australian area, the path winds around glass-walled enclosures for Red Panda, African Crested Porcupine and North American River Otter, before entering a wooden shelter viewing area for a nicely planted, Chinese themed enclosure featuring Tufted Deer (quite a large group) and Demoiselle Crane. Following this, the path enters a large wooded, walk-through aviary, the only notable occupant of which was a lone Sumatran Chicken – very nice!
Exiting the Discovery Trail back into Sealion Court, we were left with only the two indoor animal houses left to see. Left to last but neither could be termed least! Both houses contain an eclectic mix of smaller species, some of which are choice to the European zoo enthusiast.
Entering the ‘Animal Lifestyles’ building, one is confronted by a spacious circular atrium with a series of large, windowed enclosures set into the surrounding walls. These comprised an aquarium for large freshwater fish (Pearl and Xingu River Ray, Red-tailed Catfish, Silver Arowana), well-planted enclosures for Golden Lion Tamarin and Geoffroy’s Tamarin (another first for me, there are none of these in Europe), a mixed tropical bird exhibit (Crowned Pigeon, King Parrot, Hwamei, Oriental Magpie Robin, Crested Wood Partridge) which also housed a pair of Prevost’s Squirrel and a rocky enclosure for Pallas Cat (the first timer I had seen this species housed in a wholly indoor exhibit, which actually looked a bit small for the single cat seen). A corridor leads from the atrium around to the back of the building (and contains a number of smaller enclosures for reptiles and a all indoor desert ‘box’ for White-faced Scops Owl) to the Hamadryas Baboon enclosure. The baboons are housed outdoors in an exhibit which is attached to the house but viewed (through a series of large windows) from inside the house. The enclosure itself is sort of a rocky, walled affair covered by netting. Quite spacious for the small family of baboons housed within it, but with very restricted viewing for the animals outside of their enclosure (except into the house, and the staring public, via the viewing windows).
The second animal house (‘Animals In Our Lives’ no less, where do they get these names from!) is another mixed affair with a large array of glass-fronted vivaria for reptiles and amphibians, and larger enclosures for some birds and small mammals (including a small nocturnal section). Diurnal mammals included Geoffroy’s Marmoset (of course, not as much interest to me as the Tamarin of the same name!), Meerkats (the only ones I saw on the entire trip……ah……the relief!) and Dwarf Mongoose. The nocturnal section featured Brush-tailed Bettong, Madagascar Giant Jumping Rat, Brush-tailed Porcupine and Pygmy Loris. Among the birds, reptiles and amphibians the choice species (for me at least) comprised Green-naped Pheasant Pigeon, Kaiser’s Spotted Newt, Chinese Crocodile Lizard, Japanese Alligator Newt, and Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko.
Another very interesting collection, especially for smaller animals, and again, I was impressed by the variety and fact that few of the species were the same as kept in the other New York Collections.
And so that was that…….all five New York zoos done. Along with all the other attractions, a highly enjoyable trip and one I would definitely recommend, especially if you haven’t visited New York before. Next time I’ll visit in the summer season!
