Bronx Zoo Bronx Zoo News 2025

Whatever happened to the plan to bring Pygmy hippos to the monkey house?
Apparently that idea has been abandoned along with the original concept of transforming the former, “Lion House” into an Amazonian “Flooded Forest” exhibit for Giant otters, bush dogs, caiman et al .It became, instead, “Madagascar!” a primarily , primate exhibit featuring lemurs.
The idea of re exhibiting Pygmy hippos - once a signature species for the Bronx Zoo, has been around for , the soon to be reincarnated, “World Darkness” -which be back in its original form beginning this summer as well as the former- currently unused-“Monkey House”
The most recent idea floated was to have transformed , what is now, “Jungle
Trek” -a glorified children’s playground-into an extension of the African Plains featuring White Rhino( Curently at Zoo Center), cheetah, Klipspribgers- or Dik Dik- cranes, Dubg beetles and meerkats while replacing the White Rhino in the current exhibit with Pygmy hippos.
Unfortunately the Great Recession - coupled with Bloomberg -a great philanthropist who does not particularly like zoos - administration cuts not only resulted in the elimination of future projects but the closing of existing ones such as the Rare Animal Range, the Blesbok exhibit and the closing of the World of Darkness.
Now that the WOD is being opened the next, likely , project - if any- built from scratch would be the revitalized expansion of the African Plains that had been previously planned - to the point of architectural drawings being made.
This would then open up the East Wing of Zoo Center to be transformed into an exhibit for Pygmy Hippo.
 
the original concept of transforming the former, “Lion House” into an Amazonian “Flooded Forest” exhibit for Giant otters, bush dogs, caiman et al .

Is there anymore information on this out there? I'd love to give it a read.
 
I’m sorry if this was already answered in the thread, but does anyone know what day exactly the gorillas go back into their outdoor habitat in march?
 
What is the status of Przewalski's horse now at the Bronx Zoo?

The zoo has a big breeding herd so there should still be plenty of horses.

Been thinking and it's always kind of baffling that zoos don't do more to drum up excitement and hype for new exhibits, like World of Darkness, we got one piece of concept art. Idk if I was doing social media for zoos, I'd do some more stuff to get people excited/invested.

We don't even have an opening date yet. It's far too early to start advertising (which is expensive! Zoos aren't movie studios).

Also, they had a float in the Macy's Thanksgivings Day parade as part of their announcement.

~Thylo
 
Updates from my visit Tuesday!

-Tiger Mountain remains closed, and it appears they are doing some work on the roof of the viewing areas
-There are red bird of paradise chicks in the World of Birds nursery! A really rare and special look at these precious offspring, and I encourage everyone to make it over to see them
-The kagu is finally signed in World of Birds, and there is also a black-faced ibis in the macaw and parrot exhibit in the final room of the second floor before the nursery. There is also paper over the knobbed hornbill exhibit in that room and a sign noting they are breeding. Would love to see them have a chick!
-All the crane species have been moved off exhibit due to bird flu, and a few of them can be seen in the holding pens to the side of World of Birds when you are exiting on the ramps
 
-All the crane species have been moved off exhibit due to bird flu, and a few of them can be seen in the holding pens to the side of World of Birds when you are exiting on the ramps
Will WOB/ABH ever close due to Bird Flu I wonder?
 
Dinosaur Safari is coming back! It will start on April Twelfth and there was no closure date announced. It will include 11 “new” species of dinosaurs with 60 all together. I believe this will take place on the former rare animal range and dalmatian pelicans can be seen. Bronx Zoo’s Dinosaur Safari Is Back! New Animatronics and Hands-On Fun for Dino-Lovers of All Ages
In all due respect to the appeal of audio animatronic dinosaurs -AND Presidents (Love Disney World’s rendition of Franklin Pierce (!)) I would much prefer a permanent home for Orangutans or an elephant habitat in perpetuity .
 
The dinosaurs have a far better bang for their buck though. Zero food bill and huge interest from the public.
Are they running a zoological park or an amusement park?
Maybe robotic orangutans and elephants ?
Hey maybe do that with all the animals ? Like Jungle Cruise (!) Thibk what could save on food , housing and care that way
This might be a great idea for art museums as well. Just have photographs of famous paintings
This way The Met could throw out all those Rembrandts, Monet’s and Raphael’s and replace them with color photographs .
In this way we could even display the Mona Lisa, the Nightwatch and reproduce Michelangelo’s Sistene Chapel via color photographs and save all that insurance and maintenance costs
Animals via AI great concept for the 21st Century
 
Are we gonna act like Bronx does not have a new exhibit opening this year? It’s not like robotic dinosaurs are the only thing happening. Plus with the Wildlife Conservation Society being highly dependent on federal grants, I would hope they are being frugal at this uncertain moment.
 
Are they running a zoological park or an amusement park?
Maybe robotic orangutans and elephants ?
Hey maybe do that with all the animals ? Like Jungle Cruise (!) Thibk what could save on food , housing and care that way
This might be a great idea for art museums as well. Just have photographs of famous paintings
This way The Met could throw out all those Rembrandts, Monet’s and Raphael’s and replace them with color photographs .
In this way we could even display the Mona Lisa, the Nightwatch and reproduce Michelangelo’s Sistene Chapel via color photographs and save all that insurance and maintenance costs
Animals via AI great concept for the 21st Century

Zoos have been far more than just a menagerie of wild animals for longer than I have personally been alive. Many zoos, including Bronx, have a long history of rides, art installations, and temporary non-live animal attractions. Your own distaste for them, which is certainly not entirely misplaced, does not affect their effectiveness as a means to increase revenue in the slightest.

No one is saying they should replace all their live animals, but rather that animatronic versions of species that are impossible to source (non-avian Dinosauria), as a temporary, seasonal, exhibit, is a fantastic way to boost visitor numbers for a summer with minimal upkeep cost.

That being said, animatronic orangutans and elephants have definitely both been utilized at major zoological facilities in North America. Not standalone, but as one facet of a bigger picture.
 
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