It’s Up To You....

sooty mangabey

sooty mangabey

Well-Known Member
So. To the USA for a week. And following trips to California, in 2017, and Ohio and Chicago, in 2018, this year it is to the Empire State - and New York City.

However, one fundamental difference. Whereas the two previous trips were solely focused on zoo-visiting, this time around it is a family holiday, which means that zoos will be incidental treats rather than the central focus. Nonetheless, the carefully planned itinerary for time in New York includes lots of opportunities to stumble across caged animals.

None of the zoos in the city will be new for me. I came and did the whole lot in 1995, and returned to the Bronx (and Prospect Park) about 10 years ago, taking advantage of a wedding in the city to spend some hours in the zoos as well.

So, an apartment in Brooklyn, a schedule that includes the Statue of Liberty, a baseball match, and all the sorts of things that normal tourists do – and hopefully some animals as well.
 
Zoo Opportunity #1

So, if we visit Central Park, I’ve heard that the best entrance is in the south-east. And, goodness me, there is the zoo. Well, it would be rude not to pop in……

Only an hour or so here today – hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to return later. Really, not a huge amount seems to have changed since 1995. The Snow Leopard enclosure is new, I think, and Grizzly Bears have replaced the Polar Bears. But apart from that, no fundamental alterations in quarter of a century. And while the reasons for that are fairly obvious - it was created whole when it was rebuilt by the WCS - it does make it seem somewhat torpid.

Not the most exciting zoo in the world, but nice enough. Some of the mammal exhibits in the tropical section are on the tiny side - Banded Mongooses, Titi Monkeys and Coatis all live in cupboard-sized homes. Ruffed Lemurs have more room, but I can’t stand wholly-indoor exhibits for primates. Some great species though: two Puffins, Chinstrap Penguins, Tentacled Snakes...

One major gripe. In this most historical of zoos, almost nothing to indicate that history to the castle visitor. New signs. No displays. Certainly nothing published. A pity!
 
So you'll be back for the third of August? ;)

Happy travels, you know I'm a sucker for a Sooty travelogue! :D
 
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sooty mangabey said:
None of the zoos in the city will be new for me. I came and did the whole lot in 1995, and returned to the Bronx (and Prospect Park) about 10 years ago, taking advantage of a wedding in the city to spend some hours in the zoos as well.

So, an apartment in Brooklyn, a schedule that includes the Statue of Liberty, a baseball match, and all the sorts of things that normal tourists do – and hopefully some animals as well.
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There has been one zoological addition in the New York area since 1995 and it is the Long Island Aquarium, which opened in 2000. I visited that facility in 2012 and reviewed it on that summer's road trip thread, although I fully admit that it is a bit of a trek and far out of the way.

Here's a map of the aquarium:

Facility Map - Long Island Aquarium

Lastly, when @sooty mangabey and I meet up in the Netherlands in a couple of weeks I can promise him zero baseball games, no Coney Island hotdogs and definitely no Statue of Liberty. What I can guarantee are some quality Dutch zoos, observations about life in Canada, plus many long conversations about Bruce Springsteen albums! :)
 
sooty mangabey said:
One major gripe. In this most historical of zoos, almost nothing to indicate that history to the castle visitor. New signs. No displays. Certainly nothing published. A pity!
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Now THIS is something that has always frustrated me!

sooty mangabey said:
Really, not a huge amount seems to have changed since 1995. The Snow Leopard enclosure is new, I think, and Grizzly Bears have replaced the Polar Bears. But apart from that, no fundamental alterations in quarter of a century. And while the reasons for that are fairly obvious - it was created whole when it was rebuilt by the WCS - it does make it seem somewhat torpid.
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The fact that it doesn't actually have its own director anymore and that, from my understanding, the cost of operation is extremely high has also created an almost static feel to the zoo.

The odd ducks are all in the children's zoo now btw, which is separate from the main zoo by a couple minutes walk.

Are you in NY now? I'd be interested to hear how you think Bronx has changed over the past 10 years if you can make a visit to there.

~Thylo
 
What a weird coincidence! I'm also in a Brooklyn apartment on a revisit to NYC.

I'll keep an eye out for you (Prospect Park and NY Aquarium tomorrow; Queen's and Staten Island Thursday).
 
Zooplantman said:
Ah New York City in July. The heat, the humidity, the smell of rancid garbage. ;)
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I’m currently reading some trashy dystopian novel set in NYC. This morning, I read a description of the city in summer: “Everything smells like rotten garbage like it always does in New York every summer. If I’m not in New York I love summer but I hate it when I am. When it’s humid like it always is the back of my neck is always wet and I have to wash my hair twice a day sometimes just because otherwise it feels like I’m wearing bacon on my head“.

Actually, it’s not been too bad. A little humid, but no worse than would be reasonable to expect. And lovely and sunny. And not smelly at all...
 
snowleopard said:
Lastly, when @sooty mangabey and I meet up in the Netherlands in a couple of weeks I can promise him zero baseball games, no Coney Island hotdogs and definitely no Statue of Liberty. What I can guarantee are some quality Dutch zoos, observations about life in Canada, plus many long conversations about Bruce Springsteen albums! :)
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Hmmmm. Conversation about mooses and the finer points of The Ghost of Tom Joad while walking round some crappy North Sea aquarium? Sounds great!
 
ThylacineAlive said:
The odd ducks are all in the children's zoo now btw, which is separate from the main zoo by a couple minutes walk.

~Thylo
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Not yet been to the children’s zoo - ever - but will this trip. Can I count it as a separate establishment?!

ThylacineAlive said:
Are you in NY now? I'd be interested to hear how you think Bronx has changed over the past 10 years if you can make a visit to there.

~Thylo
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Yes, in NY now, weighing up whether to go to watch a hot dog eating competition in Coney Island on July 4th. Really looking forward to the Bronx....
 
Giant Panda said:
What a weird coincidence! I'm also in a Brooklyn apartment on a revisit to NYC.

I'll keep an eye out for you (Prospect Park and NY Aquarium tomorrow; Queen's and Staten Island Thursday).
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It sounds as if your trip is rather more zooish than mine! Highline today, Statue of Liberty tomorrow - but we’re staying just a I stop or two away from Prospect Park, so I’m sure I will pop in there sometime....
 
sooty mangabey said:
It sounds as if your trip is rather more zooish than mine! Highline today, Statue of Liberty tomorrow - but we’re staying just a I stop or two away from Prospect Park, so I’m sure I will pop in there sometime....
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The benefits of travelling alone - I'm hoping to hit 23 zoos in the next few weeks. Let me know if the Highline's worth visiting.
 
Giant Panda said:
What a weird coincidence! I'm also in a Brooklyn apartment on a revisit to NYC.

I'll keep an eye out for you (Prospect Park and NY Aquarium tomorrow; Queen's and Staten Island Thursday).
Click to expand...
When you go to the Staten Island Zoo keep in mind it is extremely small. Key highlights are the reptile collection which it good considering the scale of the zoo, Amur Leopard enclosure which is nicely laid out with decent vertical space and sufficient shady areas and don’t miss the porcupette poor a few weeks ago. If you go later in the afternoon you may have a better chance of seeing this baby. There is a new Amur Leopard male cub but he is not yet on exhibit. Enjoy you zoo visits!
 
Giant Panda said:
The benefits of travelling alone - I'm hoping to hit 23 zoos in the next few weeks. Let me know if the Highline's worth visiting.
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Highline’s definitely worth visiting! It’d be improved greatly by the addition of some caged animals, obviously, but given its not being a zoo, it is a wonderful place nonetheless. Beautiful gardens, great views, some fantastic art. I loved it!
 
This may be unrealistic, but LEO Conservation Center in Greenwich, Connecticut (one or two hours away?) has the only king cheetah in the United States. Unfortunately it's a private facility and I think you have to make a donation of hundreds of dollars to get in.

The newish snow leopard exhibit at Central Park is reportedly quite nice and I would be curious to hear your impressions of it.
 
Arizona Docent said:
This may be unrealistic, but LEO Conservation Center in Greenwich, Connecticut (one or two hours away?) has the only king cheetah in the United States. Unfortunately it's a private facility and I think you have to make a donation of hundreds of dollars to get in.
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If this were a wholly-zooish trip - great! As it is, I’m having to suffer the addict’s withdrawal symptoms, knowing Staten Island Zoo is nearby, yet not visitable....

Arizona Docent said:
The newish snow leopard exhibit at Central Park is reportedly quite nice and I would be curious to hear your impressions of it.
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It was totally fine but nothing that will linger long in my memory (although I was lucky enough to get some great views of the cats). A nice aviary of local birds, or a Blue Sheep exhibit, would have livened things up!
 
Arizona Docent said:
This may be unrealistic, but LEO Conservation Center in Greenwich, Connecticut (one or two hours away?) has the only king cheetah in the United States. Unfortunately it's a private facility and I think you have to make a donation of hundreds of dollars to get in.
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According to the places facebook, it looks like it will be closing and sending out its animals to other accredited zoos. I must wonder which zoo will be getting this king cheetah.
 
pachyderm pro said:
According to the places facebook, it looks like it will be closing and sending out its animals to other accredited zoos. I must wonder which zoo will be getting this king cheetah.
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Wow that is a surprise. I am hoping against all hope the king cheetah goes on public display.
 
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