Central Park Zoo facts for kids
Central Park Zoo logo
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Central area of the Central Park Zoo
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| Location | Central Park, New York City, United States |
| Land area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Coordinates | 40°46′4″N 73°58′18″W / 40.76778°N 73.97167°W |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Central Park Zoo is a fun place to visit in Central Park, New York City. It covers about 6.5 acres and is home to many amazing animals. This zoo is part of a bigger family of four zoos and one aquarium, all managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The WCS does more than just run the zoo. They also create cool educational programs for kids. They work hard to help endangered species and connect with the local community through volunteer activities.
The zoo started as a small collection of animals, called a menagerie, in 1864. It was the first public zoo in New York. The zoo you see today first opened on December 2, 1934. This was part of a big plan to improve city parks and zoos. Many people worked to build it during a tough economic time. Later, in 1960, a special Children's Zoo opened with help from Senator Herbert Lehman and his wife.
After many years, the Central Park Zoo closed in 1983 for a major makeover. The old cages were replaced with natural-looking homes for the animals. It reopened on August 8, 1988. Now, the WCS manages it, and it's recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for its high standards.
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Exploring the Central Park Zoo
The Central Park Zoo is a special part of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). This group runs four zoos and an aquarium across New York City. You can find the zoo at East 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, right inside Central Park. You can enter from Fifth Avenue or from inside the park itself.
Many people love visiting the Central Park Zoo. Over a million visitors come each year to see the animals. In 2016, the zoo had 1,487 animals from 163 different species. It's a popular spot for both tourists and local families.
Main Zoo Adventures
The main zoo has three exciting areas: the tropic, temperate, and polar zones. These areas are connected by beautiful walkways with glass roofs. They are built with brick and granite, covered in climbing vines.
At the heart of the zoo is a lovely central garden. In the middle of this garden, you'll find a large pool for sea lions. Glass fences let you watch the sea lions swim and play. You can even see them during their daily feeding times!
Animal Homes and Fun Spots
In the southwest corner of the central garden is the "Tropic Zone." This area feels like a two-story tropical rainforest. Here, you can see amazing creatures like Rodrigues flying foxes and Seba's short-tailed bats. Look for colorful emerald tree boas and large pythons. You might also spot playful cotton-top tamarins and white-eared titis.
Many different birds fly freely in this zone, including bright scarlet ibises and beautiful toucans. You can also find red-bellied piranhas, pig-nosed turtles, and red-footed tortoises. It's a vibrant and lively place!
To the west of the garden is the "Temperate Territory." This area has pretty paths around a lake. It's home to animals that like cooler climates. Here, you can see adorable red pandas and graceful white-naped cranes. Look out for the clever Japanese macaques and the majestic snow leopards. The snow leopard exhibit opened in 2009.
On the north side of the garden, you'll find the "Penguins and Sea Birds" section. This cool building houses different types of penguins, like macaroni penguins and king penguins. Outside, there's a pool where harbor seals swim. You can also see a powerful grizzly bear in its outdoor exhibit.
Near the eastern side of the central garden is the Arsenal. This historic building was finished in 1851. It was once a place to store weapons. Today, it holds offices for the NYC Parks Department. The zoo also has a 4D theater for exciting shows. You can find a souvenir shop and ticket booth nearby.
The south side of the garden features the Intelligence Garden. This garden's name was inspired by an ancient animal collection from 1100 B.C. There's also a cafeteria called the Dancing Crane Cafe where you can grab a bite to eat.
Art and Animal Protection Programs
The Central Park Zoo has some cool art pieces. Five buildings from the original 1934 zoo still have their animal-themed stone carvings. These were made by Frederick Roth. He also created two bronze statues, Dancing Goat and Dancing Bear, which greet you at the zoo's southern entrance. Another old statue, Tigress and Cubs, moved to the zoo in 1934.
The zoo is very involved in protecting animals. They run special breeding programs for endangered species as part of the Species Survival Plan. For example, they help increase the numbers of thick-billed parrots and red pandas. In 2011, the Central Park Zoo was the first zoo in North America to hatch ducklings of the very rare scaly-sided mergansers.
In 2013, something interesting happened with tamarin monkeys at the zoo. Scientists observed them "whispering" around a staff member they didn't like! This was the first time such behavior was seen in non-human primates.
The zoo also offers many ways to learn. They have educational programs for students of all ages. Adults can join the volunteer program. Volunteer guides lead tours for visitors, and volunteer teachers help with the educational activities.
Tisch Children's Zoo Fun
The Children's Zoo is located just north of the main zoo. It's officially called the Tisch Children's Zoo. This name honors businessman Laurence A. Tisch, whose generous donation helped renovate the zoo in the 1990s.
The Children's Zoo has a fun petting zoo. Here, you can meet mini nubian goats, sheep, pigs, alpacas, and Patagonian cavies. You can even see the only cow in Manhattan! The zoo also has the Acorn Theatre, a place for live performances. Your ticket to the main zoo includes admission to the Children's Zoo.
The Lehman Gates are a special part of the Children's Zoo. They were donated by Herbert and Edith Lehman in 1960. These beautiful gates were part of their gift to help build the original Children's Zoo. The Delacorte Clock is another famous feature. It sits on a tall tower between the Wildlife Center and the Children's Zoo. This clock was a gift from George T. Delacorte in 1965.
Zoo's Past: A Look Back
How the Zoo Began
The Central Park Zoo wasn't part of the first plans for Central Park. But people started leaving exotic pets and other animals in the park. In 1859, a bear cub was tied to a tree, and a monkey followed the next year. Visitors loved seeing these animals, even though there wasn't a formal zoo yet. Soon, people donated more animals like cranes, peacocks, and goldfish.
In 1864, the zoo officially received its charter. This made it the second publicly owned zoo in the United States. By then, the park had over 400 animals! Many of these animals were moved to the Arsenal building in 1865.
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The menagerie became very popular because it was free to enter and easy for people to reach. By 1873, it had 2.5 million visitors each year. It was especially popular in the mid-1880s when a chimpanzee named "Mike Crowley" arrived. Many people, including former president Ulysses S. Grant, came to see him.
However, the quality of the zoo started to decline in the early 1900s. The city government didn't take good care of it. The zoo accepted all kinds of animals, even sick ones, but didn't have enough vets. By 1932, the zoo was very rundown. Its 22 cages were old and in poor condition.
The Modern Zoo's Story
Building a New Zoo
In 1934, Fiorello La Guardia became New York City's mayor. He hired Robert Moses to improve the city's parks. Moses quickly made plans to rebuild parks, playgrounds, and zoos. He got a lot of funding and started a big construction program. This also helped many people find jobs during the Great Depression.
Plans for the new Central Park Zoo were drawn up quickly by Aymar Embury II. His plans included nine new buildings made of terracotta and brick. These buildings would replace the old menagerie structures. A new sea lion pool was designed to be in the center of the zoo. The new zoo was built to be easy to maintain.
During construction, all the old buildings were torn down. The animals were temporarily moved to other zoos. The rebuilt zoo officially opened on December 2, 1934. It quickly became very popular, with six million visitors by April 1936.
Changes in the 1960s and 1970s
In 1960, Senator Herbert Lehman and his wife Edith gave $500,000 to build a new children's zoo. It opened on June 27, 1961. This children's zoo had fun things like a petting area with ducks, rabbits, and chickens. It also featured a large fiberglass whale statue and a Noah's Ark play area.
In the late 1960s, a new subway line was built right under the zoo. This construction created a special underground spot that early graffiti artists called "Zoo York". The name came from being in a "zoo" in New "York."
By the 1970s, the Central Park Zoo was again in need of repairs. People were concerned about the animals' living conditions. Even so, it remained one of Central Park's most popular attractions. There were plans to have the New York Zoological Society (now WCS) take over managing the zoo.
The Big Renovation of the 1980s
In 1980, the city and the New York Zoological Society agreed to a 50-year plan. The Society would manage the Central Park, Prospect Park, and Queens Zoos. They planned a big renovation for all three zoos in 1981.
The Central Park Zoo's renovation meant tearing down most of the old buildings around the sea lion pool. New classrooms and a snack bar were planned. Many people felt the old cages were too small for the animals. Starting in 1982, the zoo's animals were moved to other zoos. Most of the large animals found permanent homes in bigger, more natural spaces at the Bronx Zoo.
The main zoo closed in late 1983 for reconstruction. The new design was created by Kevin Roche. He replaced the old cages with three natural-looking habitats. These new areas blended in with Central Park's scenery. Four of the original buildings were kept, but the small outdoor cages were removed. The sea lion pool, a central feature, was also kept.
The renovation cost $35 million and the zoo reopened on August 8, 1988. For the first time, visitors had to pay an admission fee. With the reopening, the WCS gave each of its smaller zoos a special focus. The Central Park Zoo would focus on conservation; the Prospect Park Zoo would be a children's zoo; and the Queens Zoo would feature North American animals.
From the 1990s to Today
In the early 1990s, the Children's Zoo also needed repairs. With a $4.5 million grant from businessman Laurence A. Tisch, the Children's Zoo was renovated. It reopened in September 1997 as the Tisch Children's Zoo.
In June 2009, a new exhibit for snow leopards opened. Three snow leopards moved from the Bronx Zoo to their new home. This was the first new exhibit since the zoo's big renovation in 1988. In March 2020, the Central Park Zoo, along with other WCS facilities, temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. It reopened in July of that year.
The Great Zoo Hoax
A famous prank about the zoo is known as the Central Park Zoo escape of 1874. It was a fake story published in the New York Herald newspaper by James Gordon Bennett Jr.. The story claimed that many animals had escaped from the Central Park Zoo. It said that a rhinoceros was the first to get out, causing other animals to escape too. These included a polar bear, a panther, a Numidian lion, several hyenas, and a Bengal tiger.
The newspaper story was very long and spread across several pages. At the very end, there was a small note that said: "... of course, the entire story given above is a pure fabrication. Not one word of it is true." Many people were scared by the story before they read the small note. The writers later said they just wanted to show that the zoo's safety measures needed to be better.
Amazing Animals We Remember
- In the early 1900s, Bill Snyder worked at the zoo. He bought Hattie, an Asian elephant, in 1920. Hattie passed away in 1922.
- Pattycake, a female western lowland gorilla, was born at the zoo in 1972. She was the first gorilla born in captivity in New York. She moved to the Bronx Zoo in 1982 and lived there until 2013.
- Gus, a male polar bear, lived at the zoo from 1988 until 2013. He was a very popular animal.
- Flaco, a Eurasian eagle owl, came to the zoo in 2010. Flaco escaped in 2023 when his enclosure was damaged. He was found dead outside the park in 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Zoológico de Central Park para niños
