The famous Central Park Zoo in NYC has been housing animals for over a hundred years and still remains popular as an attraction for children and adults alike.
Made familiar to young children across the country in the recent animated film Madagascar, the Central Park Zoo has been a famous New York attraction since the 1860s – albeit, it was very different than it is today.
History of the Central Park Zoo
When the zoo was first created, it was more of an animal refuge rather than an actual zoo. At this time, it was little more than a group of animals that had been donated including a large number of swans and a black bear cub. The zoo was officially dubbed a “zoo” in 1864. It underwent a renovation in 1934 and again, this time costing $35 million, in 1980.
The zoo, as it is known today, officially opened in August of 1988 and, as the zoo’s website says, it is the “newest, oldest” zoo and attracts approximately one million people into it’s gates each year.
What to See There
With an array of animals to be seen, it is no wonder that children are drawn to the Central Park Zoo. The zoo is divided up into a series of zones, each housing different types of animals. Some of these zones include the Polar Zone, which has Polar Bears, Harbor Seals and Penguins, the Temperate Territory, which is home to the California Sea Lions, and Tropic Zone, where the monkeys and a variety of tropical birds live.
The zoo is open year-round and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the winter and until 5:00/5:30 (weekends) during the summer. Admission is $8.00 for an adult.
How to Get There
Located on the eastern border of the park just south of the 65th Street Traverse, the Central Park Zoo sits adjacent to East 64th Street on Fifth Avenue. While there is no subway stop directly in front of the zoo, there are a few within a couple of blocks of the entrance. There is the 5th Ave. station, serving the N, R and W trains, the Lexington Ave – 63rd St. station, serving the F and the 68th St. – Hunter College Station, which serves the 6 train.
Due to the location of the Central Park Zoo, being in the centre of Manhattan and all, there is not enough room to house animals that require lots of space. However, there are two other zoos within New York City, the Prospect Park Zoo and the Queens Zoo, which has larger animals such as bison, elk and pumas.
