Bronx Zoo logo
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Asia Gate Entrance
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Date opened | November 8, 1899 |
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Location | 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx Park, Bronx, New York, 10460 U.S. |
Coordinates | 40°51′02″N 73°52′31″W / 40.850581°N 73.87538°WCoordinates: 40°51′02″N 73°52′31″W / 40.850581°N 73.87538°W |
Land area | 265 acres (107 ha) |
Number of animals | 4,000 (2010) |
Number of species | 650 (2010) |
Memberships | AZA |
Major exhibits | Congo Gorilla Forest, JungleWorld, Wild Asia Monorail, Madagascar!, Tiger Mountain, African Plains, World of Birds, World of Reptiles, Zoo Center |
Public transit access |
Bus: |
Website | www |
Bus:
The Bronx Zoo is a zoo located in the Bronx, a borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States and among the largest in the world. On average, the zoo has 2.15 million visitors each year and is world-renowned for its large and diverse animal collection, and its award-winning exhibitions. It comprises 265 acres (107 ha) of park lands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows. The zoo is part of an integrated system of four zoos and one aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
In 1895, a group made up largely of members of the Boone and Crockett Club founded the New York Zoological Society (later renamed to Wildlife Conservation Society) for the purposes of founding a zoo, promoting the study of zoology, and preserving wildlife. Credit for this belonged chiefly to Club members Madison Grant and C. Grant LaFarge.
The zoo (sometimes called the Bronx Zoological Park and the Bronx Zoological Gardens) opened its doors to the public on November 8, 1899, featuring 843 animals in 22 exhibits. The first zoo director was William Temple Hornaday, who had 30 years of service at the zoo.
Heins & LaFarge designed the original permanent buildings as a series of Beaux-Arts pavilions grouped around the large circular sea lion pool. In 1934, the Rainey Memorial Gates, designed by noted sculptor Paul Manship, were dedicated as a memorial to noted big game hunter Paul James Rainey. The gates were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.