Bronx Zoo Grounds

The Bronx Zoo, officially the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo, occupies 265 acres within Bronx Park, making it the largest urban zoo in the United States and one of the most important zoological institutions in the world. Founded in 1899, the zoo is home to over 6,000 animals representing more than 700 species.

The zoo was established by the New York Zoological Society (now the Wildlife Conservation Society) with the mission of advancing wildlife conservation through science, education, and the care of living collections. The WCS now operates conservation programs in over 60 countries, making the Bronx Zoo the headquarters of one of the world's most significant conservation organizations.

The zoo's exhibits include the Congo Gorilla Forest (a 6.5-acre African rainforest habitat), the Tiger Mountain exhibit, the World of Reptiles, Madagascar!, JungleWorld (an indoor Asian rainforest), and the Wild Asia Monorail, which passes through naturalistic habitats for Asian elephants, tigers, and rhinoceroses.

The zoo's grounds include significant natural areas: the Bronx River flows through the property, and the northern section preserves native forest that predates the zoo's establishment. The combination of designed exhibits and natural landscape creates an experience that bridges managed wildlife display and genuine ecological encounter.

The Bronx Zoo draws approximately two million visitors annually, including hundreds of thousands of school children who participate in the zoo's educational programs. Free admission on Wednesdays ensures that the zoo remains accessible to the Bronx communities that surround it, fulfilling the founders' vision of a democratic institution serving all New Yorkers.