Tree kangaroo joey leaves the pouch
Watch as our tree kangaroo joey takes some of its first steps out of its mother’s pouch! Over time (and with mom’s help) it will become an excellent vertical climber. Unlike their ground-dwelling cousins, Matschie’s tree kangaroos are well adapted to their life in the trees. They have strong limbs and a long tail which they press against the branches for balance. Rough pads on their forelimbs and hindlimbs also give them a non-slip grip, and long claws help anchor themselves.
Make your summer vacation unforgettable with a trip to JungleWorld to see the new tree kangaroo joey!
📽️: Keeper Javi
Red-Crowned Crane Chick Debuts at the Bronx Zoo
Our red-crowned cranes recently became parents this summer! In this video from the Northern Ponds, you can see their chick taking some of its first steps, exploring the nest, and surrounding habitat.
Red-crowned cranes are one of the largest and most threatened crane species in the world. The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates the wild population is fewer than 2,500. Their decreasing population is primarily due to loss of wetlands in their breeding and wintering habitats due to several factors including agriculture, residential and commercial development, and pollution.
We are proud to participate in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums red-crowned crane Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative effort to help ensure a genetically diverse and healthy population of red-crowned cranes while enhancing their conservation in the wild. There are approximately 100 red-crowned cranes in AZA Accredited facilities and this chick is one of seven to successfully hatch in the past year. See if you can spot the young bird on your next visit to the Northern Ponds.
To learn more about these fascinating birds, visit the WCS Newsroom: https://bit.ly/3YBX15L
Amur tiger enjoys a refreshing dip in pool
In this summer #MomentOfZoo, one of our Amur tigers enjoys a refreshing dip in the pool located in the Wild Asia habitat. Amur tigers are found in the Sikhote-Alin mountain range in the Russian Far East, northeastern China, and possibly North Korea. Observe these striking big cats at Tiger Mountain or on the Wild Asia Monorail.
Pumpkin Nights 2024
By popular demand, Bronx Zoo Pumpkin Nights festival returns this season on select evenings from September 26th through October 27th.
Your nighttime adventure includes an animal-themed illuminated jack o’lantern trail featuring over 5,000 pumpkins! Watch expert artists carving giant animals and intricate scenes out of pumpkins, enjoy fall-themed lawn games, and more! Plus, delicious treats and refreshments will be available for purchase from popular local food trucks.
Celebrate Halloween with your family Bronx Zoo-style and take advantage of the best deal of the season which ends tonight! Through August 5, use code PNBESTDEAL for a 25% discount! Reserve tickets now: https://bit.ly/3O3UbQk
Velcro the giant anteater loves ants and termites!
Have you spotted our female giant anteater, Velcro in the South America section of the Children’s Zoo?
Giant anteaters are native to Central and South America. In addition to the daily diet Velcro receives from keepers in this video, she is doing what anteaters do best, she's using her powerful forelimbs and claws to forage for ants and termites. Giant anteaters have no teeth, but their specialized tongue allows them to eat up to 30,000 insects a day!
Another fun fact? Velcro is 26 years old and has been a resident at the Children’s Zoo for over 10 years. According to Assistant Supervisor Courtnie, she always finds the perfect spot in the sun for a nap after her breakfast and morning enrichment.
📹: Asst Supervisor Courtnie
African spurred tortoise snacking on leafy greens
Happy chewsday! Our female African spurred tortoise enjoys a crisp and crunchy meal of romaine lettuce prepared by keepers. She was born at the zoo and is now 22 years old! Her male companion is 31 years old according to Assistant Supervisor Courtnie. These two enjoy a large array of greens and are very partial to the hot summer days we have been having. Learn more about these fascinating reptiles in the Children’s Zoo.
Sound on for some lettuce crunching ASMR!
📹: Asst Supervisor Courtnie
National Keeper Week 2024
Happy #NationalZooKeeperWeek to our amazing team of keepers at the Bronx Zoo!
When you see a keeper, aquarist, or trainer at any of our New York City parks, make sure to say “thanks” for their hard work and dedication. #NZKW2024
Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey debuts at the Bronx Zoo
During your next visit to the Bronx Zoo, be sure to stop by JungleWorld to meet our new Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey! Born at the end of December, the joey was the size of a human thumbnail, but already the baby is poking its head out from its mother's pouch! After about seven months, it will emerge fully, returning frequently to the pouch to nurse. Most of the newborn’s physical development occurs in the mother’s pouch, giving guests a unique opportunity to observe one of nature’s most intriguing evolutionary adaptations. This is our female tree kangaroo’s second joey born at the Bronx Zoo since 2021.
Observe these fascinating marsupials up close in JungleWorld. Exhibit times may vary as the young tree kangaroo matures and adapts to its surroundings. To learn more about these Endangered species, visit the WCS Newsroom: https://bit.ly/3WcJSgC
Dholes roll in freshly cut grass
Today’s #MomentOfZoo is brought to you by Keeper Jessica who spotted our dholes enjoying the freshly cut grass in their exhibit. Although this may seem like a small change to their environment, it provides the dholes with a source of sensory enrichment, with lots of new smells and textures, says Keeper Jessica.
Dholes are highly social pack animals and feed cooperatively. WCS has a long history of conducting conservation research on this endangered species in Asia, identifying areas where their population needs better protection.
📹: Keeper Jessica
Green-winged macaws of the Bronx Zoo
Enjoy these moments from the Butterfly Garden with our green-winged macaws, Cherry Bomb and his sister Tuppence!
Green-winged macaws live throughout north and central South America in humid, lowland forest. They are partial to fruits and nuts and have been known to ingest mineralized sand and clay to neutralize toxins found in foods they consume in the wild.
📹 : Keeper Sky
Happy birthday to our red panda cubs!
It’s official! School’s out for summer! Today also marks our red panda cubs, Poppy and Sequoia’s first birthday. Start the summer off right with a visit to see and celebrate them on the Wild Asia Monorail.
Many children first discover a love of animals at the Bronx Zoo. Inspire your future conservationist with a trip to the zoo this summer.
A flamboyance of American flamingos
Enjoy a #MomentofZoo with our eye-catching American flamingos. A flamboyance is the perfect word to describe this colorful flock!
Have you ever wondered why flamingos can often be seen standing on one leg? There are several theories on the behavior. Some believe they have better balance and use less energy when resting on one leg. Others believe it helps with thermoregulation or that it reduces exposure to potential parasites. It may well be a combination of these factors.
Scarlet ibis chicks in Aquatic Bird House
Don't judge a chick by its feathers! DYK scarlet ibis are all black when they hatch? They develop their “scarlet” feathers when they are about one year old. In the first section of this video the chicks seen under the parents are around two weeks old, and the second half features a chick at two months old, says Keeper Leela.
Pro-tip: there are FIVE scarlet ibis chicks in the Aquatic Bird House! They’re quite vocal asking for food from their parents, plus their dark color stands out. Make a trip to the zoo soon to see if you can find them all before their feathers turn a scarlet hue!
📹 : Keeper Leela
Meet a giraffe!
It’s #WorldGiraffeDay! Here are some fun facts about the world’s tallest terrestrial mammals:
🦒Their tongues are typically 18-20 inches long!
🦒They have a heart the size of a basketball!
🦒Their long necks have seven vertebrae, the same as a human being!
For an opportunity to learn more from the keepers, and get up-close with these elegant ungulates, book a Private Giraffe Connection today: https://bit.ly/3KTQmvS
Elaborate courtship rituals of peacocks
In this mesmerizing #MomentOfZoo, a male peacock has just opened his long train and begun to shake and rattle it to attract a female.
A mature peacock can have up to 200 of these striking tail covert feathers during mating season! Peahens usually choose males that have bigger, healthier plumage with an abundance of eyespots. In addition to this elaborate show, the male performs a courtship dance where he turns to display and shake his lower tail feathers. See if you can spot our peafowl and their elaborate courtship rituals the next time you are at the Bronx Zoo.
Happy World Crocodile Day!
Happy World Crocodile Day! In these videos, our Cuban crocodiles enjoy a dip in the pool, followed by a light lunch of salmon, and some plant enrichment provided by keepers.
The Bronx Zoo was one of the first zoos in the U.S. to breed Critically Endangered Cuban crocodiles. These crocodiles once inhabited much of the island of Cuba but are now restricted to the Zapata swamp. As partners of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Cuban Crocodile SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program, we are supporting the effort to reintroduce this species into its historic range.
A great way to celebrate World Crocodile Day is to visit our World of Reptiles exhibit to learn more about the threats these animals face in the wild. Remember, every time you visit the Bronx Zoo, you help to support our work to save wildlife and wild places.
🎥: Keeper Mike
Amelia the CA Sea Lion gets a shot
In this video, California sea lion Amelia is receiving a routine vaccination. The keepers train our animals to voluntarily receive injections to make the process much safer and less stressful for them. Senior Keeper Danielle is observing Melissa, Asst. Curator of Behavioral Husbandry administering the vaccine.
Fossa use scent marking to communicate
DYK that fossa are the largest mammalian carnivores on the island of Madagascar? They are considered a top predator and are known to hunt high up in trees to feed on lemurs, lizards, and birds. Fossas communicate through scent, so they will mark rocks, trees and other areas which allows them to keep track of each other and their territories. Here, Toro is using the scent glands on his chest to mark this tree branch. Learn more about our fascinating fossa on exhibit in Madagascar!
🎥: Keeper Jessica
Meet a southern white rhino
Enjoy this tranquil #MomentOfZoo with one of our southern white rhinos. DYK that you can come face to face with one of these iconic animals during a wild encounter? This private experience for up to six people will allow you the chance to learn more about our conservation work and how we care for our southern white rhinos at the Bronx Zoo. Link in profile.
📹: Keeper Sara
Pelican feeding on Heart Lake
Have you spotted our Peruvian and brown pelicans at Heart Lake? These big-billed birds are fed 2x a day, and if you’re by the lake in the afternoon, you can watch a feeding and learn more about these awesome avians.
