Bronx Zoo Research Paper

On March 9, I took a trip to the Bronx Zoo. As I was getting closer to the destination, I was looking forward to seeing their exhibits and wildlife. This was the first time I had been there in quite a long while. I was excited to see what attractions they had to offer their visitors that keeps them frequently returning. In 1899, The Bronx Zoo had officially opened for business. Today, it remains as one of the most famous zoos in the world. It is also one of the largest wildlife conservation parks in the United States as it is home to about 4,000 animals of more than 650 different species. However, none of the aforementioned could have been possible if New York City hadn’t given the New York Zoological Society 250 acres of Bronx Park in 1898.

Throughout the park, those visiting, will find many extraordinary historical landmarks. According to ( ), the entire area from the Rainey Gate entrance on Fordham Road to the far end of Astor Court at Zoo Center. The buildings in Astor Court were designed by the firm of Heins & Lafarge, who also designed the original plans for the cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan's Morningside Heights and many of the subway station details on the IRT line. A seven feet high, “pinkish” stone, by the name of “the Rocking Stone” (brought to us from the Ice Age), is found secure and immovable overlooking the Buffalo Range ( ). Yet, another feature that makes the Bronx Zoo fairly unique.

At the zoo, you will find a 6.5-acre forest. However, it is not just an ordinary forest. It is the world’s largest man-made rainforest. It can be seen when visiting the Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit, one of the Bronx Zoo’s best attributes. The outdoor exhibit features over 400 animals, 55 different species, and 22 gorillas. Aside from featuring animals, the exhibit also showcases 15,000 plants representative of 400 species. Patty cake was the first gorilla to be born in New York City, in the Congo Gorilla Forest (

However, in the 1890s, it was said that the existence of bison in the wild had dropped down to less than 1,000. William T. Hornaday, first director of the Bronx Zoo, notably had a deep interest in American bison. By October 1899, William had acquired some bison for the zoo and soon enough built a herd. He was able to provide Oklahoma's Wichita Mountain Preserve with fifteen bison in 1907. Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska were provided with bison thereafter. A majority of the bison that exist in today’s western U.S., are descendants of the Bronx Zoo. It is because of Hornaday’s success in breeding these animals that the zoo has a special relationship with bison. There were also successful in breeding snow leopard as a total of a total of 82 cubs were born between 1966 and 1999 (