Say hello to our gentoo penguin chick! Born June 6, the hand-reared youngster currently weighs about 4 kilograms and is very healthy! The chick will be introduced to the exhibit when it’s about 3-4 months old, after it has finished molting into its adult feathers.
We have wonderful news! There isn’t just one new harlequin lamb at the zoo, there’s TWO.
Joining Bobbin & the rest of the flock is Sage, who is just 3 weeks old! According to keepers, the lambs have boundless energy. Next time you visit, look for them in the Children’s Zoo!
It’s official! Our new harlequin lamb has been named Bobbin. She was born on Friday, January 26 to first-time mother, Thimble. It was hard to choose just a few photos of her to share, but here are some special highlights from our team, including one with Senior Keeper Tumeca.
Snow leopards are impressive track and field athletes of the animal world. While not the fastest, they have been known to travel the distance of a marathon in one night and can jump 20 to 30 feet when chasing prey.
Important macaroni penguin chick update! The chick that hatched here in November is getting its adult feathers and aced its swimming lessons. We’ve introduced the chick to some of the other penguins, but it won’t join the entire flock until it has all its adult feathers.
With their stocky bodies, thick fur, and long bushy tails, snow leopards are perfectly prepared for winter. Their extra-large, fur-covered paws help them keep warm and distribute their weight like snow shoes, which helps keep them from from sinking into the snow.
This harlequin lamb is very special! We introduced this fascinating breed to Central Park Zoo last year, and he is the first to be born at the zoo. Harlequins are small, docile sheep, best known for the variety of colors in their coats and their fine wool.
Happy holidays from all of us at the Central Park Zoo. We’re open today and would love to see you! Don’t forget to reserve your tickets online before your visit.
We’ve completely thawed out at Central Park Zoo since this photo was taken a few weeks ago. Come and stretch your legs and thaw out with us for winter break this week.
Today’s
#MomentOfZoo
is brought to you by harlequin sheep Basil. Keeper Jean snapped this shot after giving our sheep an enrichment of willow branches!
Happy
#MonkeyDay
! At Central Park Zoo you’ll find several species of monkey including cotton-topped tamarins, snow monkeys, and saki monkeys like this one.
That feeling when the temperature dips below freezing.
Luckily red pandas have a dense undercoat of short hairs that provide insulation topped by an outer coat of longer, thicker guard hairs that keep moisture out. (1/2)
The snow monkey habitat at Central Park Zoo includes hot tubs for the monkeys. During winter, some of the snow monkeys spend time sitting in the warm water, much like snow monkeys in their native Japan do. Some troops can be found in areas with hot springs which they frequent.
Meet mouse-deer Al.
#DidYouKnow
that mouse-deer or chevrotains have elongated canine teeth on either side of the lower jaw which are more pronounced in the males. Visit Al in the Tropic Zone to find out more about this unusual species.
Feel the burn! This is a short video of our Southern three-banded armadillo “Leonard” on his specially designed exercise wheel. According to Keeper Bianca, it's a great tool to provide him some additional healthy exercise.
Sound on for armadillo-ASMR!
🎥: Keeper Bianca
When you think about pigeons in New York City, the Victoria crowned pigeon at the Zoo probably doesn’t come to mind. The largest species of pigeon in the world, it’s much bigger than pigeons found locally. This stunning bird is the closest remaining relative of the extinct dodo.
These recent photos of a macaroni penguin chick were taken when it was just 6 days old. The chick is being reared by two of our gentoo penguins. We have had success with this type of cross fostering in the past. Stay tuned for updates!
You can explore the rainforest this Spring Break without leaving the city. In the Tropic Zone at Central Park Zoo, encounter a wide variety of fascinating animals, including tropical birds, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, saki monkeys, cotton-top tamarins, and more!
Today is
#PenguinAwarenessDay
! Here at the zoo, we have four species of penguins; chinstrap, king, gentoo, and macaroni penguins. On your next visit, learn more about our conservation work that goes into protecting them.
There’s something you should know! It’s a conspiracy! That’s the name for a group of lemurs. Lemurs are social animals and usually live in small groups. They work together using a technique called mobbing to outwit or “conspire” against predators, hence the name.
We’d like to introduce you to a new snow leopard at Central Park Zoo. This is Valens. He came to us from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo as part of a collaborative Species Survival Plan. See if you can recognize him the next time you visit.
We are training our female black and white ruffed lemur, Koa, to voluntarily station for ultrasound exams to determine if she is pregnant!
We have observed breeding behavior & suspect that she is pregnant based on some behavioral changes & weight gain. (1/3)
Seals are very social. When they greet each other, they often use a “breath exchange”. They’ll breathe on each other’s backs or even nose-to-nose which looks a lot like a kiss!
Dumbledore is our dominant male saki monkey. White-faced saki monkeys are highly arboreal, feeding mostly on fruits, flowers, seeds, and insects. They are sometimes nicknamed "flying monkeys" because of their ability to leap from tree to tree in search of food. 📸Keeper Kim
Snow leopards have this winter thing all figured out. Their thick fur provides insulation, their bushy tails wrap around their bodies like scarves for extra protection, and their wide, padded feet help them move quickly and gracefully over snowy terrain like natural snow-shoes.
It’s
#InternationalPandaDay
! Both giant pandas and red pandas take their name from the Nepalese term for “bamboo eaters”. One thing both species have in common is their diet, which consists primarily of bamboo. We hope you’ll stop by during spring break to visit them!
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Central Park Zoo! We’re open today, so if you need to stretch your legs and get some fresh air, we’d love to see you. Don’t forget to reserve your tickets online before your visit.
Pictured here are two of our lilac-crowned Amazon parrots in the Tropic Zone. They are very social and can often be seen flying as a flock throughout the exhibit!
The Tisch Children’s Zoo is open year round, but it’s especially enjoyable spending time with the goats, sheep, zebu, and other farmyard animals in springtime. Be sure to listen out for the Delacorte Clock’s spring tune playlist. The songs it plays change with the seasons.
Happy
#NationalBirdDay
! One way to celebrate is to do some bird-watching at the zoo. Here are just a few of the amazing species you’ll discover. Pictured is a golden taveta weaver, an emerald starling, blue-and-yellow macaw, and white-fronted amazon.
Last week, our snow leopard twins River and Summit turned 8! They were the first snow leopard cubs to be born at the zoo in 2013. Here’s a look at them throughout the years. They are very special to us and it’s incredible to see their personalities. (1/2)
Chuckwallas are desert-dwelling lizards that are primarily found in the southwestern United States. In the late morning and early afternoon they can often be found basking in the sun.
Frozen treats are more than just something to cool the bears down on a hot day. They also serve as food enrichment, which stimulating the bears mentally & physically. The bears have fun playing with the ice to get to the fruit, nuts, fish, or vegetables that may be in each block
There’s a variety of animals here at Central Park Zoo, including a wide range of tropical birds and an engaging troop of black-and-white ruffed lemurs. Keep your eyes peeled!
We’re reopening! The Central Park Zoo will open to Members July 20-23 and open to all guests starting July 24. For your safety, we’ve made some changes to the park experience. Please visit our Know Before You Go page for full details:
We’re open! We’re so excited to welcome Members back to the zoo today and all guests on Friday. Remember to wear a face covering, keep your distance, and most importantly enjoy the park! We’ve missed you and can’t wait to see you.
#DidYouKnow
that despite their name, snow leopards are more closely related to tigers than leopards? For a long time snow leopards were classified in a separate genus from other big cats, but, more recent DNA analysis has led taxonomists to reclassify them in the genus Panthera.
With the recent arrival of collared lemurs, male Quentin and female Celine, we’re excited to introduce a new species at the Central Park Zoo! Collared lemurs are native to the forests of southeastern Madagascar where they play an important role as seed dispersers. 1/2
We would celebrate red pandas every day if we could, but tomorrow is officially
#InternationalRedPandaDay
. Make the last weekend of summer count with a trip to the Central Park Zoo to see them.
Have you made your weekend plans yet? We highly recommend taking a stroll through Central Park and stopping by the zoo to visit the sea lions. Doesn’t that sound like a perfect fall outing?
The Tisch Children’s Zoo opened in 1997 with a gift from philanthropist Laurence A. Tisch and has been delighting our tiniest guests (and their grown-ups) for the past 25 years! With gentle animals like goats, zebu, and sheep, the Children’s Zoo brings out the child in everyone.
Happy
#WorldParrotDay
! DYK: the plum-headed parakeet (one of the species in residence in our Tropic Zone) is actually a true parrot. These gentle birds are native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
Today is
#WorldPenguinDay
! At Central Park Zoo, we have four species of penguin: chinstrap, king, gentoo, and macaroni penguins. They can be found in our Polar Circle exhibit. Next time you visit, see if you can spot Marinara, the first macaroni penguin to be hatched at the zoo.
Have you visited the bears at the Central Park Zoo? The three grizzly bears, Amber, Luna, and Treena, were transferred here from the Bronx Zoo in May. They have since settled in and are enjoying the varied terrain and water features in their new home.
The zoo has welcomed a newborn lamb to our flock of harlequin sheep! The lamb was born on Jan. 26 to first-time mother, Thimble. The new lamb is out with the flock most of the day & has boundless energy, as shown by the gentle leaping throughout this video. (1/2)
These are our beautiful male and female Javan green peafowl. At this time of year, the male is in full display with his magnificent train. He struts his stuff in front of the hen, the public, or any other unsuspecting bird that crosses his path! See them in the Aviary.
It’s only right that
#InternationalCatDay
falls on
#Caturday
. We’re giving this holiday the grandeur it deserves by featuring one of our favorite big cats. Celebrate with us and visit the snow leopards in person this weekend.
Tomorrow is
#InternationalRedPandaDay
! WCS has been successful in breeding red pandas at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and Prospect Park Zoo as part of the Species Survival Plan, a cooperative breeding program administered by the AZA. (1/2)
The Himalayan monal is sometimes known as the ‘nine-colored bird’ due to the iridescent plumage on the neck and wings of the adult male. The female, though not as colorful, also has attractive mottled brown feathers. Both have a distinctive blue patch around their eyes.
#DidYouKnow
that unlike many wild cats, snow leopards can’t roar? They use different sounds to communicate such as, mewing, growling, hissing, wailing, and chuffing. We hope you can visit our snow leopards in Temperate Zone soon!
Introducing Jojo, a young male sea lion. He loves training sessions with our keepers and showing off what he's learned at our daily feeding and training demos. Don't miss Jojo in the sea lion pool!
The banded mongoose are always fun to watch. These highly social animals are found in the savannas of southern Africa where they largely feed on insects and small reptiles. Stop by Tropic Zone soon to see them foraging for tasty crickets.
Up-close with one of our Victoria crowned pigeons.
#DidYouKnow
they’re the largest pigeon in the world? See how many of these elegant pigeons you can find next time you visit Central Park Zoo's Tropic Zone.