New York City Sights

Central Park Zoo

Entrance at 5th Ave. and E. 64th St. Map It
Central Park
Zoo/Aquarium

Published 12/13/2016

Fodor's Review

Even a leisurely visit to this small but delightful menagerie takes only about an hour (unless, of course, you fall under the spell of the zoo's adorable first king penguin chick, born in early 2015, or the spry snow leopard cub, Malala, born here in mid-2014). There are more than 130 species here, but no space for animals like zebras and giraffes to roam; the biggest specimens here are Betty and Veronica—two lovable grizzly bears who joined the zoo in late 2014. Don't miss the sea lion feedings, possibly the zoo's most popular attraction, daily at 11:30, 2, and 4. Clustered around the central Sea Lion Pool are separate exhibits for each of the Earth's major environments: penguins and polar bears live at Polar Circle; the highlights of the open-air Temperate Territory are the chattering monkeys; and the Rain Forest contains the flora and fauna of the tropics. The Tisch Children's Zoo (no additional ticket required) gives kids the opportunity to feed sheep, goats, cows, and pigs. The 4-D theater ($7) shows15-minute-long family-friendly films like "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, the 4-D Experience" that feature sensory effects like wind, mist, bubbles, and scents.

Zoo/Aquarium