Flora & Fauna on 5th

New York City is home to a vast array of delights for tourists-- The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall and The Empire State Building to name a few. These steel and glass legends draw millions of visitors every year and yet they cannot hold a candle to the jewel in Manhattan's crown: Central Park. 

This 843 acre landscaping masterpiece is completely man made. Every rock, tree, shrub, pond and stream was planned by Frederick Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858.

Original map of Central Park

The Park is truly an oasis from the frenetic pace of the city and home to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Belvedere Castle and Tavern on the Green. It is the most visited urban park in the United States.

Tucked away on 6.5 acres of land on the East side of The Park is the often overlooked Central Park Zoo. The small, quaint collection of exotic flora and fauna began it's existence as a menagerie in 1860 and was the first official zoo in New York. In 1934 it was expanded and in 1988 renovated to it's current  form.

It is home to the popular California Sea Lions that dance and leap for visitors as they enter. Feeding time is a must see as zookeepers show how they check the sea lions' bodies, teeth and vision and give them routine care interspersed with games and high flying Frisbee acrobatics.

Feeding Time!

Further into the zoo is the enclosed warm and humid Tropic Zone rainforest habitat. Wooden walking platforms take you through a maze of tropical plants, trees, waterfalls and vines that cover every wall of the lush conservatory. Brightly colored rare birds sing and fly free in its central room, Bats zigzag in their darkened glass case, Lion Tamarins, Bolivian Titi Monkeys and Ruffled Lemurs hang from branches and ropes lazily grooming each other. There is also an array of different types of rainforest reptiles. Standing in front of the Boa Constrictor display, I couldn't help but think of Harry Potter and Dudley Dursley's "accident" in the reptile house and secretly wished I could speak Parseltongue to the lonely looking snake asleep in front of me.

As one leaves the soupy air of the Tropic Zone, a fresh breeze meets you outside as you enter the Temperate Zone. You begin by passing the large Snow Monkey compound. These gentle, red faced beauties are surrounded by a large, deep moat of fresh water and spend a lot of time lounging and grooming on their rocky island. Just up the tree lined path are Red Pandas and a majestic Himalayan Snow Leopard.

Near the end of ones journey is the Polar Seabirds house. Upon entering this dark and chilly exhibit, you are met with a large glass tank filled with different species of penguins. Some are laboriously limping along the man made icebergs and some are swimming so gracefully in the icy water.

Your admission fee also includes the Tisch Children's Zoo just down the path from the entrance to the main complex.

The Central Park Zoo may not be big in acreage but it's heart is as big as The Park itself.