Information
Landmark: Prospect Park ZooCity: New York
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Prospect Park Zoo, New York, USA New York, North America
Overview
Tucked inside Brooklyn’s sprawling Prospect Park, the Prospect Park Zoo buzzes with life, offering families a lively spot to watch red pandas, sea lions, and other wildlife up close.The Wildlife Conservation Society runs the zoo, which spans about 12 acres and shelters nearly 400 animals from more than 100 species, from tiny dart frogs to towering giraffes.You’ll find a wide mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits, hands-on activities, and educational programs-all designed to draw visitors of any age into the sights, sounds, and stories of the natural world and wildlife conservation.You’ll find it at 450 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, NY 11225, tucked inside Prospect Park-a historic, much-loved green space designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, where tree-lined paths and open lawns give the zoo a peaceful, scenic backdrop.The zoo first opened in 1935 through a WPA project, and over the years it’s been renovated and expanded to update its exhibits and create richer habitats-like lush, shaded enclosures where animals can roam.Today, it’s a cornerstone of the city’s wildlife education and conservation, where visitors might spot a red-tailed hawk perched in the learning center.At the Prospect Park Zoo, you can wander through distinct sections that highlight animals from every corner of the globe, watching a red panda curl lazily on a branch or a meerkat stand alert in its sandy home, each display designed to reflect the creatures’ natural behaviors and habitats.Number one.The Discovery Trail winds through a mix of habitats, guiding visitors past animals from far-flung continents.You might spot a red panda perched in the trees, its reddish-brown fur catching the light and its bushy tail curled like a plume.Dingo: Wild dogs native to Australia, known for their sharp teamwork and distinctive hunting style, often heard calling to one another under the desert moon.Emus are big, flightless birds from Australia, known for their height and the quick drumming of their feet as they run.The North American river otter is a lively, water-loving mammal built for life in freshwater, often seen diving with a splash or sliding down muddy banks.Black-tailed prairie dogs are social, burrowing rodents native to North America, and this exhibit lets you crawl through twisting tunnels to peek at their busy underground world.The tufted deer is a small species with a distinctive puff of hair on its forehead and sharp, fang-like canines.Geoffroy’s marmoset is a tiny New World monkey from South America, darting through branches and chattering with its lively troop.Number two.Animal Lifestyles is an indoor exhibit that brings together creatures from far-flung ecosystems, each showing off unique ways to survive.One of them, the Pallas’s cat-a compact, thick-furred wild feline from Central Asia-prowls the chill of high mountain slopes.Golden lion tamarins, with fur as bright as a sunrise, live in Brazil’s Atlantic forest and often take part in conservation breeding programs.The Hamadryas baboon is a large, highly social primate from the Horn of Africa, now roaming a roomy glass enclosure where sunlight glints off the pane.The Lettered Aracari is a vibrant toucan from the forests of Central and South America, its beak marked with bright, paint-like streaks.Emerald Tree Boa: vivid green snakes that spend their days coiled high in the branches.The dwarf mongoose is Africa’s tiniest mongoose, known for working together-often seen huddling close as they forage.Desert monitors are hefty lizards built for life in the dry heat, their scales tough as sunbaked stone.Three.In the Hall of Animals, you’ll find a corner dedicated to small, often overlooked creatures with remarkable adaptations, like the Rodrigues fruit bat-big, dark-winged natives of Rodrigues Island that help pollinate flowers and scatter seeds across the forest.Poison dart frogs are small, vividly colored creatures from Central and South America, their skin carrying potent toxins that can stop a predator in its tracks.Fennec foxes are tiny desert dwellers, their oversized ears built to release heat-like pale sails catching the dry wind.The Vietnamese mossy frog hides so well among damp, green moss that you might overlook its bumpy skin entirely.Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko blends perfectly into its surroundings, its body flattened and tail shaped like a dry, curling leaf.The Red-Crested Turaco is a brilliantly plumaged bird from Africa, its scarlet crest flashing like a bright flame among the trees.The black-footed cat is a tiny wild hunter from southern Africa, quick as a shadow and fierce enough to take down prey twice its size.Number four.Barn & Garden is an interactive outdoor space where visitors can meet and feed alpacas, Shetland sheep, Juliana pigs, Zebu cows, and miniature horses; children love running their hands through a sheep’s thick wool as they learn how these animals have long supported life on a farm.You can buy extra feed to boost engagement, like tossing a handful of grain to keep the crowd of birds lively.Number five stood out, written in bold black ink on the corner of the page.At Sea Lion Court, California sea lions steal the show during lively training and feeding sessions at 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM, where you can watch them splash, balance, and learn while hearing about their smarts and the work to protect them.Visitors can watch trainers guide the animals through playful exercises, a glimpse that underscores just how vital enrichment and attentive care are.At the Prospect Park Zoo, staff work hands-on in programs that protect wildlife and preserve rare species, from tiny tree frogs to towering cranes.Through school programs, summer camps, and lively special events, it reaches out to teach and inspire-helping visitors feel a real connection to the rustle and movement of wildlife.The zoo works to protect endangered species, run breeding programs, and spark awareness about environmental challenges-like the shrinking rainforests that shelter rare birds.Spotting rare and threatened species, like the golden lion tamarin with its bright russet mane, shows just how strongly it’s committed to protecting life across the planet.We’re open all year, staying later in spring and summer-usually from 10:00 AM until 5:00 or 5:30 PM-and wrapping up earlier in winter, with doors shut by 4:30 PM.They usually stop letting people in about half an hour before closing-just enough time to hear the doors click shut.Tickets must be bought online ahead of time: adults pay about $11, seniors around $9, kids ages 3 to 12 about $8, and children under two get in free.The zoo welcomes visitors who use wheelchairs, with smooth ramps and thoughtful features to make sure everyone can enjoy the experience.To get there, hop off at Prospect Park station-it’s the nearest stop and served by the Q, B, and the Franklin Avenue Shuttle (S).Several local buses, like the B41, pull up just a short walk from the zoo’s gates.You can park for free along Flatbush Avenue, where wide stretches of curb make it easy for visitors to pull in and step right out onto the busy sidewalk.In the past few years, the zoo has welcomed new animal residents that draw crowds-like the baby hamadryas baboons born in 2024, tumbling and chasing each other under the summer sun.The arrival of the southern pudu deer-the world’s tiniest deer, barely reaching a person’s knee-brings a fresh layer of uniqueness to the zoo’s collection.Tucked inside Prospect Park, the zoo packs a lot into its small space, giving families and animal lovers an up-close look at playful otters, colorful birds, and more.Visitors can wander through exhibits showcasing creatures from every corner of the globe, watch how they hunt or rest in their habitats, and feel the rough bark of a tree as they connect with nature right in the heart of the city.The zoo blends fun with purpose, weaving in lessons on conservation and care for wildlife.As you watch a tiger pace behind the glass, signs and guides quietly remind you why these habitats matter.Tucked inside Prospect Park, it’s easy to reach and a pleasure to explore-perfect for a day wandering Brooklyn’s paths and shaded lawns.
