Information
Landmark: Staten Island ZooCity: Staten Island
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island, USA New York, North America
Overview
The Staten Island Zoo, tucked into eight lively acres in West Brighton, is often called “New York City’s Biggest Little Zoo.” Located at 614 Broadway, Staten Island, NY 10310, this compact urban spot draws families for its impressive reptile exhibits and hands-on approach to education and conservation.You can reach them at (718) 442-3100 or visit statenIslandzoo.org for more details.The Staten Island Zoological Society runs it, offering the community a place to enjoy a leisurely afternoon and learn something new-like spotting the flash of green on a parrot’s wing.The zoo opened its gates on June 10, 1936, becoming the first in the country built with education at its core-children once peered through brass railings to watch the animals up close.It first made its name with an impressive array of reptiles-rows of glass tanks glinting under warm lights-but over time it’s expanded to house mammals, birds, amphibians, and even tiny, darting invertebrates.Staten Island Chuck, the zoo’s resident groundhog, put the place on the map when he became New York City’s official Groundhog Day forecaster, peeking out each February to predict the weather.The Staten Island Zoo is home to over 1,500 animals, representing more than 350 species-from tiny darting tree frogs to towering ostriches.Every exhibit is carefully crafted to mirror the animals’ true homes, from the rustle of tall grass to the curve of a rocky ledge.The Reptile Wing stands out as one of the zoo’s main attractions, buzzing with the hiss of snakes behind glass.It houses one of North America’s biggest rattlesnake collections and showcases snakes, turtles, lizards, crocodilians, and amphibians in enclosures so detailed you can see the texture of a turtle’s shell.Step into Tropical Forest, an indoor rainforest alive with chattering monkeys, slow-moving sloths, flashes of bright parrots, and the quiet rustle of tropical reptiles and amphibians.It keeps the air warm and humid, recreating the feel of a dense jungle.Outdoors on the African savannah, you’ll spot zebras grazing, sleek antelope darting through the grass, and bright-feathered African birds flitting overhead.The exhibit’s laid out to mirror the African plains, complete with dry grasses swaying under soft yellow light for a lifelike feel.In the Small Mammals House, you’ll meet lively meerkats, prickly porcupines, playful otters, and armored armadillos.The enclosures let you get up close, watch every twitch and blink, and even join in hands-on activities.Kids’ Korral is a hands-on petting area where children can feed goats, stroke woolly sheep, watch chickens peck at the dirt, and gently hold a rabbit.At the Staten Island Zoo, the star is Chuck, a furry groundhog who pops from his burrow each Groundhog Day to forecast when spring will arrive.Every year, the place fills with hundreds of visitors and local reporters, cameras clicking as the event unfolds.The Conservation Carousel, with its hand-carved animals from endangered species, whirls to life on weekends and school breaks.You’ll need a ticket to get on the ride-no ticket, no entry.At the zoo, kids can join seasonal camps, earn scout badges, explore on field trips, and dive into hands-on programs that might have them touching a turtle’s shell.They zero in on zoology, explore the workings of ecosystems, and dive into hands-on conservation practices, like tracking sea turtle nests at dawn.Special events roll through the year, from the quirky charm of Groundhog Day to spooky Halloween nights like Boo at the Zoo, hands‑on Earth Day projects, and glittering holiday displays that light up the winter.You can book birthday parties or rent private spaces for your event, with packages that feature lively animal demonstrations and guided tours through the grounds.At the Staten Island Zoo, education comes alive through on-site classes, school visits, and hands‑on public workshops where you might even hear the chatter of a parrot during a lesson.It’s also involved in national conservation work-everything from Species Survival Plans for endangered animals to hands-on wildlife rescue partnerships, plus projects that protect biodiversity and fragile habitats.Through these programs, it works to spark awareness of environmental issues close to home and across the globe.We’re open every day from 10 a.m. until 4:45 p.m., with the doors clicking shut right on time.The doors close to visitors at 4:00 PM sharp.We’re closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.Adults 15 and older pay $12, kids ages 3–14 pay $8, and seniors 60+ pay $9; little ones under 3 get in free.Come on a Wednesday after 2 p.m. and there’s no charge at all.Groups of 15 or more can snag a discount with advance booking.With a membership, you can drop in as often as you like and enjoy extra perks-think free coffee by the window or priority booking for events.An individual membership is $80 a year, a family membership-covering two adults and kids in the household-runs $120, and grandparents pay $100.The Gold Card costs $195 annually and comes with 10 guest passes plus entry to special events, while a lifetime membership is a one-time $500.Every member enjoys early event access, gift shop discounts, and reciprocal admission to zoos and aquariums across the country, from bustling city exhibits to quiet coastal tanks.The zoo offers several ways to save: active military members get in free with valid ID, Urban Advantage vouchers are accepted, and Bank of America cardholders enjoy free admission on the first full weekend each month.Visitors can park for free at Martling Avenue or Clove Road, grab a cold drink from snack stands or vending machines, browse the gift shop for books, toys, or Staten Island souvenirs, and explore stroller- and wheelchair-friendly paths.Restrooms include baby-changing stations.Coming by car is easy from Brooklyn or New Jersey via the Verrazano-Narrows, Goethals, Bayonne, or Outerbridge crossings.You can park for free-just pull into a spot and you’re set.From the Staten Island Ferry terminal, hop on the S48 bus to Forest Avenue and Clove Road, then walk a few minutes past the corner deli.Start in Brooklyn, hop on the S53 bus, and ride until you reach Broadway and Clove Road, where the corner smells faintly of fresh bagels.
