A peacock escaped from the Central Park Zoo and wandered around the city. Either that or I just saw a pigeon on his way to a gay pride parade.
 |
| Polar Bear catching z's at the Central Park Zoo, Manhattan, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Manhattan Zoo
The Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, Kansas is not bad for a smaller sized town. The 26 acre park has over 300 animals representing over 100 different species as well as themed gardens and a number of events scheduled throughout the year. Over 100,000 visitors come to the zoo each year. The zoological park has been a popular attraction in Manhattan since the 1930's. A low admission price encourages visitors to frequent the park.
But the real zoological attraction for this post is the much more well known menagerie that can be found in Central Park in middle-upper Manhattan. The Central Park Zoo which is contained in an area of a mere 6.5 acres is far smaller than the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, Kansas. Yet though less than a quarter the size of the Midwestern zoo, the East Coast Manhattan zoo receives ten times the yearly visitors. The zoo in Central Park also costs over three times as much to gain entrance. Though the collection of animals is diverse, many of the larger animals found in zoos with more space won't be found at this zoo. Still you can expect to find some bears, wildcats, monkeys, and an array of smaller mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.
Manhattan's Central Park zoo was the first official zoo in New York City having been founded in the early 1860's. After the Philadelphia zoo, it was the second publicly owned zoo in the United States. Now the Central Park Zoo is part of a system of four New York City area zoos.
Personally, I have never been to any of the New York City Zoos, but I have been to a number of zoos throughout the United States. To read more about the zoos I have visited please visit my "Z" post at Wrote By Rote.
And so we come to the end of my A to Z Manhattan Project series. I hope you've enjoyed reading these posts. Don't forget to come back to this blog tomorrow, May 1st, for a special surprise version of Battle of the Bands. Remember--Manhattan covers a lot of ground though not necessarily in land area.
My A to Z Reflections Post will be on Monday May 9th.
Have you been to the Central Park Zoo or any of the New York City Zoos? Have you been to the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, Kansas? What are some of your thoughts on zoos?
interesting details, my story is also on a zoo but a bit macabre
ReplyDeletehttp://www.obliqview.blogspot.in
i b, I think a lot of us will be posting about "zoo". The choices get pretty limited at this point.
DeleteLee
Thanks for the trip round Manhattan and the great posts, Arlee. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting and a special huge thank you for the A to Z Challenge itself. I've had a lot of fun and have gained a lot from participating. Have a lovely weekend and look forward to tomorrow's post (although it might be Monday when I actually crawl out of bed to read it :)). Congratulations on another great year!
ReplyDeleteNicola, thanks for joining me on the journey. It would not have been as much fun if I would have had to travel alone.
DeleteLee
My parents took me to the Bronx Zoo when I was 9 and I have zero memory of anything we saw. The only thing I remember about that day was horrible traffic, heat and humidity.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, a zoo in heat and humidity can be a very unpleasant experience in many ways.
DeleteLee
Wonderful trip around Manhattan, a pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Yvonne, thank you for traveling with me. I know how much you like traveling!
DeleteLee
I didn't know there was a Manhattan in Kansas, much less such a large zoo! The Central Park zoo I have heard of and am not surprised it gets many more visitors. The San Diego Zoo is one of the largest in the world and that's the one I remember best, having toured it in the 1970s, after my parents moved down there. Believe it or not, I've never been to the Toronto Zoo, which has a good reputation. Must rectify that!
ReplyDeleteHard to believe another A to Z challenge is over! Thank you, Lee for all your hard work and that of your team. I'm taking a break from BOTB this time, but will check on your post next week. Cheers!
Debbie D, it's funny that I have such a strong recollection of being at the Toronto Zoo--I know I considered going, but now I can't say for sure.
DeleteThanks for joining us again this year.
Lee
LEE, congratulations to you from A to Z! There's another one in the books. You done did it again, blog master.
ReplyDelete~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
STMcC, Thanks another one bite's the dust and that's one song you'll likely never see from me at BOTB. Appreciate your support as always. Now if you and everyone else can start sending me a weekly check I'll be all set.
DeleteLee
I like zoos, I feel sorry for the animals but zoos do serve a service.
ReplyDeleteMike, I feel the same way.
DeleteLee
Wouldn't living in Manhattan be considered living in a zoo?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your work in organizing the challenge those years before and your faithfulness in keeping it going!
congrats on another successful A/Z!
betty
Betty, definitely like a zoo in a sense if we're going for metaphors and I love the metaphorical take on things.
DeleteThanks for your thanks and your continued support and participation.
Lee
That's one of the things that I missed in my trips to Manhattan. I've never been to the Central Park Zoo. I have been to the National Zoo in Washington DC and local zoos in areas that I have lived. Although I'm not a real fan of zoos. The animals are taken out of their natural habitat and forced to live a life behind bars. It just seems so unfair. I know some zoos really do their best to create the animals' natural habitats but it's not the same. I do understand that zoos serve a purpose of education (and entertainment) but I'm against exploitation of animals for the sake of entertainment. I always feel so sorry for the animals when I go to a zoo.
ReplyDeleteOn another note: congrats on facilitating and participating in yet another A-Z Challenge! It's been a wonderful ride. Thanks for all your hard work!
Michele at Angels Bark
Michele, the zoo concept is kind of weird in one sense, but then again most of us would never see any of these animals in the flesh if they weren't available to see in zoos. If the animals don't seem to be abused then I don't think about it too much, but when I see them behind bars in a dirty cage I don't feel so good about that.
DeleteThanks for being a part of the Challenge.
Lee
And it's a rap! Another successful challenge. Thanks for the idea and all the work that I know it takes to make this work.
ReplyDeleteC.Lee, Thank you as well. Yes, you do know what it takes.
DeleteLee
This was a good theme, Lee. As to zoos, been to Philly's too many times to count (saw Todd Rundgren concerts there twice) and have been to the Bronx Zoo a couple of times...never made it to Central Park's zoo.
ReplyDeleteAfter going to the Phoenix Zoo twice, I've kind of lost interest. The animals in the Phoenix zoo almost never come out-too darn hot. I get the sense they'd rather take their chances in the wild.
Larry
Larry, I really enjoyed my theme too. A concert at the zoo--that's an interesting concept. They probably could have put some of the concert attendees in cages and people would have enjoyed seeing them.
DeleteNever realized Phoenix had a zoo. That might be considered cruelty to animals.
Lee
Well, I found this interesting of course! Congratulations on getting to the end, but of course it would be VERY strange if you didn't. I always feel completely without purpose for a few days after the end of the challenge. ~Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com
ReplyDeleteLiz, I always have managed making it to the end so far. If you're feeling without purpose then don't forget to compose a Reflections post for us. And you can always catch up on sites you didn't get to visit during April.
DeleteThanks for playing along with us.
Lee
I have been to the Central Park Zoo (and it's briefly mentioned in my novel)! I think the polar bears are always taking naps...
ReplyDeleteSarah, polar bears in New York are probably too hot--even in the winter. They must get lazy.
DeleteLee
Thanks for taking us along through Manhattan! I may never get there in person but if I do, I have places to see! We live close to the San Francisco Zoo so I have been there many times. Always a fun place. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteJanet, There are lots of places I've only visited by reading or watching documentaries about them. Best thing next to being there and sometimes maybe better.
DeleteLee
I haven't been to any in the New York area but I'm always up for a visit to the zoo! Though I might skip the Central Park version, where less seems to cost more. If you're out this way ever again I highly recommend the Arizona-Sonora (living)Desert Museum. But not in the summer;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for an entertaining month, you're an inspiration to us all!
Now maybe I can catch up with Wrote by Rote!
Diedre, I'm sure the Central Park Zoo is still a pretty good experience--it gets a lot of good reviews online. I definitely would like to visit the Living Desert Museum. There's one about 100 miles from where I am too and I've never been there.
DeleteThank you for participating in 2016. I'm inspired by everyone like you who participates.
Lee
I believe there's a Broadway show and a plate of Cannolis waiting for ya at the Manhattan finish line! Cheers to another fabulous, fun-filled AtoZ!
ReplyDeleteThe AtoZ of EOS
#TeamDamyanti
Samantha, the show and food sounds great--I'm ready! Thanks for being a part of the alphabet fun.
DeleteLee
I love zoos! I've been to some in Arizona and Oklahoma and I usually find something I like about each of them.
ReplyDeleteI know I haven't visited your blog very often during this year's A to Z, but I still appreciate the efforts you and the co-hosts go through to keep the A to Z going each year. Thanks for starting this excellent tradition and congrats on completing another year!
Elizabeth, I enjoy watching the animals when they're out and if their living quarters are well maintained.
DeleteThanks for stopping by today and drop in anytime. We appreciate your support and participation in the A to Z Challenge.
Lee
Loved your blog post.. and Manhattan stories...
ReplyDeleteZoo have a special place in heart.. as it always sends us back to our Childhood days...
http://serendipityofdreams.blogspot.in/2016/04/zaftig.html
Deepti, thank you for having spent some time in Manhattan with my posts.
DeleteLee
I love zoos! I've never been to any zoos in New York or Kansas. I have been to Coffeyville, Kansas, but that's a whole 'nother story.
ReplyDeleteI have been to these South Carolina zoos: Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia and the Greenville Zoo in Greenville. I've been to both on many occasions, but didn't go to any zoo until after David and I started dating.
I have been to these Texas zoos: Houston Zoo in Houston and The Texas Zoo in Victoria.
David says that he may have gone to the zoo in Atlanta, GA as a child, but he can't remember for sure.
Like with the state/national park systems, there are membership programs where one membership gets you free access to all the zoos in their program. I think that is great!
I have enjoyed visiting "The City" via your posts and look forward now to reading your other blogs, too. Have a blessed weekend!
I've been too busy doing the challenge on two blogs to get to visit much, so I'm trying to make up for it now. I have never been to a New York zoo, but I've been to five zoos in California, including the big one in San Diego, another fairly large one in Los Angeles, and three small city zoos you can walk through in minutes. I love zoos.
ReplyDelete@barbsbooks
Barb's Garden Observations
Paso Robles in Photos
Zoos are interesting. I feel sorry for the animals specially if they aren't taken care of and yet one gets to see animals one would otherwise only see on TV. I haven't been to any of the Manhattan zoos and it's quite a while since I went to the Delhi Zoo. Congratulations on completing the Challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed my first A to Z.
ReplyDeleteThanks Arlee for everything - zo good of you to host the A-Z, the 7th year! I've enjoyed your Manhattan posts very much. We have a lovely zoo here in Johannesburg and the one in Pretoria is even grander I believe though have not visited that one in a long while.
ReplyDeleteIf I did ever end up in Manhattan, I would be sure to go to the zoo.
ReplyDeleteAnother challenge in the bag. Congrats on making it, Arlee. =)
Lee, it's been many years, since I've been to a zoo. As a teenager, I recall visiting King's Island and going through their safari portion of amusement park. That was my first ever zoo-like experience, which was really cool. We've been to the Knoxville Zoo a few times in years past and I really want to make another trip now that I have my big girl camera, but have yet to do it. *sigh* I love zoos! It's a great place to see animals up close and out of harms reach. I have not been to the Central Park Zoo or the midwest zoo and how fascinating the one in NYC gets a greater number of visitors, but then again NYC along has a dense population and add the neighboring states plus all who visit there every year then the numbers get exponential fast. Great way to round of the A2Z Challenge. Thanks for hosting another year of fun and for your visits, my friend!
ReplyDeleteAll Things Vintage: Ziegfeld Follies and Girls
Congrats on ending the A to Z! I enjoy zoos because the educate people on the animals, the help the animals to survive especially since so many are threatened and it is a day out. I am not one for the older zoos where the animals don't have much room but the large ones...yes, I'm in favour. I actually went to the Toronto Zoo a year and a half ago and saw the pandas and so many others but I hurt myself with all the walking.
ReplyDeleteManhattan has a zoo???? I never would have guessed. No, I have never been to the zoo. But Milwaukee County has one of the best zoos in the country. You can see just about any animal here. It's high time I pay the zoo another visit. It's been literally years.
ReplyDelete