Is There a Zoo in Manhattan? Central Park Zoo and Other Options

Technically, no—there is no full-scale zoo in Manhattan. However, the Central Park Zoo is a small but popular 5.5-acre zoo located within Central Park on Manhattan's Upper West Side (near 5th Ave & 64th St).

Central Park Zoo Details

• Opened: 1860s (menagerie); rebuilt 1934, 1988
• Size: 5.5 acres (very small for a zoo)
• Focus: Temperate, tropic, and polar zones; penguins, sea lions, snow leopards, red pandas, tropical birds
• Operator: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
• Part of: WCS's 4 NYC zoos/aquarium network

Other Manhattan Animal Attractions

• Tisch Children's Zoo: Adjacent petting zoo within Central Park Zoo complex
• American Museum of Natural History: Dioramas, live butterflies (seasonal), Hayden Planetarium
• Various aquarium/pet stores (not zoological facilities)

Full-Size Zoos Accessible from Manhattan

All five are operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society.

For a traditional zoo experience, the Bronx Zoo is the flagship destination—world-class, conservation-focused, and accessible by subway/bus.