From leopard sightings to sea lion feedings: Central Park Zoo animal exhibits to explore

These majestic and elusive big cats are masters of camouflage, perfectly adapted to their mountainous homes. Look for their beautiful spotted coats, long bushy tails used for balance and warmth, and powerful builds.

Habitat: Native to the high, rugged mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, including the Himalayas. They thrive in steep, rocky terrain, alpine meadows, and open coniferous forests.

Fun fact: A snow leopard's tail can be almost as long as its body! They use it like a furry scarf to keep their face warm in cold weather and for balance when navigating treacherous cliffs.

Intelligent, playful, and incredibly agile swimmers, the California sea lions are always a delight to watch. Observe them gliding through the water, basking on the rocks, or interacting during their feeding and training sessions.

Habitat: Found along the western coast of North America, from Vancouver Island in British Columbia down to Baja California in Mexico. They inhabit rocky shores, sandy beaches, and man-made structures like buoys and jetties.

Fun fact: Sea lions can hold their breath for up to 10 minutes and dive to depths of over 900 feet!

Meet the zoo's impressive grizzly bears, who teach us about coexisting with wildlife. These powerful omnivores can often be seen exploring their habitat, foraging for food, or enjoying a dip in their pool.

Habitat: Historically ranged across much of western North America. Today, they are primarily found in Alaska, western Canada, and parts of the northwestern United States, inhabiting woodlands, forests, alpine meadows, and prairies.

Fun fact: Grizzly bears have a distinctive muscular hump on their shoulders, which provides extra strength for digging dens and uncovering food.

Step into a chilly wonderland and marvel at the charming antics of various penguin species. Watch them waddle on land and "fly" gracefully underwater, offering both above and below-water viewing.

Habitat: Subantarctic islands, with some colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula. They prefer ice-free areas like coastal plains, sheltered valleys, and cliffs.

Fun fact: The black-and-white "tuxedo" pattern on penguins is a type of camouflage called countershading, which helps them avoid predators from above and below while swimming.

These adorable, arboreal mammals are often seen skillfully navigating the branches with their long, bushy tails aiding their balance. Their reddish-brown fur provides excellent camouflage among the mossy trees of their native forests.

Habitat: Found in the Eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, inhabiting temperate forests with bamboo understories at altitudes between 7,200 and 15,700 feet.

Fun fact: Despite their name and bamboo-heavy diet, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas. They are in their own unique family, Ailuridae.

Known for their intelligence and complex social structures, these monkeys are the northernmost-living primates (excluding humans). Observe their fascinating interactions within their troop.

Habitat: Native to Japan, inhabiting a variety of environments from subtropical lowland forests to subalpine mountain regions. They are famous for visiting hot springs in colder areas.

Fun fact: Snow monkeys are very adaptable and have been observed washing their food in water before eating it, a learned behavior passed down through generations.

Tisch Children's Zoo is a delightful area perfect for younger visitors to get up close with friendly domestic animals. It’s an interactive space designed for gentle encounters and learning.

Habitat: These are domesticated species, living alongside humans in various farm and pastoral environments worldwide.

Fun fact: Goats are known for their curious nature and were one of the earliest animals to be domesticated by humans, over 10,000 years ago!

Listen to the vibrant calls and watch the dazzling colors of free-flying birds such as Scarlet Ibis, Emerald Starlings, Toucans, Blue-crowned Motmots, Parrots, and more, as they flit through the lush vegetation of the indoor rainforest.

Habitat: Diverse tropical rainforests across Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia, depending on the specific species.

Fun fact: Many tropical birds have incredibly specialized beaks adapted to their specific diets, whether it's cracking nuts, sipping nectar, or catching insects.

These fascinating primates from Madagascar can often be seen leaping through the branches or sunbathing. Their distinct calls and social behaviors are captivating.

Habitat: Native exclusively to Madagascar and the nearby Comoro Islands, inhabiting various forest types, from rainforests to dry deciduous forests.

Fun fact: Ring-tailed lemurs are famous for 'sun-worshipping' where they sit upright with their arms outstretched to soak up the morning sun.

Small but brightly colored, these amphibians showcase nature's warning signals. Their vibrant hues indicate their toxicity, a defense mechanism against predators.

Habitat: Found in humid, tropical rainforests of Central and South America, typically near water sources on the forest floor or in low vegetation.

Fun fact: Indigenous peoples historically used the toxins from some poison dart frog species to coat their blowgun darts for hunting.