There’s always something so magical about seeing the world through your child’s eyes—and a recent visit to the Bronx Zoo’s brand-new World of Darkness exhibit reminded me of that. My daughters are getting older, but the zoo is a place where we can all be childlike and amazed by how incredible nature really is.
Opening to the public on Saturday, July 12th, this immersive, 13,000 square foot exhibit invites visitors to step into the dark and discover the incredible ways animals survive and thrive without light. From the moment we walked in, my daughter was captivated. It was fun to see how our eyes adjusted to the low lighting discover the fascinating animals within each habitat, many of which we had never heard of before.’
She especially loved the bats, so we spent a while stopping to watch the different species – there are 3, Egyptian fruit bats, Seba’s short-tailed bats, and common vampire bats. It sparked so many questions, and I will admit this was one exhibit where we truly took the time to read about the super senses that nocturnal animals have through the interactive, hands-on consoles. Also, the signage is bilingual (English and Spanish), making it fun and easy for kids to learn while exploring.
The World of Darkness features 21 habitats and 25 species, including fascinating creatures like naked mole rats, blood pythons, blind cave fish, and New Caledonian giant geckos. Each animal has its own amazing adaptation for surviving in darkness. After exiting, we made sure to stop for pics at some of the larger-than-life photo ops. My daughter had the best time pretending to hang upside down like a bat—it was the perfect way to wrap up such a unique visit.
After exploring World of Darkness, we continued our adventure throughout the zoo’s 265 acres, saying hello to some of our favorite animals, like the flamingos and giraffes. We ended with a prehistoric visit to Dinosaur Safari, which features over 60 life-size animatronic dinosaurs and pterosaurs.
Plan Your Visit:
- The World of Darkness exhibit is included with all Bronx Zoo tickets (When you purchase Bronx Zoo Admission tickets, this includes Dinosaur Safari and a full day at the zoo!). Tickets start at $28.20, and children 2 and under are free.
- Consider the Family Zoos PLUS Membership for unlimited visits and access to all four WCS zoos across NYC.
This new exhibit is a must-see this summer—especially if you’ve got curious little explorers who love animals and adventure. Grab your tickets here.