In two films about a post-apocalyptic New York City, Twelve Monkeys (1995), in which most of the world has been destroyed by a deadly virus, and I am Legend (2007), in which most of the world, again, has been destroyed by a deadly virus that turns people into vampire-like beings — in these movies, you will see wild animals, tigers and lions, roaming the streets of Manhattan. It’s a strange sight, the wild natural world against the man-made skyscraping towers of one of the world’s great cities. But, of course, there are lions and tigers in Manhattan. There are elephants, too, and gorillas, all in the center of town, but safely contained inside the Central Park Zoo.
While it may be odd to think of wild creatures in the center of a city, it’s less odd to think of a zoo in one. Especially a zoo as interesting and as educational as the one in Central Park. The zoo continuously puts together events for the public; two upcoming events include the “Naked” Polar Bear Cruise, which will raise funds for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for each minute a person manages to spend on the ride. It’s noted, though, that even thought it’s called the “Naked” Polar Bear Cruise, the “naked” part is in quotes and they actually require you to be in a bathing suit, and not naked at all. The event is scheduled for February 27th. Later, still, you’ll find a Run for the Wild on April 24th, where the WCS benefit will allow walkers and runners to run along a five kilometer course at the Bronx Zoo.
However, if you’ve found a hotel by checking here, then you might want to look for activities you can do at the Central Park Zoo today. For that, try out the penguin feeding and presentation, which is held at ten thirty in the morning and again at two thirty in the afternoon. You’ll see king penguins and chinstraps and gentoos (also penguin types), feasting away; you may join the harbor seals for a meal, as well at eleven forty-five, two fifteen, and four fifteen. Watching animals live, safely at the Central Park Zoo, seems to me much better than watching them on the big screen.