Congo Gorilla Forest in the Bronx Zoo

Written by Scott Messmore

Located within the Bronx Zoo, the Congo Gorilla Forest is a six-acre recreation of a Central African rain forest with 400 different animals. In the first eight months after the Gorilla Forest was opened, more than a half million people visited the new rain forest. Congo Gorilla Forest is the largest reproduction of a rain forest environment anywhere in the world.

King of the Forest

The undisputed king of the rain forest in the lowland gorilla. Twenty-three of the fierce mammals live in the Congo Gorilla Forest. Ten years in the planning, the Gorilla Forest takes visitors on a tour of the animals, mammals

and plant life found in an African rain forest. The Gorilla Forest is also a breeding program to help the endangered gorilla populations of the world. In addition to the lowland gorillas, visitors can see colorful mandrills, colobus monkeys, Okapi (they look like small giraffes with short necks), a living, crawling termite mound, Debrazza's monkeys, rock pythons, Wolf's monkeys, Nile monitor lizards, red river hogs, birds, fish, waterfalls, streams, bridges and trails. During its three-year construction, 15,000 plants were emplaced in the Congo Gorilla Forest.

Hours of Operation and Location

The Congo Gorilla Forest is inside the Bronx Zoo. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday

through Friday and until 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays. The Bronx Zoo is open every day of the year. Admission to the zoo is: adults, $9; seniors, $5; children ages two to 12, $5. From Jan. 3 to March 31 admission to the Bronx Zoo is only $4 for adults and $2 for senior citizens and children. All kids under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult. For special group rates call 800-YES-2868. Food and snacks are available at several locations in the zoo. Baby and adult strollers are also available. Adult strollers must be reserved at 718- 220-5188.