Bronx Zoo’s World Of Darkness Exhibit Reopens After 16 Years–Discover 25 Nocturnal Animal Species, Some Rarely Seen In Zoos

Grab your night vision glasses–the Bronx Zoo is celebrating the re-opening of its immersive World of Darkness exhibit, which closed 16 years ago. The exhibit brings the mysteries of nocturnal life into the spotlight with 25 species and 21 habitats, and it puts you right in the center of it all! Originally opened in 1969 as the zoo’s first exhibit to employ a reverse light cycle–and one of the world’s first major exhibits to introduce nocturnal animals to those curious–the World of Darkness exhibit gave guests a unique look at night-dwelling creatures. It closed in 2009, however, following a $15 million NYC budget shortfall. Now, 16 years later, the Bronx Zoo reopened a bold new version of the exhibit, revealing to guests an amazing diversity of nocturnal species–from southern lesser galagos and blind cave fish to blood pythons, naked mole rats, and common vampire bats –innovative lighting technology, immersive soundscapes, interactive elements, and meticulously recreated habitats. Spread across 13,000-square-feet, the exhibit houses 21 habitats that showcase 25 species. Jim Breheny, Director of the Bronx Zoo and Executive Vice President of WCS’s Zoos and Aquarium, stated: > The new World of Darkness offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to step into the hidden world of nocturnal animals. No where else will people have the opportunity to explore this hidden world and the animals that move through its shadows. It brings attention to an entire array of unseen species that need our protection in nature. The journey inside World of Darkness starts with glowing graphics and subtle soundscapes, allowing you time for your eyes to adjust. And as they do,douroucoulis (night monkeys) climbing shadowy branches, bats swooping overhead, and aye-ayes searching for food begin to come into view. You’ll also come face-to-face with species rarely seen in zoos, including cloud rats, fat-tailed leumurs, and Guatemalan beaded lizards—each highlighting their own unique evolutionary adaptation such as echolocation, enhanced smell, or thermal sensing. A full list of species featured within World of Darkness is as follows: * Nancy Ma’s Douroucouli (Aotus nancymaae) * Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) * Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) * Southern Lesser Galago (Galago moholi) * Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat (Phloeomys pallidus) * Pygmy Slow Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) * Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) * Gray Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus) * Blind Cave Fish (Astyanax mexicanus) * Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) * South American Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) * Northern Cacomistle (Bassariscus astutus) * Blood Python (Python brongersmai) * Timor Python (Malayopython timoriensis) * Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) * Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) * Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) * Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) * Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber) * Sand Cat (Felis margarita) * Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) * Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus) * Seba’s Short-tailed Bat (Carollia perspicillata) * New Caledonian Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus) * Guatemalan Beaded Lizard (Heloderma charlesbogerti) The exhibit is designed to look like a forest canopy with a programmable LED lighting system that mimics the natural transitions of dusk and dawn. Who knows, you may leave feeling like a nocturnal animal yourself! Beyond the animals, there’s a feature called Conservation Spotlights, showcasing the zoo’s global efforts to protect nocturnal species and their ecosystems, as well as interactive graphics and child-level lightboxes to engage all audiences. Admission to World of Darkness is included with your regular Bronx Zoo ticket. The exhibit is open year-round, with last entry 30 minutes before the park closes. Snag tickets here. Source: https://secretnyc.co/bronx-zoo-world-of-darkness-exhibit-reopens/