Central Park is the natural haven within a sea of concrete and steel. This 843 acre landscape in the middle of Manhattan provides local residents with an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It is home to a wide range of small cafés, art installations, street side shows, sculptures, fountains, natural attractions, wildlife and even a zoo. People can spend their days watching birds, reading books, painting, photographing passers-by, enjoying yoga or martial arts, or doing any number of other enjoyable activities. For nature lovers, this area is one of the few places you can get away to when you want to see an interesting diversity of urban wildlife.
Biodiversity in Central Park
Take a Central Park pedicab tour, you may notice quite a few more common animals here and there; birds of all types, especially pigeons, squirrels, rabbits, and a number of insects. But did you also know the park is home to turtles, toads, raccoons, opossums and a huge variety of water birds. Many local Manhattan scientists and researchers have spent an abundance of time within the park studying the habits of these urban dwelling animals to see how they all get along in somewhat tight quarters. The biodiversity within the park is unique since it is a limited area, yet animals have been thriving well within its confines for many of their own generations.
The Central Park Zoo
While enjoying a Central Park pedicab tour, you may be taken past the Zoo. This 6 acre menagerie is home to more than 150 species which include polar bears, lemurs, red pandas, fruit bats, banded mongoose, a group of farm animals and a petting area for children. In 1972, the Central Park zoo became the home to the first gorilla born in captivity within New York. She was named Pattycake and was later moved to the Bronx Zoo where she remained for more than 30 years. For animal lovers taking a Central Park pedicab tour, no visit to the Zoo should be missed. In fact, you might be able to arrange a tour through central park, then have your driver drop you off at the entrance to the Zoo so you can enjoy the rest of your day there. No matter how you decide to spend your time within the park or during your city tour, be sure to bring a camera to capture memorable moments and scenery.
