If the winter chill in New York City has you feeling even colder than usual larely, we have something guaranteed to warm your heart: an unforgettable, up-close experience with some of the most beloved residents of the Bronx Zoo.
🦒 Wild Encounters At The Bronx Zoo
Through the Zoo’s popular Wild Encounters program, guests can go behind the scenes for the insider access they’ve always wanted. These special experiences offer the chance to meet incredible animals face-to-face while learning directly from the expert keepers who care for them every day. From giraffes and cheetahs to penguins and more, no two encounters are ever the same — and you never know what surprise guest might make an appearance.
🦥 Meet the Sloths Everyone’s Talking About
Among the most sought-after experiences is the Sloth Connection — a 30-minute, indoor encounter that offers rare, up-close time with one of the Zoo’s two-toed sloths. It’s relaxed. It’s intimate. It’s wildly charming.
For $69.95 per person, guests ages 3 and up can step into a dedicated encounter space and meet one of these slow-moving superstars while learning directly from the keepers who care for them every day. The program length includes travel time from check-in to the encounter location, making it an easy add-on to your Zoo day.
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Beyond being a fantastic photo op, it’s also a deep dive into the science and story of a species that has mastered the art of energy conservation.
These famously furry rainforest dwellers spend most of their lives hanging upside down in the canopies of Central and South America, built with long limbs and curved claws that let them dangle — even while asleep.
With the slowest metabolism of any mammal (a single meal can take up to a month to digest), they thrive on a low-calorie diet of leaves, flowers, fruit, and insects.
In the wild, they inhabit regions where the Wildlife Conservation Society works to protect vital ecosystems like the Amazon and Patagonia — meaning your visit in New York City supports conservation efforts far beyond the Zoo’s gates.
🌳 Get to Know the Bronx Zoo’s Sloths
According to their website, The Bronx Zoo is home to two species: Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. A longtime guest favorite is “Hans Slolo,” an 11-year-old male Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth whose name cleverly nods to a certain Star Wars icon. Equal parts laid-back and captivating, he embodies everything people love about sloths.
You can also spot sloths on exhibit in the World of Darkness (and even say hi to the zoo’s newest bundle of joy, a sweet pygmy slow loris!) and, seasonally from May through October (weather permitting), at the Children’s Zoo. But the Wild Encounters program offers something different — a closer connection and a richer understanding of what makes these animals so extraordinary.
✅ Know Before You Go
- 📍 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx
- 🗓️ Open daily
- ⏰ 10 am – 4:30 pm
- 🦁 Wild Encounters, including the Sloth Connection, must be booked in advance online. Spots are limited and frequently sell out — especially on weekends and school breaks — so reserving early is strongly recommended. Tickets for the Sloth Connection are $69.95 per person.
It’s the perfect time of year to slow down, way down, and we know just the fellas to help you do it. To learn more about wild encounters at the Bronx Zoo, see their official website.