The Staten Island Zoo is a compact 8-acre zoo in West New Brighton, Staten Island, that has earned the nickname New York’s “biggest little zoo” since opening to the public on June 10, 1936. Built with an educational mission from the start, it was organized by the Staten Island Zoological Society and has grown into one of the city’s longest-running wildlife institutions, holding Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation since 1988.
Despite its small footprint, the zoo is known for an outsized reptile collection, including one of the largest rattlesnake collections in North America housed in its dedicated serpentarium. It’s also home to Staten Island Chuck, the groundhog who serves as New York City’s official Groundhog Day forecaster, giving the zoo a yearly moment in the national spotlight.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York City
- Opened: June 10, 1936
- Size: About 8 acres
- Species: Around 320 species
- Animal count: About 1,400 animals
- Annual visitors: Roughly 150,000-190,000
- Famous for: Its rattlesnake collection and groundhog forecaster Staten Island Chuck
What Makes This Zoo Different
Unlike sprawling regional zoos, the Staten Island Zoo was designed from the outset as a close-up educational experience, with exhibits arranged so visitors could get near views of the animals on a modest patch of land. That compact scale is part of its identity, earning it the long-running local nickname “the biggest little zoo” in New York.
The zoo’s reptile wing stands out nationally. Its serpentarium holds one of the most complete rattlesnake collections in North America, a specialty that has made the zoo a reference point for herpetology education even as the overall grounds stayed small.
A Fixture of Staten Island Life
The zoo is operated by the Staten Island Zoological Society, founded in 1933, and has functioned as an educational institution for Staten Island families for nearly nine decades. It also runs a veterinary clinic and internship programs tied to its conservation and education mission.
Every February, the zoo draws national media attention when Staten Island Chuck emerges to deliver New York City’s official Groundhog Day prediction, a tradition that has turned the small borough zoo into an unlikely annual news fixture.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
A field guide that keeps the animal spotting going on the drive home and at home.
Zoo days are long and the shade isn't always where the animals are.
Clips to a stroller, wagon or backpack strap. Quiet enough that it won't wake a napping toddler.
Staten Island Zoo FAQs
When did the Staten Island Zoo open?
It opened to the public on June 10, 1936, and has operated continuously since under the Staten Island Zoological Society.
How big is the Staten Island Zoo?
The zoo covers about 8 acres in West New Brighton, Staten Island, making it one of the more compact zoos in the New York City area.
What is the Staten Island Zoo known for?
It’s best known for its extensive rattlesnake collection, one of the largest in North America, and for Staten Island Chuck, the groundhog who serves as NYC’s official Groundhog Day forecaster.
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Photo: Alejandrocard96 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.