[Above photo: The southern lesser galago is one of 25 species premiering in the Bronx Zoo’s new World of Darkness which is opening on July 12, 2025]
 

BRONX, NY,  July 10, 2025 — The Bronx Zoo held a ribbon cutting today to mark the opening of the new World of Darkness, which will debut on Saturday, July 12, revitalizing a historic and groundbreaking exhibit that redefined how visitors view the otherwise unseen lives and activities of nocturnal animals. Closed since 2009, the reimagined World of Darkness returns as an engaging, immersive environment that celebrates the remarkable adaptations of creatures that thrive in the absence of light.

Originally opened in 1969 as the zoo’s first exhibit to employ a reverse light cycle, the World of Darkness gave guests a unique look at night-dwelling animals. Now, 16 years after its closure, the Bronx Zoo unveils a bold new version with an amazing diversity of nocturnal species,  innovative lighting technology, immersive soundscapes, interactive elements, and meticulously recreated habitats.

Within the 13,000-square-foot building, there are 21 habitats that showcase 25 species, ranging from Egyptian fruit bats and pygmy slow lorises to blind cave fish and naked mole rats—each with unique adaptations that help them navigate and survive in the dark.

“The new World of Darkness offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to step into the hidden world of nocturnal animals,” said Jim Breheny, Director of the Bronx Zoo and Executive Vice President of WCS’s Zoos and Aquarium. “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.”

Visitors begin their journey inside World of Darkness greeted by glowing graphics and subtle soundscapes. As their eyes adjust, they can discover douroucoulis, also known as night monkeys, climbing shadowy branches, bats swooping overhead, and aye-ayes tapping—searching for food using their iconic fingers.

Designed with acoustic panels shaped like the forest canopy and a programmable LED lighting system that mimics the natural transitions of dusk and dawn, World of Darkness feels like stepping into a nocturnal world.

Accessibility and inclusivity are central to the exhibit’s design. The World of Darkness marks the Bronx Zoo’s first permanent bilingual exhibit, with all signage, educational graphics, and interactive elements available in both English and Spanish. A feature called, “Conservation Spotlights,” showcases our global efforts to protect nocturnal species and their ecosystems, while tactile, interactive graphics and child-level lightboxes make information more engaging and accessible for guests of all ages and abilities.

The exhibit also features species rarely seen in zoos, including cloud rats, fat-tailed leumurs, and Guatemalan beaded lizards—each highlighting evolutionary adaptations like echolocation, enhanced smell, or thermal sensing.

The revitalization of the World of Darkness has been made possible through the generous support of Sandra de Roulet and Donald Mullen Jr., with additional support from Kevin McAuliffe and Katharine Frase and the Stromfeld Family. Special thanks to Joan and Charley Sabatino, Gabe Gelman, and Susan and Howard Zemser, in loving memory of Midshipman 3/C Justin Zemser.

Featured Species: 

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)

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