School is in Session – For Piranhas, that is


The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo introduced 18 ferocious looking red and orange bellied piranhas in the Flooded Forest exhibit.  These South American freshwater fish hover in the water above a black and white pearl stingray who shares their tank.

Piranhas have a reputation of frenzied attacks on unsuspecting prey, but in reality, they are quite docile and prefer to scavenge for food. All the fish have shimmering silver scales, and the 15 red bellied and three orange bellied piranhas can be identified by the bright coloring underneath.  The pearl ray, also a scavenger, picks up whatever is left behind after feeding time and helps to keep the tank very clean.

WCS works in the Amazon – home to many piranha species – to save wildlife and critical habitats.

Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher ©WCS


The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo - Open every day of the year.  Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, $7 for children 3 to 12, and free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10am to 5pm weekdays, and 10am – 5:30pm weekends, April through October, and 10am – 4:30pm daily, November  through April. Tickets are sold until one half-hour before closing. The zoo is located at 450 Flatbush Avenue. For more information call 718-399-7339 or go to www.prospectparkzoo.com


The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.