On the Flatbush Avenue edge of Prospect Park, this small-but-mighty zoo is one of Brooklyn’s best family bargains. Red pandas curl up in the trees, sea lions bark for their breakfast, and the Discovery Trail winds past prairie dogs, river otters and porcupines in habitats sized just right for little legs. Inside, baboons, meerkats and colorful poison dart frogs keep the exploring going in any weather.
The Wildlife Conservation Society runs the zoo with young families in mind: there’s a barnyard area for up-close encounters with goats and sheep, daily feedings that gather a happy crowd, and Prospect Park’s meadows and playgrounds waiting right outside the gate. It’s a gentle first zoo for toddlers and an easy half-day adventure for everyone.
