Bronx Zoo's fascinating World of Darkness exhibit reopens after 16-year hiatus
World of Darkness, the Bronx Zoo's 'groundbreaking' shadowy attraction showcasing more than two dozen rare and unusual nocturnal animals, is back after a 16-year hiatus.
4 World of Darkness, the Bronx Zoo's 'groundbreaking' shadowy attraction showcasing animals such as the sand cat (above), is back after a 16-year hiatus.
Terria Clay / Bronx Zoo
The revamped exhibit, which opened to the public Saturday, offers a glimpse into the behaviors and adaptations of 25 species across the world, from two-toed sloths and cloud rats to sand cats and vampire bats.
Entry to the 13,000-square-foot, 21-habitat exhibit is included with the purchase of a Bronx Zoo ticket.
4 Aye-ayes also are part of the exhibit.
Bronx Zoo
'The opening of the new World of Darkness will once again provide Bronx Zoo visitors with a unique immersion experience to observe amazing creatures that have evolved to live and thrive in darkness,' said Bronx Zoo Director and Wildlife Conservation Society Executive Vice President of Zoos & Aquarium Jim Breheny in a statement.
The first World of Darkness exhibit at the zoo opened in 1969. It served as the first major zoo exhibit to feature nocturnal animals in a 'reverse light cycle' so that onlookers could watch the nocturnal world in action during daytime hours, officials said.
The new modernized exhibit – the first iteration since the original closed in April 2009 because of financial issues – will continue on the legacy of creative lighting design, zoo officials said, with a new set of programmable LED lighting systems that simulate 'soft' sunrise and sunset transitions.
4 The modernized exhibit features creative lighting designs, zoo officials said.
Bronx Zoo
The 'reimagined' nocturnal house also offers 'immersive soundscapes, interactive elements, and meticulously recreated habitats' from tropical forests and wetlands to deserts and caves, the zoo said.
Visitors can expect hands-on educational consoles, outdoor photo-op stations and up-close views of blood pythons, tarantulas and naked mole rats.
The exhibit also serves as the zoo's only permanent bilingual attraction, with all signage, graphics and interactive elements in both English and Spanish.
4 A broad-snouted Caiman lays in wait at the Bronx Zoo's World of Darkness exhibit.
Julie Larsen / Bronx Zoo
The revitalized exhibit also features species rarely seen in zoos, including cloud rats, fat-tailed leumurs, and Guatemalan beaded lizards.
'Many New Yorkers have great memories of the exhibit which originally opened in 1969,' Breheny said, adding the zoo has 'updated all aspects of the experience to ensure an amazing opportunity to enter a shadowy world rarely seen.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
22 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
No kiss cam at Oasis shows? Why that might not matter for Toronto fans having an affair
After a viral video exposed an apparent affair between an American tech CEO and the company's head of human resources, spectators may have privacy concerns when attending concerts or sporting events. But you might not encounter a kiss cam at an Oasis concert, according to frontman Liam Gallagher. According to a recent report in People Magazine , the English rock band isn't a fan of the kiss cam. Reporting on a July 20 concert in Manchester, U.K., people noted Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher told audience members not to worry. At the Manchester show, Gallagher announced: 'Do we have any lovebirds in the house? Don't worry, we ain't got any of that Coldplay, snidey f———camera s—-. It doesn't matter to us who you're f——— mingling with … None of our f——— business.' Oasis is scheduled to play two shows at Toronto's Rogers Stadium Aug. 24 and 25. Part of the band's 'Oasis Live '25' reunion tour, the Toronto shows are the only Canadian dates on the tour's North American leg. Both shows are sold out, according to Ticketmaster . Metroland reached out to Live Nation for a statement on whether the Toronto shows might feature a kiss cam. We will update this article when we receive a response. Last week, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company's head of human resources Kristin Cabot were caught in an apparent affair during a Coldplay concert in the Boston, Mass. area. A kiss cam video showing the pair engaged in an awkward embrace went viral on social media, garnering millions of views on TikTok. During the video, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin declares, 'Oh, look at these two. Uh-oh. Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' Regardless of whether a concert or sporting event has a kiss cam, privacy in public is seldom guaranteed, especially in a venue of 50,000 people, a Toronto-based family lawyer says. In a recent interview with Metroland, Russell Alexander said there's no expectation of privacy if you're in a large audience with someone other than your spouse. 'You may think you're anonymous because you're among so many people, but everybody's got a cellphone, everybody's recording the concert — who knows,' said Alexander. 'They may be posting it on social media. Even if it wasn't the kiss cam, somebody could have posted the song on social media and they could have been part of that frame. So I think the takeaway is be mindful of privacy when you're in public spaces.' As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and… Astronomer, a tech firm specializing in open-source and commercial products, released a statement on social media confirming Byron has resigned as CEO. Cabot was placed on leave from her job, according to a report in the New York Post . The newspaper said Cabot appears to be married to Privateer Rum owner Andrew Cabot. In a July 21 update posted to LinkedIn , interim Astronomer CEO Pete DeJoy shared how the company is moving on from the kiss cam incident. On a positive note, DeJoy said more people have heard of Astronomer following the kiss cam video. The company powers data and artificial intelligence strategies, including in-game analytics for sports teams. It also provides solutions for customer support chatbots and AI training for self-driving cars. 'The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies — let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world — ever encounter. The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name,' DeJoy noted. DeJoy added Astronomer has never shied away from a challenge. 'We're here because Astronomer is built by people who live to solve hard problems, stay late to fix what's broken, and care deeply about doing things the right way,' he said. DeJoy thanked company employees for their 'resilience and commitment to building something great' and customers for their trust. 'We won't let you down,' DeJoy added. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Damned Cancel North American Concert Dates Following ‘Catastrophic Event'
English punk veterans The Damned have been forced to cancel a trio of dates in the Pacific Northwest following an unspecified 'catastrophic event' affecting a member of the band. The group shared the news on social media on Tuesday (July 22), revealing that their upcoming July dates in North America would not be going ahead. More from Billboard Jeremy Zucker Announces 2025 Australian Tour Black Sabbath Members Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: 'Goodbye Dear Friend' Talks Reportedly 'Failed' in Efforts to Bring ABBA Voyage to Australia 'We are very sorry to have to cancel our Seattle, Portland and Vancouver shows this weekend, due to an unexpected and catastrophic event at a member of The Damned's home,' the band wrote. 'We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Refunds will be available for our two headline shows at your point of purchase.' Currently, no details regarding the nature of the aforementioned event have been made public. The Damned were scheduled to perform three dates this coming weekend, including headline dates in Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC on July 26 and July 28, respectively. An additional performance at Portland's Project Pabst festival on July 27 has also been cancelled, with FIDLAR being added to the lineup in the wake of the band's exit. The trio of North American dates follows on from an earlier run of shows throughout North America in May, and will be followed by further shows in September. Currently, The Damned are scheduled to return to the stage with an appearance at Belgium's Lokerse Feesten on Aug. 4. The Damned formed in 1976 and rose to fame that same year as the first U.K. punk band to release a single with 'New Rose.' Though they never charted in the U.S., the group's first three albums (1977's Damned Damned Damned and Music for Pleasure, and 1979's Machine Gun Etiquette) are considered essential listening for punk fans, with their influence still felt today. The group released their most recent album, Darkadelic, in 2023, with vocalist David Vanian serving as the only consistent member of the band. In March, founding guitarist Brian James – who performed on The Damned's first two albums – passed away at the age of 70. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘He humanized metal': Canadian producer Kevin Churko, Rush remember Ozzy Osbourne
The first time Kevin Churko recorded Ozzy Osbourne's vocals, he says it felt less like a studio session and more like a spiritual experience. The Moose Jaw, Sask.-born producer, who was tapped to co-produce the English heavy metal legend's 2007 album 'Black Rain,' remembers being awestruck. 'I just couldn't believe it. Here was Ozzy Osbourne — the 'Bark at the Moon' guy, the 'Crazy Train' guy — singing in front of me. It was just too surreal to be even true,' Churko says. 'The funniest thing was that because he's singing and giving his all, I'm close enough to him that I feel the spray of saliva on his S's and T's as he's singing, and my face is getting wet. And we stop and I go, 'Man, do I wipe this off? Do I leave it on and just take it all in and feel the joy of this moment?'' Osbourne died Tuesday at age 76. A towering figure in rock history, Osbourne first rose to fame in the 1970s as the frontman of Black Sabbath, helping to pioneer heavy metal with his haunting vocals, theatrical flair and outrageous antics. He later launched a successful solo career with hits including 'Crazy Train,' and in the 2000s, reached a new generation of fans through the hit MTV reality series 'The Osbournes.' Churko remembers Osbourne as a born performer who lived every moment to the fullest. 'He was a true entertainer. He liked to tell jokes, he liked to hang with the boys. I can only imagine what those early years in Black Sabbath were like, just a bunch of dudes out there having fun,' says Churko, who also co-produced Osbourne's 2010 album 'Scream.' Churko first joined Osbourne's team as an engineer on the 2005 album 'Under Cover,' and after gradually earning the trust of the singer and his camp, he was promoted to co-producer and co-writer on subsequent records. While Osbourne was notorious for his decades-long struggles with drug and alcohol abuse — which often fuelled his unpredictable behaviour on-and-off stage — Churko says the singer had found sobriety by the time they began collaborating together in the mid-2000s. 'He had sowed his wild oats by that time but I don't think he ever lost that roguish childhood spirit in him,' says Churko, reached by phone in Las Vegas on Tuesday. He recalls a time Osbourne visited Churko's home studio in Las Vegas to record a few extra vocal takes for 'Black Rain.' After singing a couple of lines, Osbourne snuck out of the room. 'About 15 minutes later, I could just hear him howling with laughter and all of a sudden there's a party in the other room. I poked my head out and there he was, sitting down on the couch with my son Kane and his friend, and they were watching 'Superbad,'' chuckles Churko. 'It was such a wonderful, happy moment amongst many of them. We almost never had any bad times making albums.' 'Black Rain' landed Churko the Juno Award for recording engineer of the year in 2008. Looking back, Churko says he was grateful to be part of Osbourne's creative resurgence during a more grounded chapter of his life. 'I was really privileged to be there at that time. It's always nice to be part of the craziness, but it's also nice to be part of the peace,' he says. 'At that stage in his life, he was winding the crazies down.' Osbourne's reality TV fame was still fresh when the two first began working together, and Churko says the singer was relieved to be back in the studio, away from the constant cameras. 'He was just happy it was done,' Churko says. 'Nobody likes somebody following them around all day in their house trying to get some crazy moment on film. He was ready to get back to the music, to something more private and meaningful.' Still, Churko believes 'The Osbournes' wasn't in vain — it helped reveal a more human side of the so-called Prince of Darkness. 'The music will always be the legacy — it'll outlive everything else. But I also think when he had 'The Osbournes,' he humanized metal in a way. Before that, he was the guy who bit off bats' heads and was in a Satan-worshipping band. Then all of a sudden, you see the Prince of Darkness is really this awesome human being who takes care of his family and who wants to make great music and have a good life,' he says. 'That was cool because rock and metal gets a certain kind of a slant, but really, we're all just people. He was just a human being with his own issues, just trying to put one foot in front of the other like the rest of us.' Canada's music community poured tributes onto social media, among them Montreal band Voivod, who opened for Osbourne's tour in 2003, and 'saddened' guitarist Liona Boyd, who said she lived across the street from him in Beverly Hills and recalled attending his 'crazy parties.' Rush frontman Geddy Lee remembered being blown away by the first Sabbath album. 'Ozzy and his bandmates were at the forefront of that genre, that brand of metal, and Ozzy was an intensely loved, one of a kind performer,' Lee said in a statement posted Tuesday. Randy Bachman said he was 'sending peace to his friends and family.' 'One of the original architects of Heavy Metal has gone to music heaven,' Bachman wrote on X. 'He and Sharon will forever be known as THE fantastic power couple of the industry.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.
