Founded in 1933, the Staten Island Zoo is the only one of New York City’s six animal parks not under the watchful eyes of the internationally regarded Wildlife Conservation Society. Within its eight acres, the zoo houses some of the more diminutive and lesser-known members of the animal kingdom. Dr. Marc Valitutto, general curator and chief veterinarian says “The nickname for the Staten Island Zoo is ‘New York’s biggest little zoo,’ and we’re actually trying to define that by bringing in the biggest of the small animals in order to offer something that’s new and different.”
The Staten Island Zoo's Conservation Carousel features 25 animals from around the world, many of them endangered or vulnerable in the wild. All of the statues are remarkably hand-carved, while the exterior of the glass carousel is covered in depictions of the little animals. These animal images are created using a digital printing process to apply ceramic frit to the second surface of a piece of glass, producing an etched or frosted appearance.
