A little piece of normalcy returns to New York City, as the Bronx Zoo officially opens to the general public. It had been closed for months because of the pandemic.

Several families waited in the rain to be among the first to walk into the Bronx Zoo for it’s reopening. They had not been able to see the beloved animals and exhibits for months due to the health crisis.

“It can be very stressful in the home. Just getting a little bit of outside air is relaxing for everyone. It’s a way to feel normal again. It’s definitely needed and we are happy to be here,” said Alana Bouaka.

The iconic zoo is one of the largest in the world. It was forced to close because of the pandemic. After opening to members at the start of the week, the general public was welcomed back on Friday.

“It’s good because they’re visiting from California. I wanted to get them out to see some animals. Especially so she can see tigers,” said Joshua Mediavilla.

During the shutdown, zookeepers continued to care for the animals. For weeks, the staff transformed the park to meet the demands of a post-coronavirus world. There are markers on the floor to ensure social distancing and hand sanitizer stations through out park.

All tickets must be purchased or requested online in advance. Everyone ages 3 and up must wear a mask.

Visitors we spoke with said they understand why the regulations are necessary.

“I’ve been working from home then I went to the clinic. I’m just enjoying a little bit of what I can but social distancing,” said Blanca Valentin.

“We just moved to New York last week and she’s really excited to see the animals. It’s nice to see that the city is slowly getting back to normal, relatively speaking. It’s cool to see that they’re trying their best to open up responsibly,” said Ben Hartzell, who visited with his daughter.

“The Bronx Zoo is operating under its regular hours. All of the outdoor exhibits are open. The exhibits that are indoors, will remained closed until further notice.