
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.'
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37 minutes ago
10 songs to memorialize Ozzy Osbourne, the great Black Sabbath frontman
NEW YORK -- There are pioneering music figures, and then there is Ozzy Osbourne, the larger-than-life frontman of Black Sabbath, whose personal mythology is eclipsed only by the strength and immortality of his songs. A godfather and force of heavy metal, Osbourne died Tuesday at 76, just weeks after his last performance. The English icon's idiosyncratic, throaty voice launched generations of metalheads, both through his work at the reins of Black Sabbath and in his solo career. Across his repertoire, there are songs with total global ubiquity and lesser-known innovations with his unique, spooky aesthetic quality. To celebrate Osbourne's life and legacy, we've selected just a few songs that made the man, from timeless tunes to a few left-of-center selections. Read on and then listen to all of the tracks on our Spotify playlist. It would be a challenge to name a more immediately recognizable guitar riff than the one that launches Black Sabbath's 1970 megahit 'Iron Man.' It transcends the metal genre — an all-timer heard around the world and in guitar stores everywhere. One of the great Vietnam War protest songs, Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' is a rare moment where hippies and metalheads can agree: 'Politicians hide themselves away / They only started the war / Why should they go out to fight?' Osbourne sings in the bridge. Osbourne's heaviest performances are at least partially indebted to Black Sabbath's bassist and lyricist Terry 'Geezer' Butler, and there is perhaps no better example than 'Children of the Grave,' the single from the band's 1971 album, 'Master of Reality.' 'Must the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?' Osbourne embodies Butler's words, a sonic fist lifted in the air. 'Can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear?' Black Sabbath were in a creative rut in the time period leading up to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' the opening track from their 1973 album of the same name. It's almost hard to believe now — the song features one of their best-known riffs, and its chorus features some truly ascendant vocals. Would the world know what a vibraslap sounds like without the immediately recognizable introduction to Osbourne's first solo single, 'Crazy Train?' To call it a classic is almost a disservice — it is an addicting tune, complete with chugging guitars and Cold War-era fears. Another classic cut from Osbourne's debut solo album, 'Blizzard Of Ozz' — released one year after Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath for his legendary excesses, — the arena rock anthem 'Mr. Crowley' pays tribute to the famed English occultist Aleister Crowley and features Deep Purple's Don Airey on keyboard. The title track and coda of Osbourne's second solo studio album, 'Diary of a Madman,' runs over six minutes long, features big strings and a choir so theatrical it sounds like they're scoring a medieval war film. He wanted big, he wanted dramatic, and he nailed it. It wouldn't be inaccurate to call 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' a beautiful-sounding song. It's unlike anything on this list, a power ballad featuring lyrics written by the late Motörhead frontman Lemmy and a welcomed deviation. When Black Sabbath comes to mind, most fans jump to an unimpeachable run of albums released in the '70s and early '80s. But 'I,' a cut from Black Sabbath's too often overlooked 16th studio album, 'Dehumanizer,' is worth your ear. And not only because it is the first Sabbath album to feature singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice since 1981's 'Mob Rules,' though that's an obvious plus. Late in life Ozzy Osbourne was generous with his time and talent, often collaborating with younger performers who idolized the metal legend. One such example is Post Malone's 'Take What You Want,' which also features the rapper Travis Scott. Osbourne gives the song a necessary gothic edge — validating the otherwise balladic song's use of a sprightly guitar solo.


Hamilton Spectator
6 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Ozzy Osbourne, legendary heavy metal singer and Black Sabbath frontman, dies at 76
Ozzy Osbourne , the legendary English singer known as 'The Prince of Darkness,' has died after years of poor health, his family announced Tuesday. He was 76. 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' read a statement signed by the singer's wife, Sharon, and children, Aimee, Kelly, Jack and Louis. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' No cause of death was provided, though Osbourne suffered from Parkinson's disease. The news of the singer's passing comes just 17 days after some 42,000 fans came together to bid farewell to Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates in a massive, star-studded tribute concert in his hometown of Birmingham, England. It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and… Osbourne rose to prominence in the 1970s as the frontman of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He went on to release more than a dozen albums as a solo artist. In the late 1970s, after rejoining Black Sabbath, Osbourne and the band spent five months in Toronto at Sounds Interchange Studios, where they wrote and recorded their 1978 album, 'Never Say Die!' Osbourne was twice inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — once with Black Sabbath in 2006 and again in 2024 as a solo artist. Over the course of his career, he sold more than 100 million records. Later in life, Osbourne gained new prominence as a reality television star, appearing alongside his wife and children on the popular MTV series 'The Osbournes.' In 2020, following years of escalating health concerns, Osbourne announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In 2023, he announced that he was retiring from touring, citing spinal injuries he sustained during an 2018 accident. Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of the pioneering band Black Sabbath --who became the throaty, growling voice of heavy metal, died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. (July 22, 2025) Dubbed the 'Back to the Beginning' concert, the July 5 tribute featured performances from a long list of heavy metal royalty, including Metallica , Anthrax, Tool, Tom Morello, Slayer and Pantera. 'Let the madness begin!' Osbourne cried after finally taking the stage to perform several songs from his solo catalogue while seated on a black throne. 'I don't know what to say, man, I've been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart,' said Osbourne. Just 17 days ago, Ozzy Osbourne took the stage for the final time, reuniting with Black Sabbath for a farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham. Credit: Universal Music Group Later, he was joined onstage, for the first time in 20 years, by his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a short set with 'Paranoid,' one of their biggest hits. Ozzy Osbourne Announces 'No More Tours 2' Final World Tour at Press Conference at his Los Angeles Home on February 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Osbourne's death was met with an outpouring of tributes on social media from fans and fellow musicians. Ozzy Osbourne a 'dear friend and a huge trailblazer' says Elton John as friends, fans share memories and condolences 'So sad to hear the news of (Osbourne) passing away,' wrote Sir Elton John on Instagram. 'He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods — a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly.' A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) Pioneering thrash metal band Metallica shared a photo alongside Osbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a simple broken heart emoji. 💔 Jack White, the singer-songwriter and former White Stripes frontman, posted on Instagram, with the caption: 'He made it.' A post shared by Jack White (@officialjackwhite) Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello also shared a photo on Instagram. A post shared by Tom Morello (@tommorello) Black Sabbath's 1969 self-titled debut LP has been likened to the Big Bang of heavy metal. It arrived during the height of the Vietnam War and crashed the hippie party, dripping with menace. The cover of the record shows a spooky, witch-like figure against a foreboding, swampy landscape. The music was loud, dense and angry, and marked a shift in rock 'n' roll. The band's second album, 'Paranoid,' included such classic metal tunes as 'War Pigs,' 'Iron Man' and 'Fairies Wear Boots.' The song 'Paranoid' only reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 but became, in many ways, the band's signature song. Both albums were voted among the top 10 greatest heavy metal albums of all time by readers of Rolling Stone magazine. Sabbath later fired Osbourne in 1979 for his legendary excesses, including showing up late for rehearsals and missing gigs. Ozzy Osbourne performs with Black Sabbath at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 2013. 'We knew we didn't really have a choice but to sack him because he was just so out of control. But we were all very down about the situation,' wrote bassist Terry 'Geezer' Butler in his memoir, 'Into the Void.' Osbourne re-emerged the next year as a solo artist with 'Blizzard of Ozz' and the following year's 'Diary of a Madman,' both hard rock classics that went multi-platinum and spawned enduring favorites such as 'Crazy Train,' 'Goodbye to Romance,' 'Flying High Again' and 'You Can't Kill Rock and Roll.' With files from the Associated Press.

USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Ozzy Osbourne health issues: The heavy metal icon battled Parkinson's disease, addiction
Ozzy Osbourne may have been a fierce rock 'n' roller, but he was far from invincible. The Grammy-winning singer and Black Sabbath frontman died on Tuesday, July 22, at the age of 76, according to a family statement shared with USA TODAY. Osbourne's death came just weeks after he reunited with Black Sabbath for the heavy metal band's final show in Birmingham, England. Taking the stage at Villa Park in front of 40,000 fans, the July 5 concert was a reprieve from the English singer's harrowing battle with Parkinson's disease, which had rendered him unable to stand or walk without assistance. But for nine songs that included Black Sabbath classics "Paranoid" and "Iron Man," as well as Osbourne standards "Mr. Crowley" and "Crazy Train," the guitars cranked, and the Prince of Darkness reveled in his return to the spotlight. Aside from his struggles with Parkinson's disease, Osbourne also dealt with substance abuse. The outlandish rocker, who later embarked on a solo career, was booted from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to his rampant drug and alcohol addiction. Ozzy Osbourne on 'self-medicating' with yearslong substance abuse Osbourne's battles with addiction have led to infamous moments in music history. He bit the head off a dove during a 1981 meeting with record executives in Los Angeles and the following year chomped the head off a live bat during a show in Des Moines, Iowa. The singer got candid on his tumultuous relationship with addiction in a February 2021 interview with Variety. "I've always been self-medicating because I've never liked the way I felt," Osbourne told the outlet. "I've had great success in my life, but I've never felt great about myself. And so, from a very early age, I used to sniff fumes, all kinds of things, anything to get me out of my head." Osbourne later got serious about his sobriety around 2014 after numerous attempts at recovery dating back to 1984. "I thought I'd be drinking to the day I die," he reflected. "Most of the people that I drank with are dead. And the ones that aren't, that still continue to drink, are going to be dead soon," Osbourne added. "It's not a happy ending. If you want to carry on drinking, my hat goes off to you." Ozzy Osbourne undergoes neck surgery after 2019 fall In April 2019, a representative for Osbourne revealed on social media that he was postponing all tour dates on his farewell No More Tours II concert tour after the singer sustained injuries during a fall at his Los Angeles home. In a January 2020 interview with "Good Morning America," Osbourne detailed the "terribly challenging" year he went through due to his extensive recovery. "I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves in," Osbourne said at the time. "I've got numbness down this arm from the surgery. My legs feel going cold. I don't know if that's Parkinson's or what. … It's a weird feeling." Ozzy Osbourne breaks silence on Parkinson's disease diagnosis In a revealing sit-down interview with "Good Morning America" in January 2020, Osbourne, alongside wife Sharon Osbourne, shared that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is a degenerative syndrome that results in the slow loss of brain circuitry involved in movement, thinking, and behavior. It can cause tremors, stiffness, slowness, and falls, in addition to anxiety, depression, and sleep dysfunction. Though fans knew the singer had suffered from tremors, Osbourne said he didn't find out about his diagnosis until 2019. "I'm not good at secrets. I cannot walk around with it anymore," Osbourne said on the ABC talk show. "I feel better now of owning up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson's." A month after his "GMA" interview, Osbourne canceled the North American leg of his No More Tours II tour to focus on his recovery, as the singer prepared to travel to Switzerland for treatment. Ozzy Osbourne reveals emphysema battle amid 'worst year of my life' In a November 2020 interview with GQ, Osbourne revealed he had emphysema, a chronic lung condition — often attributed to smoking — that causes shortness of breath, according to Mayo Clinic. "This year has been the worst year of my life!" said Osbourne, who'd revealed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis in January. The singer also voiced his health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic: "I've got emphysema, so if I get this virus, I'm f-----." Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, Sara M Moniuszko, Karen Weintraub, and Charles Trepany, USA TODAY If you or someone you know needs help battling a substance abuse addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).