The Staten Island Zoo opened in 1936 and is only 8 acres—much smaller than the 265-acre Bronx Zoo. The Staten Island Zoo has been called New York’s “biggest little zoo” since at least 1964, with the publication of the book, The Staten Island Zoo: The Biggest Little Zoo on Earth.
 
New York’s Biggest Little Zoo: A History of the Staten Island Zoo, a book by Ken Kawata, was published in 2003.
 
   
Wikipedia: Staten Island Zoo
The Staten Island Zoo is a 8-acre (3.2 ha) urban zoo in West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York City. The zoo is open year round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. It has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1988.
   
Staten Island Zoo—About Us
Zoo construction commenced in 1933 as part of the Federal Government’s works program on an eight-acre estate willed to New York City. It was opened on June 10, 1936, the first zoo in the U. S. specifically devoted to an educational mandate.
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Since the Zoo’s opening, its human and physical resources have created this exemplary educational and recreational facility. Over the years New York City’s “biggest little Zoo” evolved to accommodate the collection and serve the visiting public. The small one-building style Zoo originally designed in the 1930’s had its first major renovation in 1969 when a Children’s Center was constructed.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
The Staten Island zoo : the biggest little zoo on earth
Author: Staten Island Zoological Society
Publisher: Staten Island, N.Y [um 1964]
Edition/Format:   Book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
New York’s biggest little zoo : a history of the Staten Island Zoo
Author: Ken Kawata
Publisher: Dubuque, IA : Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 2003.
Edition/Format:   Book : English
   
Time Out New York
50 things to do in New York City on a Saturday
Make the most of your Saturday with these urban adventures.
By Time Out editors Wed Oct 13 2010
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Spy exotic creatures at the Staten Island Zoo
New York’s “biggest little zoo” is an eight-acre haven for southern and eastern African leopards, mandrills, lizards, antelope and lemurs. Face snakes head-on in the “Fear Zone,” part of the zoo’s newly renovated Reptile Wing. If even the thought makes you squeamish, head to the children’s center and feed domesticated animals such as donkeys, goats, pigs and deer. 614 Broadway at Frost Ave and Victory Blvd, Staten Island (718-442-3100 statenislandzoo.org). $8.
   
New York (NY) Times
Staten Island Zoo Capitalizes on the Small and Obscure
By LISA W. FODERARO AUG. 1, 2014
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Founded in 1933, the zoo is the only one of New York City’s six animal parks not under the auspices of the internationally regarded Wildlife Conservation Society. And with only eight acres, the zoo has in recent years decided to pursue the allure of obscurity by recruiting some of the more diminutive and lesser-known members of the animal kingdom.
 
“The nickname for the Staten Island Zoo is ‘New York’s biggest little zoo,’ and we’re actually trying to define that,” said Dr. Marc T. Valitutto, the zoo’s general curator and chief veterinarian. “We’re bringing in the biggest of the small animals in order to offer something that’s new and different.”