News12 New York
N12 Originals
Numbers & Links
Local
Crime
Weather
Power & Politics
Rebuilding The Bronx
Taking Action
Sunny
66°
Local
Crime
Weather
Power & Politics
Rebuilding The Bronx
Taking Action

American chestnut trees return to Bronx Zoo after over a century

Over a century has come and gone since American chestnut trees were nearly wiped out.

Cole McDonnell

•

Oct 7, 2026, 5:14 PM

•

Updated

Share:

More Stories

A type of tree that once covered the East Coast is making a comeback in The Bronx.

Twenty American chestnut trees are now taking root at the Bronx Zoo.

The 2-to-3-feet-tall saplings were planted this week in three spots around the zoo, including along the Bronx River.

A fungus nearly killed 4 billion of the trees in the early 1900s.

These hybrid trees have been bred for resistance to the deadly fungus.

The goal is to bring the iconic American chestnut back to New York and give future generations a chance to see it thrive again.

Top Stories

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices