The Wildlife Conservation Society and the New York Restoration Project planted 25 hybrid American chestnut saplings at Bronx Zoo on October 5, 2026, marking the species’ first return to the grounds where the blight was first documented.
In 1904, Bronx Zoo Chief Forester Hermann Merkel noted canker‑covered chestnut trunks, the first scientific record of the disease that would later kill nearly 4 billion trees across the U.S. east coast.
The saplings, hybrids of the native chestnut and blight‑resistant Asian varieties, will be distributed over three zones: north of the trail at Tiger Mountain, along the Bronx River’s eastern bank, and the riverwalk. Craig Piper, director of the zoo, said the planting “strengthens the forest we maintain, and chestnuts would have been a significant part of Bronx Zoo’s canopy.”
The project sits inside a broader citywide effort launched in 2017, when NYRP planted 200 hybrids at Highbridge Park. Those trees now tower over 40 ft and bear nuts. NYRP’s 1,000 Chestnut Challenge, begun in 2025, has seen 430 saplings distributed this year, with a goal of 500 more next season. Jason Smith, NYRP director, told Gothamist that “people love the nuts, use the lumber, and the ecological significance is huge.” He added that a Highbridge resident, Maya Patel, hopes the trees grow into her back‑yard, turning her porch into a living museum.
If the new saplings survive the first two seasons, the zoo will schedule additional plantings across its 265‑acre estate. The next step is a survey of growth metrics in late 2028, after which a board vote will determine the citywide rollout of the hybrid chestnut.