In the boom of the 1920s many additions were made; the sea lion pool with neo-classical columns from 1928 can still be seen today, as can a few art nouveau buildings later used as a reptile exhibit.

The island is home to the Staten Island Zoo, which recently opened a newly refurbished reptile exhibit and is in the process of designing a new carousel and leopard enclosure.

"They were last seen by the reptile exhibit," said Police Officer Debra Kearns yesterday evening.

Orana Wildlife Park has an excellent walk-through native bird aviary, a nocturnal kiwi house and a reptile exhibit featuring the wrinkly tuatara.

The building, used at that time for a traveling reptile exhibit, closed again in 2004 before undergoing much more extensive renovations.

One tower contains, along with a revolving restaurant, Canada's largest indoor reptile exhibit.

A reptile exhibit was opened in the main zoo building in 1942.

Sea walls, a lodge, gift shop, the waterfalls, and a reptile exhibit were developed.