Australian Exhibits in US zoos are often identical to one another. Usually, it simply a grassy field with a few kangaroos and maybe an emu or two in a walkthrough exhibit. Boring! I understand Australian animals could be a challenge to obtain at times, but it really should be more then just that. However, the five mentioned here are exceptions to the rule and have gone beyond the simple kangaroo/emu walkthrough yard. And with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park opening the new Australia Walkabout this Summer (Which has potential to dethrone all five of these nominees), now I thought would be a perfect time to post this poll.
San Diego Zoo - In the new (2013) Australian Outback section, everything is sleek and modern and goes for a different approach in displaying Australian animals. Instead of kangaroos and emus, smaller lesser known species are the stars of the show. There are two sections, first the rainforest, which includes wombats and Tasmanian devils in large shaded yards. Excellent spaces for these species. Also in the rainforest is a row of aviaries containing several smaller passerines and a laughing kookaburra pair. The aviaries are lushly planted and large, however are a real pain to see into because of the thick mesh. Across the street is the second part of the outback, the koala center which contains dozens of koalas in large yards with ample climbing spaces. Parma wallabies and cockatoos are also featured.
Brookfield Zoo - Opening with the zoo in 1934, the Australian building is a historic structure with a modern interior. There are two rooms in this building that each come with a slue of different species. The first room contains multiple terrariums for skins, snakes, water dragons and tree frogs in lushly planted spaces. Then at the end of the day room is a large finch aviary with a half a dozen species. Then the night room focusses more on nocturnal mammals. Wombats and echidnas have average sized spaces indoor, and there is also a kookaburra aviary, which feels a little out of place in the nocturnal room. The final indoor exhibit is a walkthrough bat exhibit that holds 2 species (Rodrigues flying fox and Egyptian fruit bat). Ironically, neither species in native to Australia. Finally, there are four large forested yards that surround the building. These yards contain western gray kangaroos, bennett's wallabies, emus and cape barren geese.
Los Angles Zoo - The zoos Australian exhibit used to be unremarkable, but in 2015 new life was rejuvenated to the area. The former koala house reopened. This is a nocturnal section for several species including wombats, echidnas, woylies and sugar gliders in large exhibit spaces. This is the only nocturnal house in an AZA zoo in the state of California. Also new that year, a Tasmanian devil exhibit which is large but a little on the dusty side. There is also a nice large mixed species habitat for koalas and tammar wallabies.
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo - It may not be as well known or big as some of the others, but this high quality little zoo has a very nice Australian exhibit. There is the typical kangaroo walkthrough ordeal, but it's made up by Tasmanian Devils and dingo's in great big yards. There is also a reef aquarium section with dozens of salt water fish in sizeable tanks.
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo - Wallaroo Station doubles as not only an Australian exhibit, but as the Children's zoo. Because of that, there are several roller coasters and a large splash pad area in the zone. As well as a small domestics are for ponies, goats and lamas. However, there is still a very solid selection of Australian animals. Parma wallabies have a smaller walkthrough section that isn't terribly overbearing. Then there is two indoor exhibits for koalas that are on the small side but are very much adequate. Then there is the main boardwalk, which includes a small emu yard, several cockatoo aviaries, a New Guinea singing dog yard and an aviary featuring tropical birds and fruit bats.
San Diego Zoo - In the new (2013) Australian Outback section, everything is sleek and modern and goes for a different approach in displaying Australian animals. Instead of kangaroos and emus, smaller lesser known species are the stars of the show. There are two sections, first the rainforest, which includes wombats and Tasmanian devils in large shaded yards. Excellent spaces for these species. Also in the rainforest is a row of aviaries containing several smaller passerines and a laughing kookaburra pair. The aviaries are lushly planted and large, however are a real pain to see into because of the thick mesh. Across the street is the second part of the outback, the koala center which contains dozens of koalas in large yards with ample climbing spaces. Parma wallabies and cockatoos are also featured.
Brookfield Zoo - Opening with the zoo in 1934, the Australian building is a historic structure with a modern interior. There are two rooms in this building that each come with a slue of different species. The first room contains multiple terrariums for skins, snakes, water dragons and tree frogs in lushly planted spaces. Then at the end of the day room is a large finch aviary with a half a dozen species. Then the night room focusses more on nocturnal mammals. Wombats and echidnas have average sized spaces indoor, and there is also a kookaburra aviary, which feels a little out of place in the nocturnal room. The final indoor exhibit is a walkthrough bat exhibit that holds 2 species (Rodrigues flying fox and Egyptian fruit bat). Ironically, neither species in native to Australia. Finally, there are four large forested yards that surround the building. These yards contain western gray kangaroos, bennett's wallabies, emus and cape barren geese.
Los Angles Zoo - The zoos Australian exhibit used to be unremarkable, but in 2015 new life was rejuvenated to the area. The former koala house reopened. This is a nocturnal section for several species including wombats, echidnas, woylies and sugar gliders in large exhibit spaces. This is the only nocturnal house in an AZA zoo in the state of California. Also new that year, a Tasmanian devil exhibit which is large but a little on the dusty side. There is also a nice large mixed species habitat for koalas and tammar wallabies.
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo - It may not be as well known or big as some of the others, but this high quality little zoo has a very nice Australian exhibit. There is the typical kangaroo walkthrough ordeal, but it's made up by Tasmanian Devils and dingo's in great big yards. There is also a reef aquarium section with dozens of salt water fish in sizeable tanks.
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo - Wallaroo Station doubles as not only an Australian exhibit, but as the Children's zoo. Because of that, there are several roller coasters and a large splash pad area in the zone. As well as a small domestics are for ponies, goats and lamas. However, there is still a very solid selection of Australian animals. Parma wallabies have a smaller walkthrough section that isn't terribly overbearing. Then there is two indoor exhibits for koalas that are on the small side but are very much adequate. Then there is the main boardwalk, which includes a small emu yard, several cockatoo aviaries, a New Guinea singing dog yard and an aviary featuring tropical birds and fruit bats.
