Europe's 50 must see zoos

[lintworm]

I'd like to know more about this; I only know of Hairy Frogs from Getald Durrell's early stuff, but got the impression they are almost unknown in captivity.

Some googling yielded this results from the Ostrava website, I am however not completely convinced that the picture indeed shows a hairy frog
Zoo Ostrava otevřela nové expozice v Pavilonu evoluce - Novinky - Novinky - O zoo - Zoo Ostrava

It seems Plzen also kept this species, they are mentioned in their 2002 annual report.

 

[lintworm]

Czech Republic - Zoo Plzeň

Founded: 1926
Size: 21 hectares
Species & subspecies (including domestics): includes species loaned to other zoos
Mammals 236
Birds 528
Reptiles & amphibians 303
Fish 120

In the list of most species rich zoos, there seems to be one exception between all the big names: Plzeň. This zoo only started keeping Rhino, Giraffe and Hippo recently, but that is not where its strength lies. The big strength is in the smaller species, this is the only zoo where every aviary seems to have another Common pheasant subspecies and where the amount of Jirds is beyond counting. The sheer species number of small mammals and birds is beyond imagination and many species are unique in the European zoo world. After visiting Plzeň you will have nightmares of Rats in every shape and size imaginable and you start to sweat from just thinking of making a list for the next Passerine challenge. But Plzeň's strength is also its potential downfall. Whereas most hoofstock and carnivores have large and agreeable enclosures, with a noteworthy Brown bear forest and a Snow leopard cage on a steep cliff, for many small mammals quantity did win over quality. There are nice aviaries and small mammal enclosures throughout the zoo, but an attic full of lemurs and a Slender mongoose pacing on its two square meter indoor cubicle can be a bit saddening. Just as the fact that many bird cages appear overstocked and especially ill-fitted for winter time. Some enclosures are remnants of gone times, like the Chimpanzees, but even a new development like the Callichtrid house seems to be taken straight from the sixties. The zoo doubles as a botanical park and the gardeners show that at least some people in the zoo really care for aesthetics. Though somewhat controversial at times, this zoo is extremely welcoming and they are willing to take interested people behind the scenes if they haven’t had their daily dose of murine life-ticks yet.

@LaughingDove , Example of aviaries dotted around the zoo

@Maguari , Brown bear enclosure

@ronnienl , Sonora desert house

@ronnienl , Africa by night

Zoochat gallery:
ZOO Plzeň | ZooChat

www.zooplzen.cz

Zoo map:
http://www.zooplzen.cz/Files/zoo/uvodni_strana/zoo-planek1200x800.pdf

 

[Tim May]

I only know of Hairy Frogs from Gerald Durrell's early stuff, but got the impression they are almost unknown in captivity.

In his book "The Bafut Beagles" Gerald Durrell, of course, describes the hairy frogs he captured for London Zoo.

It is interesting to note, though, that London Zoo's first hairy frogs were acquired eleven years earlier in 1938; they were presented to the zoo by Adrian Conan Doyle (son of the famous author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories).

 

[lintworm]

Zoo Prague

Founded: 1931
Size: 58 hectares
Species and subspecies (including domestics):

Mammals 162
Birds 304
Reptiles & amphibians 152
Fish 40​

Very few zoos can boast with having such an all-round collection spread over such a spacious area in such a stunning setting. Zoo Prague is built on the banks of the Vltaca (Moldau) and consists of a lower and an upper part, separated by a dramatic cliff, which is perfectly used as an enclosure for several mountain ungulates. Birds are a particular strength and especially in the lower part there is a plethora of aviaries scattered around, from a large raptor cage on the Cliffside, to a row of wetland aviaries with a pair of Shoebill to a slightly older complex with more Laughingthrushes then is the advised daily intake. Slightly hidden, but very lovely is a large indoor aviary for birds from Sichuan, a cool quiet spot full of rarities in the middle of a bustling zoo. A large part of the upper zoo is covered with spacious hoofstock enclosures, which can boost a five star collection with Bighorn sheep, Chacoan peccary, Timor deer and many others. Other highlights include a house for Chinese giant salamander and Mangshan pit viper, a spacious African savanna and a surprisingly green Asian elephant enclosure. Reptile lovers are treated with terraria in most of the zoo’s buildings and the Africa rocks complex is full of small African animals, including many mammals. There is however still some work to do, mainly the polar bears, the large cats and also the relatively new Asian rainforest house already looks a bit outdated. Fortunately apart from a new Gorilla house, a new Polar bear complex is one of the top priorities. New rarities are still regularly brought in and with the coming developments this will be a zoo to watch very closely indeed.

@cuckooduck , Bird of prey aviary

@Maguari , Sichuan house

@lintworm , Caucasian tur enclosure

@Zebraduiker , Wetlands area

Zoochat gallery:
Prague Zoo Praha | ZooChat

www.zoopraha.cz

Zoo map:
https://www.zoopraha.cz/documents/ostatnidokumenty/mapa2018-en.jpg

 

[lintworm]

Denmark - Odense Zoo

Founded: 1930
Size: 8.5 hectares
Species (including domestics):

Mammals 39
Birds 28
Reptiles & amphibians 14
Fish 11​

Not every must visit zoo in Europe is big, incredibly species rich or full of interesting zoo architecture. Some zoos just come very close to perfection by not having too many enclosures, but doing right what is there. Odense is an example of such a zoo that would compete with the top tiers in Europe, if only it were three times larger. For such a small zoo there are surprisingly few birds and reptiles and the collection is more mammal-focused. Odense does however have a 3500 square meter free-flight aviary for large African birds, including Flamingo, Spoonbill and Pink-backed pelicans. Apart from the visitors experience it has already paid off in getting the pelicans to breed. Another highlight is a lush Chimpanzee enclosure. The animal Odense is probably most famous for is the Caribbean manatee. Odense is currently the most successful breeder of this species in Europe and even had three young born in one year, including twins. The Manatee enclosure is part of a large building featuring multiple South American biomes from a rainforest to an enclosure for sub-Antarctic penguins representing the Falkland islands. Zoo Odense shows that bigger is not necessarily better and has a good claim to be called the best zoo in Denmark.

@Toddy , Oceanium with Manatee pool

@Toddy , African aviary

@Baldur , Chimpanzee enclosure

@Toddy , Penguin enclosure

Zoochat gallery:
Odense Zoo | ZooChat

www.odensezoo.dk

Zoo map:
https://www.odensezoo.dk/media/63715/odense-zoo_oversigtskort_foraar18.pdf

 

[CGSwans]

Are you sure it's 8.5 hectares? I thought it was significant smaller than that.

 

[lintworm]

Are you sure it's 8.5 hectares? I thought it was significant smaller than that.

It took me some time to find the correct number, as there are various sizes mentioned on the internet. The English wikipedia gives a size of 3.6 hectare, but that is a translation error, as the zoo was extended by another 3.6 hectare in 1995 according to the Danish wikipedia.

Now we have almost had the first 10 zoos and then it is time to move to France and Germany which together make up around 40% of the list....

 

[Hvedekorn]

8.5 hectares should be right. Copenhagen is around 11 hectares, and Odense feels smaller, but not noteworthily smaller.

For such a small zoo there are surprisingly few birds

Heh, it shows just how bird-starved the Danish zoo world is when a place with a bird collection that is miles better than most other Danish zoos gets a line like this.

Oh, well, that was off-topic. I like the idea of this thread a lot and will follow it, though it's interesting that Zlin Zoo didn't make the cut. I haven't been there, but the place seems to get a lot of praise from everyone who's been there.

 

[lintworm]

Oh, well, that was off-topic. I like the idea of this thread a lot and will follow it, though it's interesting that Zlin Zoo didn't make the cut. I haven't been there, but the place seems to get a lot of praise from everyone who's been there.

This thread is not necessarily about Europe's 50 best zoos (whatever best means), but more about the most unique ones, ones that highlight a particularly feature present in many other zoos very well or ones that execute very well a unique theme. Zlin is a really good zoo, but is not unique. It has a good bird collection, but not the best, it has good enclosures, but not the best, it is a bird park turned major zoo and it is set in a nice castle garden, but it is not unique in these features either.... There will be at least one zoo on this list that over 95% of the zoochatters will not have heard of and there are world famous zoos not on the list....

 

[Hvedekorn]

This thread is not necessarily about Europe's 50 best zoos (whatever best means), but more about the most unique ones, ones that highlight a particularly feature present in many other zoos very well or ones that execute very well a unique theme. Zlin is a really good zoo, but is not unique. It has a good bird collection, but not the best, it has good enclosures, but not the best, it is a bird park turned major zoo and it is set in a nice castle garden, but it is not unique in these features either.... There will be at least one zoo on this list that over 95% of the zoochatters will not have heard of and there are world famous zoos not on the list....

That makes sense. I suppose that's why you also left out Copenhagen Zoo? Copenhagen being a larger and more species-rich zoo than Odense, but also a more stereotypical zoo (with less consistency in its exhibitry quality than Odense).

 

[lintworm]

Finland - Korkeasaari Zoo Helsinki

Founded: 1889
Size: 22 hectares
Species and subspecies (including domestics):

Mammals 40
Birds 31
Reptiles & amphibians 35
Fish 18​

Only few zoos are accessed by a ferry and only very few zoos are actually located on an island. Helsinki is the most northern zoo of this top-50 and that is reflected in the animals it keeps. Apart from the inhabitants of two tropical houses, one with a rainforest and the other with a savannah theme, all animals here can cope with a Finnish winter. Boreal and mountain mammals and birds from all over the world make up the majority of the collection. The zoo makes proper use of the rugged rocky and forested terrain of the island on which it is located and especially some of the hoofstock species have spacious paddocks. A particular specialty of the zoos is cold-weather cats with plenty of enclosures for Siberian tiger, Amur leopard, Snow leopard, Lynx and Manul. Some native Finnish species like Forest reindeer and Wolverine are off-course also present, but Seals and Polar bears, maybe surprisingly, absent. But it is not all about cold-weather animals, one of the biggest rarities in the zoo is the Hoffman’s two-toed sloth. Apart from the two tropical houses there is a third house, Borealia, which non-surprisingly focuses on smaller native species. Overall not all of the enclosures are particularly noteworthy with obvious fencing, but who cares if you are on an island.

@Sun Wukong , Korkeasaari island

@Sun Wukong Alpine ibex enclosure

@Shirokuma , Borealia building

@Shirokuma , Bearded vulture aviary

Zoochat gallery:
Helsinki Zoo | ZooChat

Helsinki Zoo - Over 125 year old Zoo on an island

Zoo map:
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/...15085819/180314_kevatkartta_18_englishrus.pdf

 

[CGSwans]

but who cares if you are on an island

A man after my own heart.

 

[FunkyGibbon]

Finland - Korkeasaari Zoo Helsinki

Seals and Polar bears, maybe surprisingly, absent.

Apart from the two tropical houses there is a third house, Borealia, which non-surprisingly focuses on smaller native species.

Penguins are another species that would work so well and yet are missing.

Borealia is a really cracking, thoughtful little house which is a highlight of the zoo. It aims to show the lekking behaviour of Ruffs.

It's not a big surprise that it didn't make the cut, but out of interest how much consideration did you give to Tallinn?

 

[lintworm]

It's not a big surprise that it didn't make the cut, but out of interest how much consideration did you give to Tallinn?

Some, it was never going to get to the list, but it always hovered in the group just behind the 50 that made it. The Caprine collection is really good, but not much more extensive than Tierpark Berlin and for the rest it just seems like an Eastern Bloc zoo that found the right track....

Probably after I finish I will highlight about 10 zoos that did not make the cut, but for which a case could be made.

 

[lintworm]

France - Zoo Citadelle de Besancon

Founded: 1943
Size: 5 hectares
Species and subspecies (including domestics):

Mammals 50
Birds 27
Reptiles & amphibians 16
Fish 29​

Zoos throughout the continent have unique locations, there is however only one major zoo located in a Middle-age and UNESCO world heritage listed castle: the zoo in the citadel of Besancon. On top of a steep hill on the banks of the river Doubs lies the only medieval citadel where Gelada baboon live in the citadel moat and whose arsenal is now an aquarium. Apart from the aquarium the zoological collection consists of three parts. Upstairs from the aquarium is an extensive insectarium, with about 40 species of invertebrates and several amphibians and reptiles. Then there is the Noctarium which is a small nocturnal house with only French species, such as Edible dormouse, European hedgehog,Yellow-necked field mouse and Fire salamander. Then there is the main zoo part which is about 5000 square meters and houses about 20 primate species, 20 bird species, a few ungulates and three carnivores: Asiatic lion, Siberian tiger and Yellow mongoose. Most of the species kept here are part of European breeding programs and several rarities are held such as Crowned sifaka, Greater bamboo lemur and Francois langur. Besancon was also the first European zoo in recent times to keep Yellow-footed rock wallaby and still has a successful breeding group of them. As space is limited, most enclosures are cages and most are not very spacious, though none are tiny either. Apart from the zoological collection the citadel also has a museum about the region and on resistance in World War II. All in all this is not a zoo you visit for the enclosures, but for the integration of an historic site with a zoological collection. The views from the ramparts on the surrounding countryside are also fantastic.

@lintworm , Gelada enclosure in the moat

@lintworm , Zoo overview

@lintworm , Noctarium

@lintworm , Aquarium

Zoochat gallery
Citadelle de Besançon | ZooChat

www.citadelle.com

 

[Tim May]

Besancon was also the first European zoo to keep Yellow-footed rock wallaby...

This is an excellent thread that I am enjoying very much and Besancon seems a fascinating zoo.

However, sorry to be pedantic, but Besancon wasn't the first zoo in Europe to keep yellow-footed rock wallaby; the species bred regularly in London Zoo during Queen Victoria's reign, many decades before Besancon opened.

 

[lintworm]

This is a excellant thread that I am enjoying very much and Besancon seems a fascinating zoo.

However, sorry to be pedantic, but Besancon wasn't the first zoo in Europe to keep yellow-footed rock wallaby; the species bred regularly in London Zoo during Queen Victoria's reign, many decades before Besancon opened.

You are of-course correct, I changed it to recent times as they were the first 10 years ago to import this species from the US.

 

[Okapipako]

As something of a zoo novice who's never even been outside the Western Hemisphere, I'm loving this thread. Europe's zoos are like another world to me. I've spent hours looking through the galleries on here and fantasizing

This thread is a perfect proper introduction to them for me. Thank you for writing about them and I'm excited for the rest of your list!

(On the topic of your last post, a zoo built around medieval castle ruins is probably in at least the top five coolest things I've ever seen)

 

[sooty mangabey]

Zoos throughout the continent have unique locations, there is however only one major zoo located in a Middle-age and UNESCO world heritage listed castle: the zoo in the citadel of Besancon.

I wasn't quite sure what constituted a UNESCO World Heritage location, so I looked this up - and, unless I am missing it (wholly possible) Besancon isn't thus listed.

This then raises the questions of zoos - UNESCO listed or otherwise - located in castles. Dudley is the obvious one - and an excellent castle it is too. Slightly more modern is the Isle of Wight zoo's location, in a fort built in the 1860s to guard against invasion from France. The frankly fairly awful Riber Castle Zoo, in Derbyshire, was located in and around a sort of castle - although in this case it was more of a house-that-looked-slightly-castle-like, rather than a proper place of defence. Of these, only Dudley could have any claim at all to being described as "major".

One place that is definitely listed on the UNESCO register is the Tower of London, although, sadly, the menagerie here was dissolved in 1835.

 

[CGSwans]

One place that is definitely listed on the UNESCO register is the Tower of London, although, sadly, the menagerie here was dissolved in 1835.

I dunno about ‘sadly’.