There are very few marine invertebrates on that list, and in one of the later posts on the thread it is specifically said that the list was made using only what was listed on the signage. So it will not be even nearly a complete list.
Best collections in zoos
- Thread starter Luke da Zoo nerd
- Start date
Not most, but many.
Yes, I'm sure the list would be increased significantly with all the corals and aquatic snails.
Luke da Zoo nerd
Well-Known Member
I don't believe we've talked about the San Diego zoo's collection. The zoos collection, (In my opinion) has gone less interesting in the past years. Think:They lost there panda's, and their Sumatran rhino's, and more through the years. Now, I am not saying the San diego zoo's collection is lacking. In fact, It's known for the size and impressive status of their collection. But I just think the SDZ used to have a better collection that it has now.
Best wishes,
Luke
Best wishes,
Luke
That is true of several zoos, where my first visit was the most interesting and where the collections have becoming smaller, often losing some of the more interesting species.
I'd say this is probably the rule more than the exception, at least when it comes to major zoos. Of all the major players in the US, the one zoo that had been consistently building its collection in recent times was Omaha, and even they have turned a corner where in the last couple years the collection is shrinking again as they decommission some of their more cringe-inducing exhibits.
I don’t think San Diego’s ever had Sumatran Rhinos, I believe you’re thinking of the L.A Zoo, which held Sumatran’s recently. Personally Pandas made the collection less interesting, although the zoos collection has decreased over the years.
I think the Minnesota Zoo is in the 500 species club as well (lots of fish). Building off of the list put together by @lintworm , I thought I'd attempt to categorize some of the top "collection zoos" in the US. I'm trying not to go strictly by the indicated species numbers due to the massive differences in off-show numbers and because some types of exhibits might give different perceptions. For example vivaria in a reptile house often seem to do a better job of featuring reptiles than do vivaria added as accents in an elephant barn. Feel free to add your thoughts.
The big four: collections that stack up against the best in the world and are good/great in several categories.
Other notably diverse general collections: high diversity and well-rounded, but not quite to the level of the four above (even though some may have more species than ones listed above).
Formerly top tier collections: exhibit redevelopments and closures have seen these zoos reduce collections that were comparable to those above until recently. Note that this isn't necessarily a bad thing when coupled with improvements to spaces for animals.
Notable in one broad category: I'd argue that the above groups of zoos include the clear top zoos for primates, carnivores, small mammals, birds, and insects, but in a few categories other zoos not already listed are at or near the top of the heap.
Top aquarim collections:
Really good zoos not listed above:
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Columbus, Detroit, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Sedgewick County, and Woodland Park are all top shelf zoos that fall more into the category of "exhibit zoos".
The big four: collections that stack up against the best in the world and are good/great in several categories.
- Bronx. Best small mammal zoo in the US, top tier for ungulates and birds. Biggest collection hole is marine life, but a smattering of freshwater aquaria ensure that fish are represented.
- Omaha. Most well-rounded in US, with best marine collection of any standard zoo. Worst category might be birds, but even there the collection is very good, just doesn't get the featured treatment that everything else gets and is harder to appreciate because many species are free ranging in the big halls.
- San Diego Zoo. In the conversation as best zoo in US for primates, birds, and reptiles, and has excellent carnivore and ungulate collections as well. Fish are the big weakness, but perhaps the new Children's Zoo will help rectify that when it opens.
- St. Louis. Perhaps best in class for insects. Also very good in general for mammals, birds, and herps. Like Bronx and SD, not much in the way of fishes.
Other notably diverse general collections: high diversity and well-rounded, but not quite to the level of the four above (even though some may have more species than ones listed above).
- Brookfield. Good balance, with every taxonomic group receiving some representation. Insects don't get a feature exhibit but are fit in here and there.
- Cincinnati. Vies with St. Louis for top insect zoo, also very good for most mammals and birds.
- Houston. Massive bird collection, pretty good collection of everything else too.
- Memphis. Small mammals and carnivores stand out.
- San Antonio. See Houston.
- Toledo. Surprisingly good for small things.
Formerly top tier collections: exhibit redevelopments and closures have seen these zoos reduce collections that were comparable to those above until recently. Note that this isn't necessarily a bad thing when coupled with improvements to spaces for animals.
- Cleveland. Most notable is the scaling back of the number of species held in the Primate/Cat/Aquatics building. The elephant and tiger redevelopments also utilized space that formerly went to other species.
- Denver. Redevelopment took out a big chunk of the formerly massive hoofstock collection, and now the bird house has just closed.
- Lincoln Park. Lion house just closed for redevelopment, and the hoofstock areas have experienced general depopulation over time.
- Milwaukee. Small mammal house holds fewer species than it once did, and elephant redevelopment displaced a couple of exhibit areas.
- National. Lost a big chunk of the large mammal collection when Asia Trail was developed, and the invertebrate house closure hurt the diversity on display as well.
- Philadelphia. Has cut perhaps a third of the mammal species in the past decade.
Notable in one broad category: I'd argue that the above groups of zoos include the clear top zoos for primates, carnivores, small mammals, birds, and insects, but in a few categories other zoos not already listed are at or near the top of the heap.
- Ungulates - SDZ Safari Park; Miami
- Herps - Atlanta; Fort Worth; Los Angeles
- Aquatics (in a zoo) - Pittsburgh
Top aquarim collections:
- Dallas World Aquarium. OK, more of a zoo than aquarium but great bird collection either way.
- Georgia. Best collection for star power (big sharks, marine mamamls, etc.).
- Monterey. Tops for open ocean and temperate seas.
- Shedd. Clear number one for overall scope and diversity, covers everything well (freshwater and marine, tropical and temperate, exhibits 4 marine mammal species too).
- Steinhart (Cal Academy). Best explicitly educational collection.
- Tennessee. Unparalleled for freshwater.
- Baltimore and New England have very strong general collections as well.
Really good zoos not listed above:
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Columbus, Detroit, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Sedgewick County, and Woodland Park are all top shelf zoos that fall more into the category of "exhibit zoos".
San Diego definitely had Sumatran rhinos.
Rookmaaker (1998) lists four specimens in San Diego:-
- "Barakas" female 25 Nov 1988 - 22 Feb 1995
- "Ipuh" male 10 Apr 1991 - 24 Oct 1991
- "Rami" female 23 Nov 1991 - 25 May 1992
- "Tanjung" male 30 Aug 1992 - 26 Feb 1995
Minnesota should indeed be there, 524 species are listed, with fish taking up 240 species from the total.
Similarly, Plzen is one of the few zoos that has a far larger collection than it did a decade ago.
Luke da Zoo nerd
Well-Known Member
Indeed. I have never been to Plzen, but I have read a lot of articles and viewed it's website to know that The Plzen zoo has an astoundingly rare collection.
That's interesting, I'd never heard of San Diego having Sumatrans before. Do you happen to know where in the zoo they were exhibited?
Luke da Zoo nerd
Well-Known Member
Looking at an old map of the zoo from the 1998, it looks like they were kept where the giraffes are kept now, or in the next exhibit over in the urban jungle loop.
Most Species Rich Zoos - Google My Maps I created a map listing out all of the most species rich zoos, using much of what has been said in this forum.
Thank you, yes, I checked and fixed it. It appears that they have recently grown their collection, is this true and why?
