Best Exhibit Zones Dedicated to Geographical Area?

[Emanuel Theodorus]

So, Zoochatters, in your opinion, which zoos have best zones dedicated for these geographical area below?
1. North America

2. South America

3. Africa

4. Asia

5. Europe

6. Australia

7. Arctic/Antarctica

 

[Pleistohorse]

1. Northwest Trek

5. Wildparks Gangelt and Hanau

 

[birdsandbats]

Of the ones I have seen:

1. Minnesota Trail - Minnesota Zoo

2. Amazon Rising - Shedd Aquarium

3. Wild Africa - Binder Park Zoo

4. Asia Quest - Columbus Zoo

5. I've never seen a European complex...

6. Australia (including Roadhouse) - Columbus Zoo

7. Polar Frontier - Columbus Zoo

Honorable Mentions:

For #1, Wildlife Habi-Trek at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and North America at Columbus Zoo, as well as the entirety of Wildwood Zoo.

For #3, Habitat Africa! at Brookfield Zoo and Heart of Africa and Congo Expedition at Columbus Zoo

For #4, Russia's Grizzly Coast at Minnesota Zoo.

For #7, Arctic Passage at Henry Vilas Zoo, Penguin and Puffin Coast at Saint Louis Zoo, and Polar Play Zone at Shedd Aquarium

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

5. I've never seen a European complex...

Come to think about it, seems a zone dedicated to European Animals are rather rare in zoos.

 

[amur leopard]

So, Zoochatters, in your opinion, which zoos have best zones dedicated for these geographical area below?
1. North America

2. South America

3. Africa

4. Asia

5. Europe

6. Australia

7. Arctic/Antarctica

1. Northwest Trek
2. Vincennes/Chester/LA
3. Bioparc Valencia
4. Rotterdam
5. Alpenzoo Innsbruck
6. Taronga/Perth
7. Hannover?

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

So, I've never been to these zoos, but judging by the pictures and what the people said, I think these might be a contender:
2: Jacksonville,
3: DAK, Columbus, Bronx, Cincinnati, Dallas
4: Knoxville, National Zoo, Bronx, DAK
7: Detroit, Louisville

 

[amur leopard]

So, I've never been to these zoos, but judging by the pictures and what the people said, I think these might be a contender:
2: Jacksonville,
3: DAK, Columbus, Bronx, Cincinnati, Dallas
4: Knoxville, National Zoo, Bronx, DAK
7: Detroit, Louisville

2. Jacksonville is superb
3. Disney has a good African area but not with great species variety. I'm pretty sure Valencia or Dvur Kralove have got to take theis one given they are literally based on Africa uniquely. Bronx is mentioned I'm assuming because of CGF, but the rest of the African exhibits aren't very impressive I believe. Cincinnati would be a contender were Valencia not to exist
4. Don't think the National zoo can really compete with some of the European zoos' representations. For example Rotterdam, Beauval, Magdeburg, Leipzig and Chester all have very good Asian areas, especially the first 3. Leipzig has Chinese pangolins so that automatically took it into the top 5
7. Agreed that Detroit is probably the best

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

2. Jacksonville is superb
3. Disney has a good African area but not with great species variety. I'm pretty sure Valencia or Dvur Kralove have got to take theis one given they are literally based on Africa uniquely. Bronx is mentioned I'm assuming because of CGF, but the rest of the African exhibits aren't very impressive I believe. Cincinnati would be a contender were Valencia not to exist
4. Don't think the National zoo can really compete with some of the European zoos' representations. For example Rotterdam, Beauval, Magdeburg, Leipzig and Chester all have very good Asian areas, especially the first 3. Leipzig has Chinese pangolins so that automatically took it into the top 5
7. Agreed that Detroit is probably the best

Really? I mean, Disney has like tons of animals on top of my head when I think about Africa. And the fact that they dedicate over 110 acres to their animals in Kilimanjaro Safaris says a lot. I'm kinda wondering how Valencia and Dvur Kralove could possibly overtop Disney? And yes, I meant Congo Gorilla Forest as for Bronx.

 

[amur leopard]

Really? I mean, Disney has like tons of animals on top of my head when I think about Africa. And the fact that they dedicate over 110 acres to their animals in Kilimanjaro Safaris says a lot. I'm kinda wondering how Valencia and Dvur Kralove could possibly overtop Disney? And yes, I meant Congo Gorilla Forest as for Bronx.

Have you been to Valencia? The whole zoo is based on Africa...
DAK has 27 African mammal species - Valencia has 51 species and Dvur Kralove has 91 species. Valencia has its species in IMO better enclosures than anything at Disney - here are a few pics:

Chimps:

Drill, Sitatunga and Pygmy hippo:

African plains exhibit:

Banded mongoose exhibit:

Rhino, ostrich, zebra exhibit:

 

[savetherhino]

Arctic Ring of Life at Detroit looks impressive

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

Have you been to Valencia? The whole zoo is based on Africa...
DAK has 27 African mammal species - Valencia has 51 species and Dvur Kralove has 91 species. Valencia has its species in IMO better enclosures than anything at Disney - here are a few pics:

Chimps:

Drill, Sitatunga and Pygmy hippo:

African plains exhibit:

Banded mongoose exhibit:

Rhino, ostrich, zebra exhibit:

Hot damn! Guess I should've put a bit more research on that zoo. It looks gorgeous! I kinda wonder how the Nile Hippo and African Elephant exhibit looks like though. And, nope. never really been there, only heard its some of the best zoos in Europe.

 

[amur leopard]

Nile hippo:

African elephant:

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

Nile hippo:

African elephant:

That's probably hands down the best exhibits I've ever seen! Say, do they have African Leopard or Cape Buffalo? That would be a dream african zoo if they have both!

 

[amur leopard]

That's probably hands down the best exhibits I've ever seen! Say, do they have African Leopard or Cape Buffalo? That would be a dream african zoo if they have both!

They have Sri lankan leopards acting as Africans for the purposes of conservation, and Forest buffalos.

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

They have Sri lankan leopards acting as Africans for the purposes of conservation, and Forest buffalos.

That's a dream african zoo right there! If I could visit Spain, this is probably on my top of bucket list.

 

[Penshet]

And rightfully so, since it is one of the best zoos Spain has to offer. However, I don't think that it's perfect, or even the greatest representation of Africa around in European zoos. A few enclosures are too small (that Nile hippo enclosure is awful for three hippos, the lions sit around in a fairly small enclosure as well and I suspect the elephant enclosure looks a lot bigger than it actually is), and many enclosures are almost completely devoid of shade - worst offenders here are the gorilla and chimp enclosures, and the main savannah.

There are areas that are great though. The Malagasy part is superb, the combination exhibit of pygmy hippos, drills, pelicans etc is unique and seems to do pretty well, and their flight show is magnificent as well. The African vibe is also very much present, but in my opinion often seemed fake and over the top.

Anyway my list, only counting zoos I've visited
1. Burgers' Desert
2. Burgers' Mangrove
3. Congo Gorilla Forest at Bronx
4. Rainforest House at Tiergarten Schönbrunn
5. European Vivarium at Paris Zoological Park
6. Probably Budapests Australian area? Even though the theming doesn't immediately evoke Australia, they probably have the most comprehensive Australian collection in Europe.
7. Eismeer at Tierpark Hagenbeck

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Restricting myself to collections I have visited.

1. North America - Burgers' Desert or Plzen's North American Zone

2. South America - the loose "South American Zone" at Chester

3. Africa - the entirety of Dvur Kralove

4. Asia - Islands at Chester

5. Europe - Alpenzoo Innsbruck or Plzen's European Zone.

6. Australia - (I'll have to think about this one)

7. Arctic/Antarctica - Eismeer at Tierpark Hagenbeck

Hot damn! Guess I should've put a bit more research on that zoo. It looks gorgeous! I kinda wonder how the Nile Hippo and African Elephant exhibit looks like though. And, nope. never really been there, only heard its some of the best zoos in Europe.

And rightfully so, since it is one of the best zoos Spain has to offer. However, I don't think that it's perfect, or even the greatest representation of Africa around in European zoos. A few enclosures are too small (that Nile hippo enclosure is awful for three hippos, the lions sit around in a fairly small enclosure as well and I suspect the elephant enclosure looks a lot bigger than it actually is), and many enclosures are almost completely devoid of shade - worst offenders here are the gorilla and chimp enclosures, and the main savannah.

It's nowhere as good as it looks, or as good as it should be given the entire zoo is a new build and therefore they don't have the justification of fitting into older structures - however, it *is* one of the best collections in the Iberian Peninsula, and probably the only example of the "ridiculously overthemed" flavour of zoo which I have found myself truly enjoying. The only reason I didn't list it above is that Dvur is just that much better (and it isn't painfully overthemed either).

Even though the theming doesn't immediately evoke Australia, they probably have the most comprehensive Australian collection in Europe.

I'll have to root out the conversation, but I think when the topic arose once it turned out to be in 3rd or 4th place actually

 

[Penshet]

I agree completely with you TLD, there is no excuse for the lower-standard enclosures in Valencia. I've never been to Dvur so I can't compare really.
The theming at the bioparc is weird. They want to try to replicate Africa, but on the other hand they have perfectly manicured lawns.

I'd love to read that discussion! Budapest definitely is the biggest Australian collection I've visited, and I'd be interested to know which ones would be bigger.

 

[birdsandbats]

Arctic Ring of Life at Detroit looks impressive

Not when you don't see a bear.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I'd love to read that discussion! Budapest definitely is the biggest Australian collection I've visited, and I'd be interested to know which ones would be bigger.

Can't find it at present, but running through various collections in my head I've come up with the following in terms of Australian and/or New Guinean mammals:

Hamerton - 15 taxa
Plzen - 15 taxa
Jihlava - 11 taxa
Prague - 10 taxa
Budapest - 10 taxa
Duisburg - 9 taxa
Frankfurt - 7 taxa