Top 5 I don't think so, but it'd be in my top 10 for the US. I was fairly impressed as a whole when I visited.
'Big 5'
- Thread starter CMP
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- largest zoo zoos
Top 5 I don't think so, but it'd be in my top 10 for the US. I was fairly impressed as a whole when I visited.
International Crane Foundation is one that comes to mind in the state of Wisconsin.
Didn't you already refer to icf already?
It looks quite nice from what I've seen, I just don't think I've ever heard someone put it in their top 5 with the major places.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Bear in mind I've never actually visited a zoo in the USA so I'm just basing my assessment (perhaps somewhat superficially) on what I've seen in pictures in the gallery.
From what I've seen in pictures Woodland Park Zoo looks like quite an impressive zoo in terms of how naturalistic the enclosures are and how they are landscaped etc.
Many of the exhibits are wonderfully naturalistic, and have held up pretty well. The orangutan exhibit in particular is fabulous with all the mature trees. The superb Humboldt Penguin habitat is also noteworthy, as is the lush Jaguar exhibit. The zoo hasn't really done any major projects lately though, other than adding to the Asian themed area. Their reptile building is still closed afaik as well. The reptile building isn't really their fault, given the fire in the basement a few years ago, but they haven't done anything with it since that I've heard. Many of their reptiles have gone elsewhere now, which is a shame as it was a pretty good collection before that. I've heard they're planning some updates and refreshes in the North American section, which is already pretty good so that is something to watch.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Well some of the enclosures look absolutely incredible.
From what I've seen in pictures some that come to mind would be the Malayan tapir, gorilla , Visayan warty pig, sarus cranes etc.
Really beautifully planted and landscaped.
I don’t know enough about it. Do they have anything particularly rare?
I would argue the big 5 for the 'DACH' region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) currently are:
(in no particular order)
Zoo Berlin
Leipzig
Cologne
Zurich
Vienna
(in no particular order)
Zoo Berlin
Leipzig
Cologne
Zurich
Vienna
I thought I would add my opinion for the 'BIG 5' in Australasia:
(In no particular order)
1. Taronga Zoo
2. Melbourne Zoo
3. Australia Zoo
4. Auckland Zoo
5. Adelaide Zoo
If we judged the BIG 5 by the being the post popular; the worldwide list would definitely consist of:
San Deigo Zoo
Singapore Zoo
London Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Chester Zoo
Arguably, Zoo Berlin or Ohama could feature as well.
(In no particular order)
1. Taronga Zoo
2. Melbourne Zoo
3. Australia Zoo
4. Auckland Zoo
5. Adelaide Zoo
If we judged the BIG 5 by the being the post popular; the worldwide list would definitely consist of:
San Deigo Zoo
Singapore Zoo
London Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Chester Zoo
Arguably, Zoo Berlin or Ohama could feature as well.
It is US’s second largest bird park. And the world’s largest as a waterfowl park.
They have Philippine duck (only kept in 4 AZA zoos). Otherwise idk about rarities.
Strix
Well-Known Member
Definitely Berlin over London. London has a large collection of smaller animals, a couple of good exhibits and a long history but not much else going for it.
If we are going popularity wise, than it would be London; but I do agree, Berlin is the better ‘zoo’.
I'm pretty sure Berlin is more 'Big' than London, in that it is more deserving of the Big 5 title. Berlin also has more than 3 times the attendance numbers, so I would argue it also beats London popularity wise.
Fair point, but if someone overseas, say in the US, was asked to name 5 zoos; I’m quite certain London would be one of them. It has more media popularity compared to Berlin, which would only contribute to the public knowing more about London. San Diego is a zoo that excels at this; always being in the media spotlight somehow.
My list is formulated from the 266 Zoos in 37 countries that I have actually visited. There are some major zoos I've yet to visit, as well as some that sorely need a follow up which I mention below.
Top 5 Worldwide:
1. Berlin Zoo
2. San Diego Zoo
3. Singapore Zoo
4. Tierpark Berlin
5. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Top 5 USA:
1. San Diego Zoo
2. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
3. San Diego Zoo's Safari Park
4. Bronx Zoo
5. Columbus Zoo
Top 5 Latin America:
1. Chapultepec Zoo
2. São Paulo Zoo
3. Huachipa Zoo
4. Cali Zoo
5. Temaikèn
Top 5 Europe:
1. Berlin Zoo
2. Tierpark Berlin
3. Prague Zoo
4. Burger's Zoo
5. Plzen Zoo
Top 5 Australia:
1. Taronga Zoo Sydney
2. Australia Zoo
3. Perth Zoo
4. Healesville Sanctuary
5. Territory Wildlife Park
To be fair my lists are largely based on mammal collection and then exhibitry to a lesser extent.
Top 5 I've never visited:
1. Pairi Daiza
2. Schönbrunn Zoo
3. Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden
4. Seoul Grand Park Zoo
5. Singapore River Safari Singapore
Open to other suggestions here- I can only go off what I've heard. Usually I pick zoos based on them having a mammal species I've never photographed, but I would certainly go out of my way to visit an awesome zoo overall as well.
Top 5 in need of revisit:
1. Chester Zoo (rushed visit focusing on rare behind the scenes, before rushing back to London for a friend's bachelor party.)
2. St. Louis Zoo (only 1 winter visit back in 2006.)
3. Zurich Zoo (rushed visit back in 2010 after a morning at Mulhouse Zoo. 0-3 on my targets here. The Greater Dwarf Lemur was kept in a way that made viewing impossible- small nocturnal animal kept in a gigantic free-ranging Madagascar building. Barely missed the building closure for Plains viscacha. Can't remember the third haha.)
4. Zoo Leipzig (Visited once back in 2010 before Gondwanaland was completed.)
5. Dallas Zoo (Last visited in early 1990s)
Top 5 Worldwide:
1. Berlin Zoo
2. San Diego Zoo
3. Singapore Zoo
4. Tierpark Berlin
5. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Top 5 USA:
1. San Diego Zoo
2. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
3. San Diego Zoo's Safari Park
4. Bronx Zoo
5. Columbus Zoo
Top 5 Latin America:
1. Chapultepec Zoo
2. São Paulo Zoo
3. Huachipa Zoo
4. Cali Zoo
5. Temaikèn
Top 5 Europe:
1. Berlin Zoo
2. Tierpark Berlin
3. Prague Zoo
4. Burger's Zoo
5. Plzen Zoo
Top 5 Australia:
1. Taronga Zoo Sydney
2. Australia Zoo
3. Perth Zoo
4. Healesville Sanctuary
5. Territory Wildlife Park
To be fair my lists are largely based on mammal collection and then exhibitry to a lesser extent.
Top 5 I've never visited:
1. Pairi Daiza
2. Schönbrunn Zoo
3. Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden
4. Seoul Grand Park Zoo
5. Singapore River Safari Singapore
Open to other suggestions here- I can only go off what I've heard. Usually I pick zoos based on them having a mammal species I've never photographed, but I would certainly go out of my way to visit an awesome zoo overall as well.
Top 5 in need of revisit:
1. Chester Zoo (rushed visit focusing on rare behind the scenes, before rushing back to London for a friend's bachelor party.)
2. St. Louis Zoo (only 1 winter visit back in 2006.)
3. Zurich Zoo (rushed visit back in 2010 after a morning at Mulhouse Zoo. 0-3 on my targets here. The Greater Dwarf Lemur was kept in a way that made viewing impossible- small nocturnal animal kept in a gigantic free-ranging Madagascar building. Barely missed the building closure for Plains viscacha. Can't remember the third haha.)
4. Zoo Leipzig (Visited once back in 2010 before Gondwanaland was completed.)
5. Dallas Zoo (Last visited in early 1990s)
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Top 5 19th Century City Zoos:
1. Schönbrunn Vienna
2. Antwerp Zoo
3. Jardin des Plantes Paris
4. Artis Amsterdam
5. Allatkert Budapest
The '19th c city zoos' category may not be well known outside Europe, but it is certainly throughout zoo lovers in Europe. Characteristic are historical buildings, beautifull (formal) gardens, statues, old trees, and a great variety in exhibits & collections.
1. Schönbrunn Vienna
2. Antwerp Zoo
3. Jardin des Plantes Paris
4. Artis Amsterdam
5. Allatkert Budapest
The '19th c city zoos' category may not be well known outside Europe, but it is certainly throughout zoo lovers in Europe. Characteristic are historical buildings, beautifull (formal) gardens, statues, old trees, and a great variety in exhibits & collections.
Well, you're too late for the lemur now....