It's owned by Story Land, so I'm not super surprised by this.
What is the worst state for zoos? U.S.A edition.
It's owned by Story Land, so I'm not super surprised by this.
Animallover360
Well-Known Member
Haha lol that’s what I was thinking
I really can't comment on this aquarium since I've never been, but I would say that one bad institution should not make a state the worst for zoos- especially when many others have more bad institutions. The only other institution I'm aware of in NH is Squam Lakes, which is an incredible rehabilitation institution that is AZA-accredited and has some of the best exhibits I've seen for native species. I'd argue that the benefits of the incredible Squam Lakes Natural Science Center cancels out this Living Shores Aquarium.
Animallover360
Well-Known Member
I agree. I went to Squam Lake Science Center last summer, and the animals all had great, natural enclosures.
In addition to Squam Lakes, there's:
Charmingfare Farm
Clark's Trading Post
Explore the Ocean World Oceanarium
Miller's Wildlife
Polar Caves Park
Santa's Village
Seacoast Science Center
Wildlife Encounters Ecology Center & Farm School
Several of those only hold one species, but that's still more than VT, WY, and DE have, putting NH more in the West Virginia, Alaska, and Montana range.
I haven't heard of most of these, but have been to three. Clark's Trading Post and Santa's Village of course being two amusement parks with a single species, not what I would even consider a zoo. Santa's Village has perfectly acceptable care and exhibit quality for their reindeer, while Clark's is a mixed bag. I've also been to Polar Caves, which I guess can qualify as a zoo of sorts. All they have is deer and some standard birds (waterfowl, pheasants) and everything is rather standard, acceptable exhibit quality.
There is a place named Prehistorix Reptile Zoo in Exeter, New Hampshire.
It closed.
There's a new place in New Hampshire, Wildlife Encounters Ecology & Wellness Center. Home - Wildlife Encounters - Wildlife Ecology & Farm School
biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
Somewhat surprised that South Carolina was never brought up in this thread. Their five AZA facilities are all at least adequate, but only strike me as decent at best (note that I haven’t visited Ripley's Aquarium in 15 or more years, but have been to the other four at least once in the past year). But the bigger issue with SC is that its non-AZA zoos seem to be in a league of their own. Both Hollywild Animal Park and Waccatee Zoo seem to have nationwide “renown” for their absolutely abysmal quality and utter lack of animal care. There’s tons of documentation online for how truly gross these two places are. It’s hard to imagine there’s another state with so few zoos overall that manages to have two that are this terrible.
Five AZA facilities is a pretty large amount, even if they're all smaller. Plenty of states have a similar ratio of awful zoos, too, unfortunately
I actually visited Ripley’s in august. It wasn’t the worst place I’ve been to, but that’s not saying much when you compare it to some of the other places I’ve been lol. It was the most touristy facility I’ve been to, the whole place was packed while I was there, but I was kinda expecting that.
SusScrofa
Well-Known Member
The 5 worst states imo:
5. Arkansas
#33 in state population, but a very small amount of zoological facilities by my count. Little Rock is the only AZA-accredited facility but besides for that one, nothing else stands out. There's a handful of nature centers and a sanctuary for big cats and thats pretty much it. There used to be both an aquarium and safari park, but they recently closed down and were pretty poorly-reviewed by @snowleopard. Kansas and Nebraska have a smaller population and have far more and better zoological institutions, including several of better quality, within the state.
4. West Virginia
#39 in state population. Has two non-AZA zoos in Hovatter's & Oglebay; both look small but the latter does seem alright. Also has a pretty big wildlife center with a host of native USA animals kept.
EDIT: Oglebay is AZA-accredited.
3. New Hampshire
#41 in state population. The non-AZA Living Shores Aquarium is the only official zoo/aquarium in the state. But they do have the decent-looking Squam Lakes Science Center with many native-US animals. Also some overpriced private-tour facilities and roadside-level attractions. Pretty expensive places as well.
2. Vermont
#49 in state population. There is no true zoo or aquarium, with the closest thing to qualify being the ECHO Leahy Center, a science museum with some live herps and fish. I'd at least expect the state with the most hippies to have some some sort of wild animal sanctuary, but couldn't even find any, only domestics. Between it and New Hampshire, northern New England looks like it could use a small, true zoo.
1. Wyoming
#50 in state population. Only thing resembling a zoological institution is the Teton Raptor Center. $30 for a private tour to see a few native BOPs. I doubt Wyoming could support a true zoo with its tiny population and sparseness. To its credit, there are no crappy roadsides. But as a zoo enthusiast, I can't not put in last.
Other honorable mentions: Maine, Nevada, Delaware
5. Arkansas
#33 in state population, but a very small amount of zoological facilities by my count. Little Rock is the only AZA-accredited facility but besides for that one, nothing else stands out. There's a handful of nature centers and a sanctuary for big cats and thats pretty much it. There used to be both an aquarium and safari park, but they recently closed down and were pretty poorly-reviewed by @snowleopard. Kansas and Nebraska have a smaller population and have far more and better zoological institutions, including several of better quality, within the state.
4. West Virginia
#39 in state population. Has two non-AZA zoos in Hovatter's & Oglebay; both look small but the latter does seem alright. Also has a pretty big wildlife center with a host of native USA animals kept.
EDIT: Oglebay is AZA-accredited.
3. New Hampshire
#41 in state population. The non-AZA Living Shores Aquarium is the only official zoo/aquarium in the state. But they do have the decent-looking Squam Lakes Science Center with many native-US animals. Also some overpriced private-tour facilities and roadside-level attractions. Pretty expensive places as well.
2. Vermont
#49 in state population. There is no true zoo or aquarium, with the closest thing to qualify being the ECHO Leahy Center, a science museum with some live herps and fish. I'd at least expect the state with the most hippies to have some some sort of wild animal sanctuary, but couldn't even find any, only domestics. Between it and New Hampshire, northern New England looks like it could use a small, true zoo.
1. Wyoming
#50 in state population. Only thing resembling a zoological institution is the Teton Raptor Center. $30 for a private tour to see a few native BOPs. I doubt Wyoming could support a true zoo with its tiny population and sparseness. To its credit, there are no crappy roadsides. But as a zoo enthusiast, I can't not put in last.
Other honorable mentions: Maine, Nevada, Delaware
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Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
Oglebay's is an AZA member
SusScrofa
Well-Known Member
Oh, was there accreditation recent? I could of sworn I heard they weren't AZA. Post has been edited.Oglebay is AZA accredited, that's why it looks decent.
Given they're due for reaccreditation in 2024, no it's not new. I think they've been AZA for awhile.
A few things about this:
1. "Northern New England" isn't really a geographic location that holds much value when looking at human-centric things. There is no East-West Road cutting from Maine to Vermont, so it's not really something that "a zoo in VT would attract people from NH" or vice versa. In fact, for most of NH, it'd be much easier for someone to visit one of the ZooNewEngland facilities in Boston than go to VT for a zoo.
2. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a zoo. It's AZA accredited, and has a collection that very much screams zoo. Sure, it focuses on native species and has a lot of non-releasable rehab animals, but the collection includes black bears, Cougar, river Otters, white-tailed deer, etc. And, I'd argue it's more than decent, but a truly top-tier facility as far as New England Zoos go.
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
Wheeling has been AZA for a long time. In fact, the Oglebay resort is where AZA holds many of its professional development classes, and has for decades