Europe's 100 must see exhibits

[Jurek7]

I wonder if the list will include giant mixed ungulate paddock at Askanya Nova, which at approximately 3 x 2 km is the largest zoo exhibit worldwide? It looks like there is not even a good photo of it.

BTW, regarding the current war in Ukraine, Askanya Nova seems to be currently invaded by Russia.

About okapis at Doue:
I feel this zoo has really many exhibits which could make it to the 100 must sees, both in design and originality. Huge aviaries, black rhino area, but also e.g. lions, a forested island for spider monkeys with fake lianas, and how often do you see zebras hiding under a rock arch?

About the vulture aviary in Berlin Tierpark:
It was certainly impressive 50 years ago but today there are many much better aviaries. Perhaps it has a sentimental value? It has too heavy pylons and net structure, rock backdrop is also looming and ugly, and is not walkthrough.

Les Aigles du Léman in Sciez, France has at least 3 huge raptor aviaries, each one looks better than Berlin Tierpark. There is one with ospreys and smaller eagles, which is walkthru and has a large pond and a cafe inside, and one for white-tailed and related eagles. Bird park in Villars-les-Dombes, too, has several better aviaries, especially the gigantic African aviary holding everything from vultures through marabous to lapwings. I think there could be more better aviaries in smaller zoos and bird parks throughout Europe. It looks like in general, smaller wildlife parks outside cities are best for setting a large aviary.

In larger zoos, Blijdorp vulture aviary is bigger and higher than Berlin Tierpark and walktrough, too. Prague also has some very big aviaries built along its natural cliff. Then there is Doue, and there is a very tall vulture aviary in one of English safari parks. And Antwerp joined the league with its bird and buffalo aviary.

 

[lintworm]

I wonder if the list will include giant mixed ungulate paddock at Askanya Nova, which at approximately 3 x 2 km is the largest zoo exhibit worldwide? It looks like there is not even a good photo of it.

I did not include it, a decision made easier with the current war. I do have some trouble to see it as a zoo enclosure, though by definition it is.

About the vulture aviary in Berlin Tierpark:
It was certainly impressive 50 years ago but today there are many much better aviaries. Perhaps it has a sentimental value? It has too heavy pylons and net structure, rock backdrop is also looming and ugly, and is not walkthrough.

Les Aigles du Léman in Sciez, France has at least 3 huge raptor aviaries, each one looks better than Berlin Tierpark. There is one with ospreys and smaller eagles, which is walkthru and has a large pond and a cafe inside, and one for white-tailed and related eagles. Bird park in Villars-les-Dombes, too, has several better aviaries, especially the gigantic African aviary holding everything from vultures through marabous to lapwings. I think there could be more better aviaries in smaller zoos and bird parks throughout Europe. It looks like in general, smaller wildlife parks outside cities are best for setting a large aviary.

In larger zoos, Blijdorp vulture aviary is bigger and higher than Berlin Tierpark and walktrough, too. Prague also has some very big aviaries built along its natural cliff. Then there is Doue, and there is a very tall vulture aviary in one of English safari parks. And Antwerp joined the league with its bird and buffalo aviary.

This thread was never about showing the "best" enclosures and this most certainly won't be the last large aviary to be included.

As far as bird of prey aviaries are concerned, I definitely think TP Berlin belongs there. I am personally a fan of the cliff background and I think the imposing look is one of the best examples that shows how the East wanted to impress the West in the zoo cold war, another reason to include it. After the recent renovation it is just as much walkthrough as Blijdorp (which with it's train background I certainly dont' think is better) with a visitor hut inside the aviary. Longleat's vulture aviary is certainly nice too, but no cliff and only viewing from out of the car. Size alone was never a reason to include an exhibit here, and with the looks of a regular backyard, I don't think they are must-see, good as they may be for the birds.

 

[lintworm]

40. Squirrel monkey forest
Apenheul, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands
Opened: 1996
Size: 8000 square metres
Inhabitants: Bolivian squirrel monkeys

Good enclosures don’t have to be extremely difficult to create. One of the great zoo experiences features a piece of forest and a large group of a commonly kept primate. But to actually stand in a mature forest with over 70 squirrel monkeys around you on all sides is simply magic. It gives a completely different understanding of these animals compared to a conventional cage or island. The monkeys are impossible to miss, but the first thing you notice of them (that is if you did not bring a stroller with you, those are monkey magnets) are the chirps high up in the tree and once your eyes are adjusted monkeys just appear everywhere. It doesn’t get much more naturalistic than that. While this exhibit is just over 25 years old, free-ranging S-American monkeys have been a staple at Apenheul since the opening in 1971. That that would include golden lion tamarins was something the Smithsonian certainly did not intend when they sent them over. But Apenheul was proved right that tropical monkeys can thrive in a temperate forest. Nowadays more zoos are starting to copy such walkthroughs, but nothing quite matches the original in this case.

@Orycteropus

@Orycteropus

@Orycteropus

@Orycteropus

Similar exhibits: There are two good alternatives around, maybe unsurprisingly both with a direct link to Apenheul. La Vallée des Singes, Romagne, France and Gaiazoo, Kerkrade, the Netherlands both have very good squirrel monkey walkthroughs. And in the French case also great walkthroughs with other species.


Gaiazoo:

@KevinB

@KevinB

La Vallée des Singes

@lintworm

 

[jwer]

40. Squirrel monkey forest
Apenheul, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands
Opened: 1996
Size: 8000 square metres
Inhabitants: Bolivian squirrel monkeys

Good enclosures don’t have to be extremely difficult to create. One of the great zoo experiences features a piece of forest and a large group of a commonly kept primate. But to actually stand in a mature forest with over 70 squirrel monkeys around you on all sides is simply magic. It gives a completely different understanding of these animals compared to a conventional cage or island. The monkeys are impossible to miss, but the first thing you notice of them (that is if you did not bring a stroller with you, those are monkey magnets) are the chirps high up in the tree and once your eyes are adjusted monkeys just appear everywhere. It doesn’t get much more naturalistic than that. While this exhibit is just over 25 years old, free-ranging S-American monkeys have been a staple at Apenheul since the opening in 1971. That that would include golden lion tamarins was something the Smithsonian certainly did not intend when they sent them over. But Apenheul was proved right that tropical monkeys can thrive in a temperate forest. Nowadays more zoos are starting to copy such walkthroughs, but nothing quite matches the original in this case.

@Orycteropus

@Orycteropus

@Orycteropus

@Orycteropus

Similar exhibits: There are two good alternatives around, maybe unsurprisingly both with a direct link to Apenheul. La Vallée des Singes, Romagne, France and Gaiazoo, Kerkrade, the Netherlands both have very good squirrel monkey walkthroughs. And in the French case also great walkthroughs with other species.


Gaiazoo:

@KevinB

@KevinB

La Vallée des Singes

@lintworm

I grew up with this exhibit, never really realizing how unique the park is, and this exhibit in particular.

But the more zoos you visit and the more shabby squirrel monkey cages you get thrown at you, the more you understand how groundbreaking it was and still is. This exhibit slots easily in the higher regions of this list.

Although as with anything at Apenheul, the winter quarters are probably as spartan as the other monkeys have…

 

[lintworm]

41 Aare river bank
Tierpark Dählhölzli, Bern, Switzerland
Opened: 1999/2000
Size: 8000 square metres
Inhabitants: Dalmatian pelican, greylag goose, Eurasian otter, European beaver

Located directly on the river Aare these enclosures are prone to flooding and this is exactly what happened during a larger flood in 1999. Afterwards this series of enclosures was remodelled to deal with periodical flooding and the three enclosures are now completely integrated in the riverine landscape. The water in each enclosure is directly connected to the river, which means that the otters and pelicans can actually hunt live prey. Water levels do thus also change throughout the year and in case of flooding there is safe accomodation for the animals higher up. The result is a set of stunning natural spacious enclosures that are in a way part of nature. The downside is that the otters, but especially the beavers can be hard to spot during the day. But as this area is publicly accessible (and is also part of a bicycle trail) seeing animals is sort of a bonus when enjoying a walk along the river.

@Orycteropus

@Orycteropus

@lintworm

@lintworm

@lintworm

@Orycteropus


Similar exhibits: none that I am aware of.

 

[Antoine]

This place is outstanding and I really enjoyed the walk even if I saw quite nothing of the animals (except the pelicans). A very good idea in a good area and the Aare river is just wonderful with its blue color !

 

[Chlidonias]

the Aare river is just wonderful with its blue color !

Is it a glacial river?

 

[Batto]

Is it a glacial river?

Yes

 

[Maguari]

Those Aare enclosures really are stunning. I can't recommend this zoo highly enough. Small but near-perfectly-formed.

 

[lintworm]

This place is outstanding and I really enjoyed the walk even if I saw quite nothing of the animals (except the pelicans).

I have also never seen the beavers in all my visits, fortunately the otters are sometimes visible and seeing them is a real treat in an enclosure like this...

Those Aare enclosures really are stunning. I can't recommend this zoo highly enough. Small but near-perfectly-formed.

It certainly is one of the zoos with some of the highest all-round enclosure quality of them all. Even better news is that the new zoo director has said that she would like to focus more on relatively unknown species, so that should be good news for us nerds . With a new wind in Zurich too, maybe the enclosure quality will be combined with more rarities in general in Swiss zoos, which would make it an even more attractive travel destination (except for the costs).

 

[jwer]

41 Aare river bank
Tierpark Dählhölzli, Bern, Switzerland
Opened: 1999/2000
Size: 8000 square metres
Inhabitants: Dalmatian pelican, greylag goose, Eurasian otter, European beaver

Located directly on the river Aare these enclosures are prone to flooding and this is exactly what happened during a larger flood in 1999. Afterwards this series of enclosures was remodelled to deal with periodical flooding and the three enclosures are now completely integrated in the riverine landscape. The water in each enclosure is directly connected to the river, which means that the otters and pelicans can actually hunt live prey. Water levels do thus also change throughout the year and in case of flooding there is safe accomodation for the animals higher up. The result is a set of stunning natural spacious enclosures that are in a way part of nature. The downside is that the otters, but especially the beavers can be hard to spot during the day. But as this area is publicly accessible (and is also part of a bicycle trail) seeing animals is sort of a bonus when enjoying a walk along the river.

@Orycteropus

@Orycteropus

@lintworm

@lintworm

@lintworm

@Orycteropus


Similar exhibits: none that I am aware of.

This one irks me a little. Not that I think I won’t love these exhibits, nor the park itself.

It’s just, you take a stunning piece of glacial river, put some fences around it and chuck a European otter in. It doesn’t really take the mind of a genius to think that one out, does it? They don’t really seem to have added anything to it, to enhance the visitor experience.

You start with something stunning, do very little to it and end with something stunning. Feels odd to reward that kind of exhibit design? But it’s still stunning, so I guess it should be on here…

 

[CGSwans]

This one irks me a little. Not that I think I won’t love these exhibits, nor the park itself.

It’s just, you take a stunning piece of glacial river, put some fences around it and chuck a European otter in. It doesn’t really take the mind of a genius to think that one out, does it? They don’t really seem to have added anything to it, to enhance the visitor experience.

You start with something stunning, do very little to it and end with something stunning. Feels odd to reward that kind of exhibit design? But it’s still stunning, so I guess it should be on here…

This is certainly a strange take. You want to mark zoos down for using their natural environment to create a gorgeous exhibit?

 

[aardvark250]

This one irks me a little. Not that I think I won’t love these exhibits, nor the park itself.

It’s just, you take a stunning piece of glacial river, put some fences around it and chuck a European otter in. It doesn’t really take the mind of a genius to think that one out, does it? They don’t really seem to have added anything to it, to enhance the visitor experience.

You start with something stunning, do very little to it and end with something stunning. Feels odd to reward that kind of exhibit design? But it’s still stunning, so I guess it should be on here…

I mean, this is the point of the inclusion. You don't need a lot of "makeover" to have a good exhibit. Yes doing your exhibit with tons of theming/tons of concrete may be useful, but sometimes the best exhibit is just keeping the original environment. After all, nature is the place they live in.

 

[jwer]

This is certainly a strange take. You want to mark zoos down for using their natural environment to create a gorgeous exhibit?

I don’t know why this particular exhibit irks me like that. I love (the look of) Orsa’s bear exhibit, I love Dortmund’s lynx exhibit which is basically a fenced off bit of woodland. I’m usually not against those sort of exhibits at all.

Perhaps it’s because it’s Switserland, which obviously has the money to create something more then there already was, but used it in footpaths for the people. No extra viewpoints, no cool information signs, no fake beaver burrough to peer into…

Taking a native animal and sticking it in a fenced off good looking part of it’s native range is just so “easy”?

I guess what I’m trying to say is that “animal exhibitry” is a craft. Showcasing an animal in a way the audience never expected, learning something new about it. Wether it’s looking up, down, underwater, underground at an animal, seeing it interact with other animals or species, creating that new kind of barrier or exhibit design no one ever thought about. Imagination trumps to create the wonderful. In this case, it’s not the exhibit that creates the magic. It’s it stunning surroundings. I guess that’s the itch…

Anyways, can’t really explain it and will love it when I see it so I guess you can ignore me…

 

[lintworm]

This one irks me a little. Not that I think I won’t love these exhibits, nor the park itself.

It’s just, you take a stunning piece of glacial river, put some fences around it and chuck a European otter in. It doesn’t really take the mind of a genius to think that one out, does it? They don’t really seem to have added anything to it, to enhance the visitor experience.

You start with something stunning, do very little to it and end with something stunning. Feels odd to reward that kind of exhibit design? But it’s still stunning, so I guess it should be on here…

It is slightly more complicated than that. More work has gone into these 3 enclosures than just fencing it. When looking at different maps from Swiss topo it is clear that quite some modifications were necessary to get from the original enclosure to this one, which is fully integrated in the riverine landscape. The enclosures that were here first had no connection to the river, so there was just a pond. Though I cannot find pictures from on the ground, I am certain that there was no bridge, as it is now, but just a concrete path, as is there on other parts along the Aare. So quite some remodelling was done to connect the river and the zoo to integrate the enclosures in the landscape and two viewing platforms (not on the photos) were also added. This seamless integration of an enclosure into a dynamic landscape is something unique and makes these enclosures more resistant to periodical flooding too.

 

[lintworm]

42. South-American aviary
Bioparc Zoo de Doué-la-Fontaine, France
Opened: 2009
Size: 8000 square metres
Inhabitants: Southern pudu, six-banded armadillo and roughly 25 bird species

Carved into the rock lies one of Europe’s largest aviaries. At first this is a bizarre barren maze of paths, rock pillars and little vegetation, but on a closer look this is one of the most fascinating exhibits Europe has to offer. The obvious highlight are the large groups of parrots, ranging in size from dozens of small mitred parakeets to several large hyacinth macaws. Seeing parrots in prolonged flight gives a unique appreciation of these birds compared to just being the colourful animals on sticks in most zoos. Side enclosures house southern pudu, armadillo, Chilean flamingo and Humboldt’s penguin. The roster is made complete by a larger number of duck species, ibis, new world vultures and more. This is one of those places where patience pays off, as there is always something new to see and while at first sight the aviary looks quite open, there are countless places the birds can choose to forage, hide or relax. Fortunately in recent years more zoos have tried to create large aviaries for their birds, as it makes birds so much more engaging than in the traditional setting.

@lintworm

@lintworm

@lintworm

@lintworm

@Therabu

@Maguari

Similar exhibits: Fortunately there are quite a number of large free-flight aviaries by now. Good and large parrot focused aviaries would be Katandra Treetops in Loro Parque, Tenerife, Spain, and the newly opened Parrot World, Crecy-la-Chapelle, France. Good South-American aviaries have appeared since in Dierenpark Planckendael, Mechelen, Belgium, focusing on penguins and flamingos. Vogelpark Marlow, Germany, has a great penguin aviary, with flying brown pelicans and dozens of Inca terns as highlights. Tierpark Cottbus, Germany, shows how one can create a low-cost, but pretty flamingo aviary, also housing a variety of other S-American birds.


Loro Parque:

@devilfish

@Maguari

Parrot World:

@NRJMelvinT

@NRJMelvinT


Dierenpark Planckendael:

@KevinB

@KevinB

Vogelpark Marlow:

@lintworm

@lintworm


Tierpark Cottbus:

@lintworm

@lintworm

 

[jwer]

42. South-American aviary
Bioparc Zoo de Doué-la-Fontaine, France
Opened: 2009
Size: 8000 square metres
Inhabitants: Southern pudu, six-banded armadillo and roughly 25 bird species

Carved into the rock lies one of Europe’s largest aviaries. At first this is a bizarre barren maze of paths, rock pillars and little vegetation, but on a closer look this is one of the most fascinating exhibits Europe has to offer. The obvious highlight are the large groups of parrots, ranging in size from dozens of small mitred parakeets to several large hyacinth macaws. Seeing parrots in prolonged flight gives a unique appreciation of these birds compared to just being the colourful animals on sticks in most zoos. Side enclosures house southern pudu, armadillo, Chilean flamingo and Humboldt’s penguin. The roster is made complete by a larger number of duck species, ibis, new world vultures and more. This is one of those places where patience pays off, as there is always something new to see and while at first sight the aviary looks quite open, there are countless places the birds can choose to forage, hide or relax. Fortunately in recent years more zoos have tried to create large aviaries for their birds, as it makes birds so much more engaging than in the traditional setting.

@lintworm

@lintworm

@lintworm

@lintworm

@Therabu

@Maguari

Similar exhibits: Fortunately there are quite a number of large free-flight aviaries by now. Good and large parrot focused aviaries would be Katandra Treetops in Loro Parque, Tenerife, Spain, and the newly opened Parrot World, Crecy-la-Chapelle, France. Good South-American aviaries have appeared since in Dierenpark Planckendael, Mechelen, Belgium, focusing on penguins and flamingos. Vogelpark Marlow, Germany, has a great penguin aviary, with flying brown pelicans and dozens of Inca terns as highlights. Tierpark Cottbus, Germany, shows how one can create a low-cost, but pretty flamingo aviary, also housing a variety of other S-American birds.


Loro Parque:

@devilfish

@Maguari

Parrot World:

@NRJMelvinT

@NRJMelvinT


Dierenpark Planckendael:

@KevinB

@KevinB

Vogelpark Marlow:

@lintworm

@lintworm


Tierpark Cottbus:

@lintworm

@lintworm

Another absolutely undisputed gem. Among the top 10 in my list and really impressive to be in.

I’m amazed and also really happy about how many similar exhibits you managed to find! It really seems something of the last 2 decades that zoos really seem to shy away from the small parrot rows and create massive aviaries for multiple species and I love that development.

Also vultures, big birds of prey and flamingo’s seem to be getting more room and less clipping of wings. Wether or not it’s already big enough is debatable, but we’re definitely moving into the right direction.

 

[Antoine]

This is absolutely the best exhibit in Europe IMO. Why ? As @lintworm said there is always something happening there and even I know it 100 % I always enjoyed it as the first time. And this wonderfull exhibit is excellent for photographers too with a perfect light during the whole day.

I was lucky to visit it during the construction and I never thought it could arrived to this such oustanding place.

A bad note anyway : birds management with a such number of animals is hard and there were a quite number of mistakes and deaths since the opening. Of course, as a new style exhibit, good things take times.

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

A bad note anyway : birds management with a such number of animals is hard and there were a quite number of mistakes and deaths since the opening. Of course, as a new style exhibit, good things take times.

Do you know what the breeding results are? Especially parrots can be notoriously aggressive towards conspecifics in breeding situations. With the exception of (semi-)colonial breeders, large flocks of parrots often mean little to no breeding. I can imagine that small parakeets might just be able to find and defend their own territories in such a large aviary, but that may not be true for the macaws (I think the flock in Wuppertal's Aralandia is also a "dating" flock of young birds, with breeding pairs kept in separate aviaries).

 

[Therabu]

For what I know, macaw breeding results are pretty good now, especially with hyacinth. They use large barrels to simulate tree cavities.
It is fascinating (and unique) to see some parrot species burrow and nest in natural cliffs in a zoo-setting.
I think the mistakes Antoine mentionned are more related with the inclusion of the condor that stayed almost 10 years from the opening and is now replaced by king vulture. It was spectacular but some eggs, chicks and even adult birds of other species have paid the price.

I would add that another fascinating thing is to see how this exhibit evolve (and improve) with time under pressure of elements and animals. Let's hope it continue this way as long as possible!