Europe's 100 must see exhibits

[nedpepper]

I am guessing you mean the beluga sea pen at the Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland. To me that is not a zoo exhibit, so it won't appear here, although it is the most natural cetacean enclosure in.[/QUOTE]

I did wonder if you might have omitted it based on it being a sanctuary. It does have puffins and local fish as permanent residents though, along with the Belugas. Respect your decision though as I expect you would need to take into account a lot of other facilities of a similar nature.

 

[lintworm]

When Dolfinarium stepped out of the NvD (Dutch zoo society) and explained themselves to want to steer away from being a zoo and be more of a amusements park I stopped believing they are worth visiting. Despite this pool being the best dolphin exhibit in the world to my beliefs.
Just wouldn't pay a way too expensive ticket for what would just be seeing a dolphin habitat and a handful of other view worthy things.

Perhaps I should have explained it more but didn't feel like potentially derailing or going into a classic cetacean debate so I left it at silly ramblings.

I was thinking it was of some documentaries . But I agree it is generally not worth the price. I haven't visited in over 10 years, despite living close by for quite some time...

This is why Europe don't have a lot of good standalone aquarium, the best one is in a zoo!

It is probably indeed a factor, with many of the premier zoos having an aquarium on site, though only three zoos currently have an aquarium on a large scale (>5 million litres): Burgers' Zoo, Wroclaw and Diergaarde Blijdorp. Though zoos like Wilhelma and Zoo Berlin have a huge number of individual tanks.

Pound for pound Burgers' Ocean might be the best aquarium, but it is basically only 10 tanks, of which 3 are (quite) small, so as a standalone aquarium it would probably not work. It doesn't feel as complete as the larger standalone aquariums, which generally seem to have 40-50 tanks, including 3-5 showstopper tanks (and one really big tank) and mostly have some sea mammals and/or penguins too.

Photography isn't allowed inside, here's some photos from inside.

 

[aardvark250]

Photography isn't allowed inside, here's some photos from inside.

i assume those photo are taken before the giant salamanders are moved in

 

[pachyderm pro]

i assume those photo are taken before the giant salamanders are moved in

I don't believe any of the photos of are of the salamander exhibit itself, rather just general overviews and the other vivaria which permitted photography.

 

[Philipine eagle]

Burgers creates exhibits that stand up for decades. The Ocean is 22 years old and looks better than many of the newer exhibits in other zoos. Massive respect for their creations!

The first time you take kiddies into the ocean, telling them in advance that they will walk under water... or the first time a zoo scepticus watches the endless deepness of the large shark tank... Few zoos have done more to reconcile people with zoos than this famous Dutch institute.

 

[lintworm]

86. Islands
Chester Zoo, UK
Opened: 2015 (phase 1) 2017 (phase 2)
Size: 7.5 hectares
Inhabitants: Sumatran orangutan, Malayan sun bear, babirusa, Javan green magpie, Sunda gharial and a large variety of other SE-Asian mammals, birds and ectotherms

Predicting how the zoo of the future will look like is difficult, but with Islands, the Chester Zoo has given a vision of what that future might be. At a cost of 40 million pounds, this was the UK’s largest zoo investment ever, but it did not disappoint. Its vision for the future zoo is a blend of natural and cultural theming with a strong focus on conservation and zoo enclosures built for animals first, not visitors. That means trying to replicate an Asian feeling in the English outdoors with hardy tropical looking plants and some cultural theming, but without overdoing all the temples. It also means that not every ABC animal is visible at all times, though there will still always be enough to see. Islands has a varied collection, with a strong focus on endangered species, for some of which Chester is Europe’s main breeder, like babirusa. Chester shows that focusing on landscape immersion and EEP animals doesn’t mean you have an ABC collection, far from it. From tentacled snakes to tree kangaroos, the unusual is not forgotten here. The journey across 6 SE Asian islands, which are separated by moats to signify them as “real” islands, also highlights the large amount of in situ conservation work Chester does in this region. The showstopper of the whole development is the 2700 square metre rainforest hall “Monsoon Forest”. In a way this is a smaller version of Gondwanaland with plenty of enclosures and mock rock. But it is something unique in the UK zoo scene and it provides good enclosures for its inhabitants, which is not a given in such tropical houses. Overall this blend of immersion and conservation is attractive to regular visitors and zoo enthusiasts alike, which is certainly not the standard, and provides an interesting option for the zoo of the future.

@Maguari

@gulogulogulo

@SMR

@gulogulogulo

@MagpieGoose

@gulogulogulo

Similar exhibits: I could mention Land of the Lions at ZSL London Zoo, UK, here as a smaller exhibit with a somewhat similar approach, but I am not sure that is appreciated. On Chester’s scale there is nothing that comes even close in mixing conservation and landscape immersion.

 

[twilighter]

86. Islands
Chester Zoo, UK
Opened: 2015 (phase 1) 2017 (phase 2)
Size: 7.5 hectares
Inhabitants: Sumatran orangutan, Malayan sun bear, babirusa, Javan green magpie, Sunda gharial and a large variety of other SE-Asian mammals, birds and ectotherms

Predicting how the zoo of the future will look like is difficult, but with Islands, the Chester Zoo has given a vision of what that future might be. At a cost of 40 million pounds, this was the UK’s largest zoo investment ever, but it did not disappoint. Its vision for the future zoo is a blend of natural and cultural theming with a strong focus on conservation and zoo enclosures built for animals first, not visitors. That means trying to replicate an Asian feeling in the English outdoors with hardy tropical looking plants and some cultural theming, but without overdoing all the temples. It also means that not every ABC animal is visible at all times, though there will still always be enough to see. Islands has a varied collection, with a strong focus on endangered species, for some of which Chester is Europe’s main breeder, like babirusa. Chester shows that focusing on landscape immersion and EEP animals doesn’t mean you have an ABC collection, far from it. From tentacled snakes to tree kangaroos, the unusual is not forgotten here. The journey across 6 SE Asian islands, which are separated by moats to signify them as “real” islands, also highlights the large amount of in situ conservation work Chester does in this region. The showstopper of the whole development is the 2700 square metre rainforest hall “Monsoon Forest”. In a way this is a smaller version of Gondwanaland with plenty of enclosures and mock rock. But it is something unique in the UK zoo scene and it provides good enclosures for its inhabitants, which is not a given in such tropical houses. Overall this blend of immersion and conservation is attractive to regular visitors and zoo enthusiasts alike, which is certainly not the standard, and provides an interesting option for the zoo of the future.

@Maguari

@gulogulogulo

@SMR

@gulogulogulo

@MagpieGoose

@gulogulogulo

Similar exhibits: I could mention Land of the Lions at ZSL London Zoo, UK, here as a smaller exhibit with a somewhat similar approach, but I am not sure that is appreciated. On Chester’s scale there is nothing that comes even close in mixing conservation and landscape immersion.

Inevitable choice ! I dont think there is something you can compare the Island with, in Europe. Maybe Asia in Rotterdam ? Probably Africa Rocks in San Diego, whit what I've seen ?

 

[felis silvestris]

86. Islands
Chester Zoo, UK
Opened: 2015 (phase 1) 2017 (phase 2)
Size: 7.5 hectares
Inhabitants: Sumatran orangutan, Malayan sun bear, babirusa, Javan green magpie, Sunda gharial and a large variety of other SE-Asian mammals, birds and ectotherms

Predicting how the zoo of the future will look like is difficult, but with Islands, the Chester Zoo has given a vision of what that future might be. At a cost of 40 million pounds, this was the UK’s largest zoo investment ever, but it did not disappoint. Its vision for the future zoo is a blend of natural and cultural theming with a strong focus on conservation and zoo enclosures built for animals first, not visitors. That means trying to replicate an Asian feeling in the English outdoors with hardy tropical looking plants and some cultural theming, but without overdoing all the temples. It also means that not every ABC animal is visible at all times, though there will still always be enough to see. Islands has a varied collection, with a strong focus on endangered species, for some of which Chester is Europe’s main breeder, like babirusa. Chester shows that focusing on landscape immersion and EEP animals doesn’t mean you have an ABC collection, far from it. From tentacled snakes to tree kangaroos, the unusual is not forgotten here. The journey across 6 SE Asian islands, which are separated by moats to signify them as “real” islands, also highlights the large amount of in situ conservation work Chester does in this region. The showstopper of the whole development is the 2700 square metre rainforest hall “Monsoon Forest”. In a way this is a smaller version of Gondwanaland with plenty of enclosures and mock rock. But it is something unique in the UK zoo scene and it provides good enclosures for its inhabitants, which is not a given in such tropical houses. Overall this blend of immersion and conservation is attractive to regular visitors and zoo enthusiasts alike, which is certainly not the standard, and provides an interesting option for the zoo of the future.

@Maguari

@gulogulogulo

@SMR

@gulogulogulo

@MagpieGoose

@gulogulogulo

Similar exhibits: I could mention Land of the Lions at ZSL London Zoo, UK, here as a smaller exhibit with a somewhat similar approach, but I am not sure that is appreciated. On Chester’s scale there is nothing that comes even close in mixing conservation and landscape immersion.

by the way these are the enclosures in the photos:

photo 1 is the monsoon forest and the gibbon and orangutan indoors

photo 2 is the Sun bear/Binturong enclosure

photo 3 is the view from the boat and the moloch gibbon outdoor enclosure

photo 4 is the gibbon/orangutan outdoor enclosure

photo 5 is the Banteng enclosure

photo 6 is the river boat

 

[Maguari]

photo 1 is the monsoon forest and the gibbon and orangutan indoors

Slight correction - it's the view in Monsoon Forest across the free-flight bird area and towards the gharial/macaque end.

 

[Maguari]

At a cost of 40 million pounds, this was the UK’s largest zoo investment ever, but it did not disappoint

It doesn't now, but it had a bit of a rocky start due to good ol' fashioned construction delays, which meant for the much-promoted member's preview day half of the site was nowhere near finished and the only actual animals in there were the warty pigs.

It's not perfect but overall it does work well - and I appreciate the effort that has gone in to filling it out with interesting species in between the big hitters.

And it gave me one of my favourite over-enthusiastic-web-speculation-being-treated-as-fact 'gotcha' moments: years of very many people being utterly convinced Chester would never again house marsupials as they were on the record as not planning an Australia section, only for Chester to bring in two really nice marsupial species from New Guinea.

 

[Fallax]

I see here is another Chester pick... and the most obvious one at that! Islands is certainly incredible and definitely deserves to be on the list. My guess is this is the last time we will see Chester on the list but I could be wrong, maybe we will see Tsavo Black Rhino Reserve or Fruit Bat Forest appear.

 

[Therabu]

Inevitable choice ! I dont think there is something you can compare the Island with, in Europe. Maybe Asia in Rotterdam ? Probably Africa Rocks in San Diego, whit what I've seen ?

I would say that those do not have as much conservation focus as Chester have in its Islands area. I think that what Chester brought compared to previous tentatives of immersion is to bring people in with large animals and promises of an immersive journey but with the intent to deliver a strong conservation message and awareness.

Thank you Lintworm, I love to read each of your posts!

 

[birdsandbats]

86. Islands
Chester Zoo, UK
Opened: 2015 (phase 1) 2017 (phase 2)
Size: 7.5 hectares
Inhabitants: Sumatran orangutan, Malayan sun bear, babirusa, Javan green magpie, Sunda gharial and a large variety of other SE-Asian mammals, birds and ectotherms

Predicting how the zoo of the future will look like is difficult, but with Islands, the Chester Zoo has given a vision of what that future might be. At a cost of 40 million pounds, this was the UK’s largest zoo investment ever, but it did not disappoint. Its vision for the future zoo is a blend of natural and cultural theming with a strong focus on conservation and zoo enclosures built for animals first, not visitors. That means trying to replicate an Asian feeling in the English outdoors with hardy tropical looking plants and some cultural theming, but without overdoing all the temples. It also means that not every ABC animal is visible at all times, though there will still always be enough to see. Islands has a varied collection, with a strong focus on endangered species, for some of which Chester is Europe’s main breeder, like babirusa. Chester shows that focusing on landscape immersion and EEP animals doesn’t mean you have an ABC collection, far from it. From tentacled snakes to tree kangaroos, the unusual is not forgotten here. The journey across 6 SE Asian islands, which are separated by moats to signify them as “real” islands, also highlights the large amount of in situ conservation work Chester does in this region. The showstopper of the whole development is the 2700 square metre rainforest hall “Monsoon Forest”. In a way this is a smaller version of Gondwanaland with plenty of enclosures and mock rock. But it is something unique in the UK zoo scene and it provides good enclosures for its inhabitants, which is not a given in such tropical houses. Overall this blend of immersion and conservation is attractive to regular visitors and zoo enthusiasts alike, which is certainly not the standard, and provides an interesting option for the zoo of the future.

@Maguari

@gulogulogulo

@SMR

@gulogulogulo

@MagpieGoose

@gulogulogulo

Similar exhibits: I could mention Land of the Lions at ZSL London Zoo, UK, here as a smaller exhibit with a somewhat similar approach, but I am not sure that is appreciated. On Chester’s scale there is nothing that comes even close in mixing conservation and landscape immersion.

Perhaps regular visitors of Chester could correct me if I'm wrong, but Islands sounds similar to many American zoo exhibits - for example River's Edge at Saint Louis.

 

[felis silvestris]

Slight correction - it's the view in Monsoon Forest across the free-flight bird area and towards the gharial/macaque end.

Thanks for the correction

 

[TeaLovingDave]

My guess is this is the last time we will see Chester on the list but I could be wrong, maybe we will see Tsavo Black Rhino Reserve or Fruit Bat Forest appear

Both would be more than deserving - although I have a sneaking suspicion that Fruitbat Forest has already appeared, from memory!

 

[pachyderm pro]

Both would be more than deserving - although I have a sneaking suspicion that Fruitbat Forest has already appeared, from memory!

I believe it earned a mention as a similar exhibit for The Crypt, but not its own entry.

 

[felis silvestris]

I honestly hope that Edinburgh Zoo’s Budongo Trail gets on this list.

 

[lintworm]

I see here is another Chester pick... and the most obvious one at that! Islands is certainly incredible and definitely deserves to be on the list. My guess is this is the last time we will see Chester on the list but I could be wrong, maybe we will see Tsavo Black Rhino Reserve or Fruit Bat Forest appear.

Fruit Bat forest did already get a mention at the entry of the Pairi Daiza crypt early on in the thread as @pachyderm pro mentioned, so won't be on the list itself.

I would say that those do not have as much conservation focus as Chester have in its Islands area. I think that what Chester brought compared to previous tentatives of immersion is to bring people in with large animals and promises of an immersive journey but with the intent to deliver a strong conservation message and awareness.

Thank you Lintworm, I love to read each of your posts!

Thank you

Other than London's development the closest that we would probably get to this mix of immersion and attention to conservation would be something like the Pantanal exhibit in Zurich.

I honestly hope that Edinburgh Zoo’s Budongo Trail gets on this list.

That one also won't be on the list, but it was mentioned already in the entry of Vallee des Singes' bonobo enclosure.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Fruit Bat forest did already get a mention at the entry of the Pairi Daiza crypt early on in the thread as @pachyderm pro mentioned, so won't be on the list itself.

More's the pity given its the infinitely better and more immersive exhibit but no matter.

 

[lintworm]

87. Underground zoo
Zoo Osnabrück, Germany
Opened: 2009
Size: 500 square metres
Inhabitants: European hamster, naked mole rat, black rat, bumblebee, Pallas’ long-tongued bat and more

Most zoos mostly ignore the life beneath our feet, not so in Osnabrück where arguably its star attraction takes visitors underground. In a maze of pathways modelled after mine shafts and more natural tunnels there are scattered enclosures for mostly burrowing mammals. While it is a pity that the collection isn’t focused more on non-mammals living underground, that is hardly avoidable, given the fact so few zoos focus on the fossorial. But with bumblebees and ants some interesting insects are kept here too. It is the mammals that are the star here and a varied collection is displayed, including rarities like Mechow’s mole rat and coruro. The enclosure style mostly resembles that of the typical naked mole rat enclosure with pipes and boxes. Here these are however well integrated in the tunnel walls, making for an attractive display. Larger species like the black rats and the bats have more space though, the latter species was added relatively recently and took over a former visitor tunnel. Interestingly there is no fixed route, although the lanterns are numbered, and people are urged to explore the underground maze by themselves. Given the success of this exhibit, one hopes soils and their inhabitants will get the attention they deserve in more places.

Unfortunately this exhibit is not represented in the zoochat gallery, but there are several pictures available in this news article: Osnabrück: Osnabrück – Deutschlands erster unterirdischer Zoo - Bilder & Fotos - WELT


Similar exhibits: Osnabrücks predecessor stands in Zoo Dresden, Germany, but its “Zoo beneath the earth” from 1997 is a small and by now significantly aged exhibit. Zoo Plzen, Czechia has converted the tunnels of a former air raid shelter into an exhibit, which focuses partly on species from caves and on other ectotherms. It is somewhat claustrophobic, but an interesting use of a historic structure.

Zoo Dresden

@lintworm

Zoo Plzen

@LaughingDove

@twilighter