Best Arctic Exhibits

Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon

Well-Known Member
The tundra and seas of the arctic are some the harshest environments upon our planet, yet also among the most beautiful and threatened. Life abounds here in surprising amounts given the circumstances, and I'm interested in seeing more of how zoos are able to portray this unique, endangered climate. What are the best exhibits, be they standalone or complexes, that display the frigid far north?
 
True Arctic zones are rare in French zoos, maybe the climate of France isn't really adapted to such zones.
Maybe Mulhouse has built a good Arctic zone with Polar Bears, Musk Oxen and Owls.
"Subarctic" zones with species of the boreal forests (taigas) of Northern Europe, Siberia or Canada (Wolverines, Arctic Wolves, Brown Bears, Reindeers, Eurasian Elks, Wapitis, various Eagles and Owls...) are a bit more frequent.
For marine species, there has been an Arctic section in the Océanopolis aquarium (Brest) with 1 or 2 species of Arctic seals and Alaskan Sea Otters, I don't know if it still exists.
 
Polar Extremes: Arctic Shores at Edmonton Valley Zoo is a smaller, but well done Arctic exhibit with pools for harbor seals and northern fur seals plus some interesting interpretive displays. Originally there were also arctic foxes and arctic ground squirrels, although they are no longer present.

Of course there's also the long forgotten plan for the Arctic Shores complex at Calgary which would have been a monumental project: Zoo shelves Arctic Shores exhibit
 
I am struggling to think of any such exhibit present in the UK. There are plenty of fantastic enclosures housing Arctic species, but as far as I am aware no single designated complex for them housing more than one or two taxa. Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland, benefitting from its gorgeous setting and extreme weather, has a selection of fantastic Arctic enclosures for the likes of Polar Bear, Arctic Fox, Forest Reindeer, Eurasian Elk and a few others. It is a wonderful place, but I am not sure whether or not it should count. The bears in particular have a fantastic enclosure, easily the best that I have seen, and I've heard better travelled zoo-goers call it among the best in Europe.
 
StoppableSan said:
For me, the best "Arctic" themed exhibit I've been to would have to be the Rocky Coast at North Carolina. Polar bears, puffins/rare alcids, pinnipeds and Arctic fox along with some really good theming... what's not to love?
Click to expand...
I haven’t been to the NC zoo, but based on @Moebelle video, it looks to have the 3rd best polar bear exhibit in the US. And it actually has a good gray fox exhibit which is truly surprising.
 
Komodo Dragon said:
Are there any that incorporate walruses well?
Click to expand...
Eismeer at Tierpark Hagenbeck includes both walruses and polar bears in a predator-prey setup. Land of the Cold at Pairi Daiza includes both as well and has a sheet of glass that divides the two species, but still lets them see one another. It's worth adding that neither of these exhibits are entirely arctic focused, as antarctic penguins are present in both.

I believe the Wild Arctic exhibits at both SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld Orlando should still have walruses along with belugas and seals.
 
birdsandbats said:
A great Polar Bear exhibit (one of the best in North America) but not much else. An okay Grizzly Bear exhibit is also there, and they might still have Arctic Foxes.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. They still have Arctic foxes. I love the polar bear exhibit, but think they should add more to Polar Frontier... maybe snowy owls, etc. Maybe even musk ox or beluga, but...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top