Per your posted list of zoos you haven't been to Jacksonville, but you're calling "huge anti-Jacksonville bias" when people commenting here have actually visited and are saying it doesn't really belong? Seems backwards to me...
America's 100 Must See Exhibits
- Thread starter pachyderm pro
- Start date
Per your posted list of zoos you haven't been to Jacksonville, but you're calling "huge anti-Jacksonville bias" when people commenting here have actually visited and are saying it doesn't really belong? Seems backwards to me...
Aardwolf
Well-Known Member
Not speaking for anyone else, but I'd hardly say there seems to be bias against them. I've been to Jacksonville a few times, have friends who worked there, and have poked and prodded around extensively behind the scenes. I think it's a very good zoo - but I don't think that there is any one thing that it is "best" at. Range of the Jaguar is spoken of very highly by a lot of folks, and I agree, it is a very good exhibit - but if I had to compare it to Miami's Amazon and Beyond, I'd say the Miami exhibit is the better of the two (with the possible exception, ironically, of the jaguar exhibit - I'd say Jacksonville's is better). Now, if Jacksonville's planned manatee complex looks half as cool as the drawings promise, *that* will be a show-stopper.
Which is featured in Pachy’s preview of upcoming exhibits he thinks would become “Must See” when completed, demonstrating there is no such bias at all.
I'll concede this one's not a looker, but I feel like this is a harsh assessment. I've seen this exhibit twice and recall really enjoying it both times. The complex is supposed to engage guests with local wildlife and based on first-hand experience I'd say it succeeds in doing so. Kids and adults alike loved the various underwater tunnels, underground burrows and other interactive elements dispersed throughout the area. Every individual enclosure is serviceable with a few I really liked such as the large wading bird habitat, the burrowing owl aviary, and the crocodile pool. It's fulfills its purpose well, although some additional attention to the horticulture would have gone a long way to soften the appearance of the more unsightly areas.
I'm not going to touch on this too much because other members already explained why this argument is flawed, which I greatly appreciate, but how does me choosing "this ugly exhibit from Zoo Miami" mean I have a bias against Jacksonville specifically? How come it doesn't mean I also have a bias against Tampa, Louisville or any other zoo that isn't featured on this list? I'm not denying Jacksonville is a very good zoo, which it is, but it simply lacks exhibits that are especially notable or important. There are no valuable historic buildings, no unique exhibit ideas, nothing that comes close to being the "best of its kind". That is why it has been left off both of my 'must-see' threads.
@pachyderm pro not at least bias to Jax. Along with @Aardwolf I've visited countless times, have friends that work there, and have been to almost all the bts areas. If he didn't chose one so be it (though the Asia section is one of my favorite areas at any zoo, and the tigers and suids are particularly well done)....
Having said that, I depise the Everlades exhibit at Miami. Not so much its an eyesore, but as a "must see" I encourage anyone to take the extra hour drive or so to Flamingo and see THE Everglades in person. Most of the species exhibited can be seen easily by going down there in person (having done it several times personally)
Having said that, I depise the Everlades exhibit at Miami. Not so much its an eyesore, but as a "must see" I encourage anyone to take the extra hour drive or so to Flamingo and see THE Everglades in person. Most of the species exhibited can be seen easily by going down there in person (having done it several times personally)
87. Cat Exhibits
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, WA
Opened: c. 1980
Size: Unknown
Inhabitants: Bobcat, Cougar, Canada Lynx
Few collections are as consistently amazing in their exhibitry as Northwest Trek. With enclosures for native species built right into the forest there is scarcely an exhibit that isn't excellent. I knew the park deserved a spot on this list, but with so many wonderful choices I genuinely struggled to decide which one to select. The amazing bear enclosures already received an honorable mention, so I ultimately settled on the native cat enclosures. It's quite simple really, being a trio of habitats lined up in a row which are all small portions of fenced in pine forest. If you can't find the cats at first, be sure to look up as the towering trees are fully accessible to the inhabitants. Flourishing vegetation engulfs the area providing numerous hiding spots for the felines. Viewing areas are completely open without any fencing or glass hindering the view, with only small creeks separating the cats from guests. No need for mock rock or fancy overhead passages here, just a brilliant utilization of the natural environment to create a fantastic series of habitats for species which don't always receive exhibits that do them justice.
@Ituri
@Ituri
@Ituri
@Ituri
Similar Exhibits: I can't think of any another cat enclosures that look this good with such minimal resources.
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, WA
Opened: c. 1980
Size: Unknown
Inhabitants: Bobcat, Cougar, Canada Lynx
Few collections are as consistently amazing in their exhibitry as Northwest Trek. With enclosures for native species built right into the forest there is scarcely an exhibit that isn't excellent. I knew the park deserved a spot on this list, but with so many wonderful choices I genuinely struggled to decide which one to select. The amazing bear enclosures already received an honorable mention, so I ultimately settled on the native cat enclosures. It's quite simple really, being a trio of habitats lined up in a row which are all small portions of fenced in pine forest. If you can't find the cats at first, be sure to look up as the towering trees are fully accessible to the inhabitants. Flourishing vegetation engulfs the area providing numerous hiding spots for the felines. Viewing areas are completely open without any fencing or glass hindering the view, with only small creeks separating the cats from guests. No need for mock rock or fancy overhead passages here, just a brilliant utilization of the natural environment to create a fantastic series of habitats for species which don't always receive exhibits that do them justice.
@Ituri
@Ituri
@Ituri
@Ituri
Similar Exhibits: I can't think of any another cat enclosures that look this good with such minimal resources.
This is honestly something that a lot of zoos could do better on. Many are just serviceable, few are "great". A well done horticultural design and execution can take an OK area and make it fantastic, and most zoos seem to just do the minimum that they can get away with.
DeYoung, perhaps?
88. Walkabout Australia
San Diego Zoo Safari Park, CA
Opened: 2018
Size: 3.6 Acres (1.5 Hectares)
Inhabitants: Western Gray Kangaroo, Matschie's Tree Kangaroo, Platypus, Southern Cassowary, and a variety of waterfowl.
There’s one reason this exhibit is must-see and it’s duck-billed. In 2019 the park imported a pair of platypus from Australia and became the first institution outside of the isolated continent in over six decades to hold the species. I’ll admit that this is the one exhibit where I've amended my criteria of rarities not instantly boosting an exhibit to must-see status, as the sheer unlikelihood of this coming to fruition makes it all the more astounding. The platypus house is the clear highlight of the area, well designed and would have likely made this list by itself if it weren’t part of a larger exhibit area. With that said, they aren’t the only noteworthy element of this complex and there is a lot else to appreciate here. The set of cassowary enclosures are excellent and are complimented nicely by a very lush tree kangaroo enclosure which ends up creating a nice Papua New Guinea sub-area. The walkthrough kangaroo enclosure is a standard affair, but has some very attractive landscaping that actually bears resemblance to the Australian bush which is great. There is also plenty of thematic elements that are meant to educate visitors about wildlife collisions which are very high quality. It also helps that none of the species present here at the Safari Park are held at the zoo, meaning a visit to both facilities will allow you to see the most diverse collection of Aussie wildlife in the western world.
@Julio C Castro
@Ding Lingwei
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
Similar Exhibits: The Australian Walkabout may just be the most common exhibit type in zoos. They're inexpensive and easy crowd-pleasers so many are fairly ordinary as a result. The Australia Walkabout at Santa Barbra Zoo does deserve a special mention though, which is nicer thanks the inclusion of native Australian flora and grass that isn't just a basic manicured lawn.
@Coelacanth18
@Coelacanth18
San Diego Zoo Safari Park, CA
Opened: 2018
Size: 3.6 Acres (1.5 Hectares)
Inhabitants: Western Gray Kangaroo, Matschie's Tree Kangaroo, Platypus, Southern Cassowary, and a variety of waterfowl.
There’s one reason this exhibit is must-see and it’s duck-billed. In 2019 the park imported a pair of platypus from Australia and became the first institution outside of the isolated continent in over six decades to hold the species. I’ll admit that this is the one exhibit where I've amended my criteria of rarities not instantly boosting an exhibit to must-see status, as the sheer unlikelihood of this coming to fruition makes it all the more astounding. The platypus house is the clear highlight of the area, well designed and would have likely made this list by itself if it weren’t part of a larger exhibit area. With that said, they aren’t the only noteworthy element of this complex and there is a lot else to appreciate here. The set of cassowary enclosures are excellent and are complimented nicely by a very lush tree kangaroo enclosure which ends up creating a nice Papua New Guinea sub-area. The walkthrough kangaroo enclosure is a standard affair, but has some very attractive landscaping that actually bears resemblance to the Australian bush which is great. There is also plenty of thematic elements that are meant to educate visitors about wildlife collisions which are very high quality. It also helps that none of the species present here at the Safari Park are held at the zoo, meaning a visit to both facilities will allow you to see the most diverse collection of Aussie wildlife in the western world.
@Julio C Castro
@Ding Lingwei
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
1. Western Gray Kangaroo Walkabout
2. Platypus Exhibit
3. Matschie's Tree Kangaroo Exhibit
4. Southern Cassowary Exhibit
5. Zuest Station and Waterfowl Pond
6. Thematic Pathway
2. Platypus Exhibit
3. Matschie's Tree Kangaroo Exhibit
4. Southern Cassowary Exhibit
5. Zuest Station and Waterfowl Pond
6. Thematic Pathway
Similar Exhibits: The Australian Walkabout may just be the most common exhibit type in zoos. They're inexpensive and easy crowd-pleasers so many are fairly ordinary as a result. The Australia Walkabout at Santa Barbra Zoo does deserve a special mention though, which is nicer thanks the inclusion of native Australian flora and grass that isn't just a basic manicured lawn.
@Coelacanth18
@Coelacanth18
Ironically, I was just uploading photos of some birds from this exhibit yesterday and realized it hadn't been covered yet - and thinking that it should be
As said the platypus is the big draw for most of us, but the complex itself might be the best Australian one I've seen: I like the New Guinea exhibits, the rusty woolshed buildings, and the ever-so-slightly less manicured look of the walkthrough (which is also a considerable size compared to others I've seen). It's not the most speciose Australian complex (essentially mammals, cassowaries and some waterfowl) but what they have is very well-executed.I actually didn't know Santa Barbara's exhibit used native Australian plants; otherwise I would have said it just looks like another pretty lawn-style 'roo walkthrough to me.
A lingering thought I've always had is how kangaroos themselves adapt to these walk-through enclosures. There's a couple I've seen - Nashville and Living Desert come to mind - where the animals aren't particularly shy and will stand or hop right next to visitors, while in others they all cluster in a far corner and slink around the perimeter fence to avoid humans. It doesn't seem consistent across species... maybe it's a time-of-day thing, or relative to foot traffic?
Worth mentioning that San Diego Zoo's Aussie area has like half the continent's koalas across several enclosures, so there's a unique element there as well:
pc @geomorph
The woolshed is my favorite area to escape the summer heat when visiting and have been fortunate of seeing the tree kangaroos foraging around. The tree kangaroo exhibit is a highlight for me at Walkabout Australia, only tied with the platypus exhibit88. Walkabout Australia
San Diego Zoo Safari Park, CA
Opened: 2018
Size: 3.6 Acres (1.5 Hectares)
Inhabitants: Western Gray Kangaroo, Matschie's Tree Kangaroo, Platypus, Southern Cassowary, and a variety of waterfowl.
There’s one reason this exhibit is must-see and it’s duck-billed. In 2019 the park imported a pair of platypus from Australia and became the first institution outside of the isolated continent in over six decades to hold the species. I’ll admit that this is the one exhibit where I've amended my criteria of rarities not instantly boosting an exhibit to must-see status, as the sheer unlikelihood of this coming to fruition makes it all the more astounding. The platypus house is the clear highlight of the area, well designed and would have likely made this list by itself if it weren’t part of a larger exhibit area. With that said, they aren’t the only noteworthy element of this complex and there is a lot else to appreciate here. The set of cassowary enclosures are excellent and are complimented nicely by a very lush tree kangaroo enclosure which ends up creating a nice Papua New Guinea sub-area. The walkthrough kangaroo enclosure is a standard affair, but has some very attractive landscaping that actually bears resemblance to the Australian bush which is great. There is also plenty of thematic elements that are meant to educate visitors about wildlife collisions which are very high quality. It also helps that none of the species present here at the Safari Park are held at the zoo, meaning a visit to both facilities will allow you to see the most diverse collection of Aussie wildlife in the western world.
@Julio C Castro
@Ding Lingwei
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
1. Western Gray Kangaroo Walkabout
2. Platypus Exhibit
3. Matschie's Tree Kangaroo Exhibit
4. Southern Cassowary Exhibit
5. Zuest Station and Waterfowl Pond
6. Thematic Pathway
Similar Exhibits: The Australian Walkabout may just be the most common exhibit type in zoos. They're inexpensive and easy crowd-pleasers so many are fairly ordinary as a result. The Australia Walkabout at Santa Barbra Zoo does deserve a special mention though, which is nicer thanks the inclusion of native Australian flora and grass that isn't just a basic manicured lawn.
@Coelacanth18
@Coelacanth18
I will say the Safari Park has been on a roll working along aside DPA design for their landscape architecture and exhibit design, examples being both Walkabout Australia and Tiger Trail.
Well over that, in fact - San Diego has more than double the amount of Koalas than all other North American zoos combined.
I'd argue that the Walkabout Australia would be considered a must-see exhibit even without the platypus' inclusion. So far it's the only Australian complex to be featured on this list, and it's one of the best examples of a facility looking beyond just macropods to make a really unique Australian zone. From the pictures, the tree kangaroo and cassowary exhibits both look excellent as well. Unless it'll be featured in the future, I would've included Australian Adventure at Living Desert as another similar exhibit though.88. Walkabout Australia
San Diego Zoo Safari Park, CA
Opened: 2018
Size: 3.6 Acres (1.5 Hectares)
Inhabitants: Western Gray Kangaroo, Matschie's Tree Kangaroo, Platypus, Southern Cassowary, and a variety of waterfowl.
There’s one reason this exhibit is must-see and it’s duck-billed. In 2019 the park imported a pair of platypus from Australia and became the first institution outside of the isolated continent in over six decades to hold the species. I’ll admit that this is the one exhibit where I've amended my criteria of rarities not instantly boosting an exhibit to must-see status, as the sheer unlikelihood of this coming to fruition makes it all the more astounding. The platypus house is the clear highlight of the area, well designed and would have likely made this list by itself if it weren’t part of a larger exhibit area. With that said, they aren’t the only noteworthy element of this complex and there is a lot else to appreciate here. The set of cassowary enclosures are excellent and are complimented nicely by a very lush tree kangaroo enclosure which ends up creating a nice Papua New Guinea sub-area. The walkthrough kangaroo enclosure is a standard affair, but has some very attractive landscaping that actually bears resemblance to the Australian bush which is great. There is also plenty of thematic elements that are meant to educate visitors about wildlife collisions which are very high quality. It also helps that none of the species present here at the Safari Park are held at the zoo, meaning a visit to both facilities will allow you to see the most diverse collection of Aussie wildlife in the western world.
@Julio C Castro
@Ding Lingwei
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
@Julio C Castro
1. Western Gray Kangaroo Walkabout
2. Platypus Exhibit
3. Matschie's Tree Kangaroo Exhibit
4. Southern Cassowary Exhibit
5. Zuest Station and Waterfowl Pond
6. Thematic Pathway
Similar Exhibits: The Australian Walkabout may just be the most common exhibit type in zoos. They're inexpensive and easy crowd-pleasers so many are fairly ordinary as a result. The Australia Walkabout at Santa Barbra Zoo does deserve a special mention though, which is nicer thanks the inclusion of native Australian flora and grass that isn't just a basic manicured lawn.
@Coelacanth18
@Coelacanth18
My best guess is that this would be related to development. It would certainly be an interesting research project, but I'd hypothesize that individuals born in walk-through exhibits or who had more interactions with humans in their early life would end up more gregarious and more comfortable with people later in life. Conversely, I'd assume that individuals born in non-walkthrough exhibits or who didn't get much exposure to people would be shier as adults and avoid people more.
Yeah I wasn't sure how many exactly, I just knew they have a lot more koalas than I've seen anywhere else.
I would 100% second this. I think Living Desert's new Australian exhibit is an interesting take on a 'roo walk-through, it's well-designed and it has some really nice species in it. Easily a top Australian complex nationwide.
There's definitely more to the exhibit than just the platypus, but I can't say it would have been a shoe-in without them. Don't get me wrong, what was there originally is very well done and it's still among one of the best Australian complexes in the west. However, I wish the species list was a bit more fleshed out. When the exhibit first opened there was a small ambassador area where keepers would bring out wombat, echidna, sugar gliders and skinks for guests to interact with, but I'm unsure if they still do this and it would have been nice if they built proper enclosures for them within the complex. The park also recently set away their red-necked wallabies and the brush turkeys were also removed not too long after the exhibit opened (or were never there in the first place). With that said, I appreciate that they made sure to focus on species not currently present at the zoo, all of which are very interesting in their own right.
I agree that it's a very nice exhibit, although I wouldn't say it's all that similar to Walkabout Australia. I don't think there's a single shared species between the two and the design is completely different. If I were to include another Australian walkthrough however, it would almost certainly be this one.
Last I checked the zoo held a whopping 40 koalas. Just a few more and they'll have three times the amount of remaining North American population combined!
I do as well, and this is the main complaint I have about nearly every new zoo complex nowadays: a few choice species, but lacking in diversity generally. In this case at least the Zoo has more than enough Australian birds and reptiles to counterbalance, but I wouldn't mind seeing more side exhibits in Walkabout - an aviary, some outdoor reptile enclosures, a freshwater fish/turtle tank in the platypus house, etc.
Well, it's the same basic concept - an Australian walk-through - but I see your point that the similarities mostly stop there. If not an entry in its own right, I think I would've liked to see it included as a "similar exhibit" because its design is more noteworthy than the numerous walk-through 'roo meadows we have - but I understand there are limits to what makes it into these posts, and there are other solid Australian complexes that won't get mentioned either.
89. Ocean Wonders: Sharks
New York Aquarium, NY
Opened: 2018
Size: 57,000 Square Feet (5,300 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: >120 species of reef fish and loggerhead sea turtle.
Marine mammals aside, few aquarium staples are bigger crowd-pleasers than sharks. The general public is incredibly drawn to these intimidating creatures, which inspired countless aquariums to make a large shark tank their star attraction. New York Aquarium took this concept a step further and set out to replace their outdated shark building with a pavilion that would showcase local conservation efforts to help sharks in New York. This development was a long time coming, as just days before the scheduled groundbreaking of this exhibit the Aquarium was devastated by hurricane sandy which left a majority of the campus destroyed and pushed the opening back several years. What was almost a complete rebuild took place over the last decade and when this lavish building finally saw the light of day it didn't disappoint. Architecturally it is stunning, covered in flashy aluminum panels that make the whole pavilion shimmer in the sun. A 40 foot walkthrough tunnel through a large reef tank is the very first guests will see when entering and while it may seem commonplace it is very well done. A 600,000 gallon tank representing the Hudson canyon off the coast of New Jersey is the highlight of the house with nicely done lighting and well crafted rockwork. These two tanks are the first and last thing guests will see and in between are a variety of aquariums that are focused on smaller schooling fish, the most notable themed after a shipwreck that has been taken over by ocean life. In total 18 different species of shark and ray are on display, including everything from wobbegongs and sand tigers to several bamboo shark species. Dozens of interpretive displays are dispersed throughout the building to educate visitors on the importance of sharks to the local ecosystem, work being done to conserve sharks in the wild, and choices they can make to help. One of the most interesting is a digital display which encourages guests to make sustainable choices when ordering from seafood restaurants. It's not the most distinct aquarium exhibit out there, but when it comes to educational components and conservation messaging, this is one of the finest pavilions in the country.
This exhibit is almost completely unrepresented in the ZooChat gallery as only photos of the big tanks have been uploaded. Here is a walkthrough video that provides a better overview.
@hudson111
@hudson111
Similar Exhibits: Another notable shark display is Georgia Aquarium's Predators of the Deep. This is a single 1.2 million gallon tank that contains five species including extreme rarities like tiger sharks, greater hammerheads and silver tips. Instead of the more common walkthrough tunnel, this gallery features flat glass viewing windows above the visitor walkway which reduces the distortion created by curved viewing glass.
@ZooNerd1234
@geomorph
@geomorph
New York Aquarium, NY
Opened: 2018
Size: 57,000 Square Feet (5,300 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: >120 species of reef fish and loggerhead sea turtle.
Marine mammals aside, few aquarium staples are bigger crowd-pleasers than sharks. The general public is incredibly drawn to these intimidating creatures, which inspired countless aquariums to make a large shark tank their star attraction. New York Aquarium took this concept a step further and set out to replace their outdated shark building with a pavilion that would showcase local conservation efforts to help sharks in New York. This development was a long time coming, as just days before the scheduled groundbreaking of this exhibit the Aquarium was devastated by hurricane sandy which left a majority of the campus destroyed and pushed the opening back several years. What was almost a complete rebuild took place over the last decade and when this lavish building finally saw the light of day it didn't disappoint. Architecturally it is stunning, covered in flashy aluminum panels that make the whole pavilion shimmer in the sun. A 40 foot walkthrough tunnel through a large reef tank is the very first guests will see when entering and while it may seem commonplace it is very well done. A 600,000 gallon tank representing the Hudson canyon off the coast of New Jersey is the highlight of the house with nicely done lighting and well crafted rockwork. These two tanks are the first and last thing guests will see and in between are a variety of aquariums that are focused on smaller schooling fish, the most notable themed after a shipwreck that has been taken over by ocean life. In total 18 different species of shark and ray are on display, including everything from wobbegongs and sand tigers to several bamboo shark species. Dozens of interpretive displays are dispersed throughout the building to educate visitors on the importance of sharks to the local ecosystem, work being done to conserve sharks in the wild, and choices they can make to help. One of the most interesting is a digital display which encourages guests to make sustainable choices when ordering from seafood restaurants. It's not the most distinct aquarium exhibit out there, but when it comes to educational components and conservation messaging, this is one of the finest pavilions in the country.
This exhibit is almost completely unrepresented in the ZooChat gallery as only photos of the big tanks have been uploaded. Here is a walkthrough video that provides a better overview.
@hudson111
@hudson111
Similar Exhibits: Another notable shark display is Georgia Aquarium's Predators of the Deep. This is a single 1.2 million gallon tank that contains five species including extreme rarities like tiger sharks, greater hammerheads and silver tips. Instead of the more common walkthrough tunnel, this gallery features flat glass viewing windows above the visitor walkway which reduces the distortion created by curved viewing glass.
@ZooNerd1234
@geomorph
@geomorph
89. Ocean Wonders: Sharks
New York Aquarium, NY
Opened: 2018
Size: 57,000 Square Feet (5,300 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: >120 species of reef fish and loggerhead sea turtle.
Marine mammals aside, few aquarium staples are bigger crowd-pleasers than sharks. The general public is incredibly drawn to these intimidating creatures, which inspired countless aquariums to make a large shark tank their star attraction. New York Aquarium took this concept a step further and set out to replace their outdated shark building with a pavilion that would showcase local conservation efforts to help sharks in New York. This development was a long time coming, as just days before the scheduled groundbreaking of this exhibit the Aquarium was devastated by hurricane sandy which left a majority of the campus destroyed and pushed the opening back several years. What was almost a complete rebuild took place over the last decade and when this lavish building finally saw the light of day it didn't disappoint. Architecturally it is stunning, covered in flashy aluminum panels that make the whole pavilion shimmer in the sun. A 40 foot walkthrough tunnel through a large reef tank is the very first guests will see when entering and while it may seem commonplace it is very well done. A 600,000 gallon tank representing the Hudson canyon off the coast of New Jersey is the highlight of the house with nicely done lighting and well crafted rockwork. These two tanks are the first and last thing guests will see and in between are a variety of aquariums that are focused on smaller schooling fish, the most notable themed after a shipwreck that has been taken over by ocean life. In total 18 different species of shark and ray are on display, including everything from wobbegongs and sand tigers to several bamboo shark species. Dozens of interpretive displays are dispersed throughout the building to educate visitors on the importance of sharks to the local ecosystem, work being done to conserve sharks in the wild, and choices they can make to help. One of the most interesting is a digital display which encourages guests to make sustainable choices when ordering from seafood restaurants. It's not the most distinct aquarium exhibit out there, but when it comes to educational components and conservation messaging, this is one of the finest pavilions in the country.
This exhibit is almost completely unrepresented in the ZooChat gallery as only photos of the big tanks have been uploaded. Here is a walkthrough video that provides a better overview.
@hudson111
@hudson111
Similar Exhibits: Another notable shark display is Georgia Aquarium's Predators of the Deep. This is a single 1.2 million gallon tank that contains five species including extreme rarities like tiger sharks, greater hammerheads and silver tips. Instead of the more common walkthrough tunnel, this gallery features flat glass viewing windows above the visitor walkway which reduces the distortion created by curved viewing glass.
@ZooNerd1234
@geomorph
@geomorph
Funny timing, I was supposed to go there yesterday but it fell through
I'll be sure to post photos when I do.I'm going to be going to NYAQ in a few weeks as well, I knew this exhibit was AZA exhibit award winning and very respectable, but I did not realize it was so highly regarded that it'd receive a spot on this list. I'm definitely much more excited to see the aquarium now, though!Funny timing, I was supposed to go there yesterday but it fell through
90. Africa Rocks
San Diego Zoo, CA
Opened: 2017
Size: 7 Acres (2.8 Hectares)
Inhabitants: Roughly 60 species including African Penguin, Gelada, Amur Leopard, Klipspringer, five species of lemur, West African Dwarf Crocodile, >30 bird species and more.
Coming out at just under $70 million, this is one of the most famously expensive endeavors undertaken by any zoo across the globe. Years of rumors and speculation of what it would entail led to this becoming arguably the most highly anticipated exhibit of the last decade. In spite of the lofty expectations, Africa Rocks failed to disappoint and is a triumph on all fronts. Instead of focusing on traditional large savanna or forest megafauna, the zoo instead opted for an elaborate showcase of small to medium-sized species across various specific African environments: Ethiopian Highlands, Acacia Woodlands, West African Forest, Madagascar and Cape Fynbos. The latter features the star attraction of the entire complex, a stunning 200,000 gallon aquarium for African penguins and a few larger fish species. Built on a steep mesa, some exhibits make use of the sloped terrain which works especially well in the gelada and Hamadryas baboon habitats. Every enclosure here is highly impressive, succeeding both in flash and function. Even with a sky-high budget, plans for an aye-aye house never came to fruition and larger species like zebras and hyenas were cut in the planning process. While it’s all quite remarkable, it can’t be described as very immersive in the way the zoo's older exhibit complexes can. The middle of the canyon is dominated by mesh and steel support poles which compose numerous enclosures including yet another one of the zoo's enormous walkthrough aviaries. Despite not quite evoking the sense of being in Africa, the diversity of flora is phenomenal and softens the appearance greatly. The famous 1980s Kopje habitats were integrated as part of the complex and are still just as wonderful decades later, fitting in perfectly with the rest of the development. Suffice to say, exhibits with this level of ambition don't come around often, which solidifies this project as one of the greatest zoo experiences conceived in recent history.
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@twilighter
@Coelacanth18
@Coelacanth18
@Moebelle
Similar Exhibits: There isn’t anything quite like it.
San Diego Zoo, CA
Opened: 2017
Size: 7 Acres (2.8 Hectares)
Inhabitants: Roughly 60 species including African Penguin, Gelada, Amur Leopard, Klipspringer, five species of lemur, West African Dwarf Crocodile, >30 bird species and more.
Coming out at just under $70 million, this is one of the most famously expensive endeavors undertaken by any zoo across the globe. Years of rumors and speculation of what it would entail led to this becoming arguably the most highly anticipated exhibit of the last decade. In spite of the lofty expectations, Africa Rocks failed to disappoint and is a triumph on all fronts. Instead of focusing on traditional large savanna or forest megafauna, the zoo instead opted for an elaborate showcase of small to medium-sized species across various specific African environments: Ethiopian Highlands, Acacia Woodlands, West African Forest, Madagascar and Cape Fynbos. The latter features the star attraction of the entire complex, a stunning 200,000 gallon aquarium for African penguins and a few larger fish species. Built on a steep mesa, some exhibits make use of the sloped terrain which works especially well in the gelada and Hamadryas baboon habitats. Every enclosure here is highly impressive, succeeding both in flash and function. Even with a sky-high budget, plans for an aye-aye house never came to fruition and larger species like zebras and hyenas were cut in the planning process. While it’s all quite remarkable, it can’t be described as very immersive in the way the zoo's older exhibit complexes can. The middle of the canyon is dominated by mesh and steel support poles which compose numerous enclosures including yet another one of the zoo's enormous walkthrough aviaries. Despite not quite evoking the sense of being in Africa, the diversity of flora is phenomenal and softens the appearance greatly. The famous 1980s Kopje habitats were integrated as part of the complex and are still just as wonderful decades later, fitting in perfectly with the rest of the development. Suffice to say, exhibits with this level of ambition don't come around often, which solidifies this project as one of the greatest zoo experiences conceived in recent history.
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1. African Penguin and Leopard Shark Exhibit
2. African Penguin and Leopard Shark Underwater Viewing
3. West African Dwarf Crocodile and Turtle Exhibit
4. Mesa Overview
5. Lemur Exhibit (rotated between five species)
6. Acacia Woodlands Aviary
7. Hamadryas Baboon Exhibit
8. Kopje Exhibit
9. Rady Falls
2. African Penguin and Leopard Shark Underwater Viewing
3. West African Dwarf Crocodile and Turtle Exhibit
4. Mesa Overview
5. Lemur Exhibit (rotated between five species)
6. Acacia Woodlands Aviary
7. Hamadryas Baboon Exhibit
8. Kopje Exhibit
9. Rady Falls
Similar Exhibits: There isn’t anything quite like it.