Kanazawa Zoo in Yokohama Japan was able to keep a pronghorn imported from San Diego for fifteen years, making the pronghorn in question one of the oldest representatives of his species. Yokohama is a humid and rainy region.
Snowleopard's Mammals: A Lifetime List of Species Mammalian and Non-Mammalian
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Plus there are a few humid climate zoos in the US that have had success with Pronghorn, including Minnesota and Columbus.
I have seen Common Hippos at 65 zoos.
On my original list I had 7 zoos with both Common Hippos and Pygmy Hippos. San Diego (2006), Adelaide (2007), Brookfield (2008), Toronto (2008), Smithsonian’s National Zoo (2008), Pairi Daiza (2019) and Berlin (2019) are those zoos.
Then I went to Southeast Asia last month and saw an additional 10 zoos with both hippo species in the space of 3 weeks! It's very common in SEA to see both types of hippo in adjacent exhibits in the same zoo and hippos flourish in Asia. They breed them like rats. The zoos: Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand), Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand), Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand), Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia), Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia), Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia), Solo Safari (Indonesia), Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia), Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) and Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia). In total, 17 zoos have had both Pygmy Hippos and Common Hippos in my lifetime and most of those were in SEA.
1- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1986
2- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1988
3- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 1994
4- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2005
5- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
6- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
7- Denver Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
8- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Common Hippo – 2007
9- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
10- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
11- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
12- Toronto Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
13- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
14- Memphis Zoo (USA) - Common Hippo – 2008
15- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
16- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
17- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
18- Wildlife Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
19- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
20- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
21- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
22- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
23- Mesker Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
24- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
25- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
26- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
27- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
28- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
29- Adventure Aquarium (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
30- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
31- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
32- Topeka Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
33- DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2014
34- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
35- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
36- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
37- Zoo Maubeuge (France) – Common Hippo – 2019
38- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
39- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
40- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
41- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
42- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
43- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
44- Safari Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
45- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
46- Hannover Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
47- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
48- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Common Hippo – 2022
49- Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
50- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
51- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
52- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
53- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
54- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
55- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
56- Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024 (off-exhibit at the time)
57- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
58- Night Safari (Singapore) – Common Hippo – 2024
59- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
60- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
61- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
62- Solo Safari (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
63- Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
64- Lembang Park & Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
65- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
66- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
It's always been an enigma when it comes to Common Hippos, in terms of what constitutes an excellent exhibit. When it comes to underwater viewing, that can be spectacular and in many ways that's the best way for a zoo to showcase hippos with up-close views. Who doesn't want to see hippos a few inches away and pooping in the water?
But, far too often there's been a tiny slab of cement for land and then the hippos are predominantly confined to their swimming pools. More zoos in the modern era are incorporating grassy fields for their hippos, and keeping the species in larger numbers, and that appears to be the focus for the future.
Here are some memorable Common Hippo exhibits:
Calgary Zoo (Canada) has months of snow in the wintertime, and the Common Hippos and Giraffes are confined to their indoor housing for longer periods of the year, but the hippo pool is admittedly an amazing location to view the underwater balletic movements of the hippos.
Contrast that with Woodland Park Zoo (USA) in Seattle, with an exhibit for Common Hippos that was part of an award-winning African Savanna zone 45 years ago. Times have changed. Now, there is one hippo left and there's been talk for years of phasing out the species. There's no adequate filtration system and the water is "pumped and dumped" once or twice a week. The water isn't heated and there's no substantial indoor area either. It might look great in this photo, but at any point the zoo will be done with hippos forever and it will be the end of an era.
San Diego Zoo (USA) has had a beautiful Common Hippo exhibit for decades.
A stunning slice of Africa is at Disney's Animal Kingdom (USA), with multiple Common Hippos present at the park and several pools. Is this the only American zoo with hippos in big numbers?
Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has an amazing setup for underwater viewing, truly world-class, but what about the land area? Is there more than a little sliver of cement? Perhaps there is a larger space just out of view of the public?
@Moebelle
There is certainly a thrill seeing Common Hippos mere inches away and swimming in a pool. San Antonio Zoo (USA) offers up this opportunity, plus there's more than a dozen other zoos in the U.S.A. with underwater viewing for Common Hippos.
Then there's Adventure Aquarium (USA), with two Common Hippos entirely indoors. The pool has underwater viewing, but the whole thing comes across as quite industrial. I felt it was a hit-and-miss exhibit when I was there in 2012 and now I feel that it's quite outdated.
Many exhibits are on the small side, such as this one at Topeka Zoo (USA):
Most American zoos keep two Common Hippos together and that's it. It's 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2 at just about every zoo. Occasionally there's even a zoo with only one hippo, like DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) with its hippo yard in the Michigan wilderness.
Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) has only had the one Common Hippo for years.
Over in Europe, Zoo Maubeuge (France) has a unique Common Hippo exhibit, with an enormous wall and a river-type pool.
Cologne Zoo (Germany) has a famous Common Hippo exhibit:
@zoogiraffe
Berlin Zoo (Germany) has a spectacular Common Hippo/Nyala complex and you can see one of each species in this photo.
@twilighter
But is the land area indoors really large enough? Does it matter to the general public?
@MagpieGoose
ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) has a truly impressive Common Hippo exhibit and in fact 90% of this zoo is full of high-quality animal habitats.
The herds of Nile Lechwe and Common Hippos seem to get along fine at Safari Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) in a memorable exhibit.
@Mr Gharial
Wildlands Emmen (Netherlands) has a fantastic Common Hippo exhibit in what was once a penguin complex.
The pool is incredibly deep:
I saw a TON of hippos in Southeast Asia, with almost zero underwater viewing and very basic accommodation. Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) has a terrific Common Hippo exhibit with a substantial amount of space and a large pool. I will talk more about the multitude of hippos I saw in SEA when I begin my travel thread in January, but some of the pools were gargantuan. They just lacked any sense of presentation in terms of viewing areas and some of the Pygmy Hippo shelters weren't much different from garden sheds due to the warm, tropical climate.
Next up: Pygmy Hippos
On my original list I had 7 zoos with both Common Hippos and Pygmy Hippos. San Diego (2006), Adelaide (2007), Brookfield (2008), Toronto (2008), Smithsonian’s National Zoo (2008), Pairi Daiza (2019) and Berlin (2019) are those zoos.
Then I went to Southeast Asia last month and saw an additional 10 zoos with both hippo species in the space of 3 weeks! It's very common in SEA to see both types of hippo in adjacent exhibits in the same zoo and hippos flourish in Asia. They breed them like rats. The zoos: Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand), Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand), Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand), Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia), Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia), Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia), Solo Safari (Indonesia), Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia), Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) and Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia). In total, 17 zoos have had both Pygmy Hippos and Common Hippos in my lifetime and most of those were in SEA.
1- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1986
2- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1988
3- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 1994
4- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2005
5- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
6- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
7- Denver Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
8- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Common Hippo – 2007
9- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
10- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
11- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
12- Toronto Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
13- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
14- Memphis Zoo (USA) - Common Hippo – 2008
15- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
16- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
17- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
18- Wildlife Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
19- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
20- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
21- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
22- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
23- Mesker Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
24- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
25- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
26- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
27- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
28- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
29- Adventure Aquarium (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
30- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
31- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
32- Topeka Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
33- DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2014
34- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
35- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
36- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
37- Zoo Maubeuge (France) – Common Hippo – 2019
38- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
39- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
40- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
41- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
42- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
43- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
44- Safari Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
45- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
46- Hannover Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
47- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
48- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Common Hippo – 2022
49- Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
50- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
51- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
52- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
53- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
54- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
55- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
56- Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024 (off-exhibit at the time)
57- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
58- Night Safari (Singapore) – Common Hippo – 2024
59- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
60- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
61- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
62- Solo Safari (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
63- Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
64- Lembang Park & Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
65- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
66- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
It's always been an enigma when it comes to Common Hippos, in terms of what constitutes an excellent exhibit. When it comes to underwater viewing, that can be spectacular and in many ways that's the best way for a zoo to showcase hippos with up-close views. Who doesn't want to see hippos a few inches away and pooping in the water?
But, far too often there's been a tiny slab of cement for land and then the hippos are predominantly confined to their swimming pools. More zoos in the modern era are incorporating grassy fields for their hippos, and keeping the species in larger numbers, and that appears to be the focus for the future.Here are some memorable Common Hippo exhibits:
Calgary Zoo (Canada) has months of snow in the wintertime, and the Common Hippos and Giraffes are confined to their indoor housing for longer periods of the year, but the hippo pool is admittedly an amazing location to view the underwater balletic movements of the hippos.
Contrast that with Woodland Park Zoo (USA) in Seattle, with an exhibit for Common Hippos that was part of an award-winning African Savanna zone 45 years ago. Times have changed. Now, there is one hippo left and there's been talk for years of phasing out the species. There's no adequate filtration system and the water is "pumped and dumped" once or twice a week. The water isn't heated and there's no substantial indoor area either. It might look great in this photo, but at any point the zoo will be done with hippos forever and it will be the end of an era.
San Diego Zoo (USA) has had a beautiful Common Hippo exhibit for decades.
A stunning slice of Africa is at Disney's Animal Kingdom (USA), with multiple Common Hippos present at the park and several pools. Is this the only American zoo with hippos in big numbers?
Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has an amazing setup for underwater viewing, truly world-class, but what about the land area? Is there more than a little sliver of cement? Perhaps there is a larger space just out of view of the public?
@Moebelle
There is certainly a thrill seeing Common Hippos mere inches away and swimming in a pool. San Antonio Zoo (USA) offers up this opportunity, plus there's more than a dozen other zoos in the U.S.A. with underwater viewing for Common Hippos.
Then there's Adventure Aquarium (USA), with two Common Hippos entirely indoors. The pool has underwater viewing, but the whole thing comes across as quite industrial. I felt it was a hit-and-miss exhibit when I was there in 2012 and now I feel that it's quite outdated.
Many exhibits are on the small side, such as this one at Topeka Zoo (USA):
Most American zoos keep two Common Hippos together and that's it. It's 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2 at just about every zoo. Occasionally there's even a zoo with only one hippo, like DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) with its hippo yard in the Michigan wilderness.
Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) has only had the one Common Hippo for years.
Over in Europe, Zoo Maubeuge (France) has a unique Common Hippo exhibit, with an enormous wall and a river-type pool.
Cologne Zoo (Germany) has a famous Common Hippo exhibit:
@zoogiraffe
Berlin Zoo (Germany) has a spectacular Common Hippo/Nyala complex and you can see one of each species in this photo.
@twilighter
But is the land area indoors really large enough? Does it matter to the general public?
@MagpieGoose
ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) has a truly impressive Common Hippo exhibit and in fact 90% of this zoo is full of high-quality animal habitats.
The herds of Nile Lechwe and Common Hippos seem to get along fine at Safari Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) in a memorable exhibit.
@Mr Gharial
Wildlands Emmen (Netherlands) has a fantastic Common Hippo exhibit in what was once a penguin complex.
The pool is incredibly deep:
I saw a TON of hippos in Southeast Asia, with almost zero underwater viewing and very basic accommodation. Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) has a terrific Common Hippo exhibit with a substantial amount of space and a large pool. I will talk more about the multitude of hippos I saw in SEA when I begin my travel thread in January, but some of the pools were gargantuan. They just lacked any sense of presentation in terms of viewing areas and some of the Pygmy Hippo shelters weren't much different from garden sheds due to the warm, tropical climate.
Next up: Pygmy Hippos
Last edited:
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
These eleven zoos no longer keep Nile Hippos (Wild Wilderness has closed down entirely). Brookfield is the only one that I'd say will bring them back in the future, but that is still about a decade away. In addition, two more zoos (Woodland Park, and Sedgwick County) plan to phase-out hippos in the near future, which will then equate to just under 20% of zoos you have seen Nile Hippos at at no longer keep them.
@Moebelle Thanks! I replaced the image. 
@Nile Hippo Expert It's a bit disheartening to see so many American zoos go out of Common Hippos, but it does make sense with the huge cost associated with maintaining the species in captivity. The Southeast Asian zoos that had loads of hippos were ones that all had zero underwater viewing, zero major filtration systems, zero huge buildings...just a big pool and very basic accommodation in most cases. Several zoos had 3 or even 4 hippo exhibits all in a row, something that is almost never the case in the western world.
@Nile Hippo Expert It's a bit disheartening to see so many American zoos go out of Common Hippos, but it does make sense with the huge cost associated with maintaining the species in captivity. The Southeast Asian zoos that had loads of hippos were ones that all had zero underwater viewing, zero major filtration systems, zero huge buildings...just a big pool and very basic accommodation in most cases. Several zoos had 3 or even 4 hippo exhibits all in a row, something that is almost never the case in the western world.
Very cool to see laid out like this! Here's mine:
48 Zoo Nations: (I've also visited 4 other countries but didn't see zoos there: Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia- Tried but ran out of time in 3/4 of these and Botswana only visited a national park on the border with South Africa)
USA - 133
Germany - 19
Australia - 16
UK - 11
Colombia - 9
Brazil - 8
Indonesia - 8
Czech Republic - 7
Netherlands - 7
South Africa - 7
Thailand - 5
Argentina - 4
Israel - 4
Japan - 4
Madagascar - 4
Mexico - 4
Singapore - 4
Spain - 4
UAE - 4
Vietnam - 4
Canada - 3
France - 3
Uganda - 3
Costa Rica - 2
Denmark - 2
Ecuador - 2
Malaysia - 2
Peru - 2
Poland - 2
Portugal - 2
Russia - 2
Austria - 1
Bahamas - 1
Belgium - 1
Chile - 1
China - 1
Dominican Republic - 1
Gabon -1
Iceland - 1
India - 1
Morocco - 1
New Zealand - 1
Panama - 1
Philippines - 1
Sweden - 1
Switzerland - 1
Taiwan - 1
Uruguay - 1
308 Total
Some take-aways. I'm shocked Colombia was 5th, otherwise the top 10 was as expected. Also shocked I've only been to 3 in Canada. Desperate to visit more in China, India, Philippines.
It's honestly quite mind boggling on just how common the hippos are here in Indonesia. They even used to have one all the way back in Ancol when Animal Show is still going on. I feel like the only major zoo I know in Indo that doesn't have a hippo is Bali Zoo.
While yesterday's post highlighted the fact that I've seen Common Hippos at 65 zoos, by contrast I've seen Pygmy Hippos at 44 zoos. There's been 17 zoos that had both species at the same time, all listed in my Common Hippos post.
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Pygmy Hippo – 1975
2- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Pygmy Hippo – 2003
3- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2006
4- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
5- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
6- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
7- Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
8- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
9- Toronto Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
10- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
11- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
12- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
13- Zoo Miami (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
14- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
15- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
16- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
17- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
18- Franklin Park Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
19- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
20- Jackson Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
21- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2014
22- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
23- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
24- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
25- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
26- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
27- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
28- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
29- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
30- Aalborg Zoo (Denmark) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
31- Parken Zoo (Sweden) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
32- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2023
33- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
34- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
35- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
36- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
37- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
38- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
39- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
40- Batu Secret Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
41- Solo Safari (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
42- Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
43- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
44- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
The one-two punch of Pygmy Hippo and Slender-snouted Crocodile exhibits at San Diego Zoo (USA) is rather spectacular.
The hippos share their space with Wolf's Mona Monkeys:
@MagpieGoose
Having underwater viewing, such as at Taronga Zoo (Australia), adds a layer of visitor excitement to a Pygmy Hippo exhibit.
@WhistlingKite24
Brookfield Zoo (USA) used to have Pygmy Hippos inside Tropic World, as shown in this 2008 photo. The hippos have since been moved to an outdoor space at the historic Pachyderm House.
Here's an aerial view of two Pygmy Hippos inside the cavernous Lied Jungle at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA):
A rocky, different sort of Pygmy Hippo exhibit can be found at Louisville Zoo (USA):
When I visited Montgomery Zoo (USA) in 2010, I was surprised to see Giraffes in an exhibit that could also be accessed by Pygmy Hippos. A couple of hippos were in the water moat that surrounded the Giraffe habitat.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) had a spacious Pygmy Hippo exhibit when I was there in 2012, within the Safari Africa zone.
Jackson Zoo (USA), that much-maligned facility that has lost its AZA accreditation and has looked on the verge of closure for years, has an excellent outdoor Pygmy Hippo exhibit.
@SwampDonkey
GaiaZOO (Netherlands), that superb Dutch zoo that's packed with great exhibits, has a very nice Pygmy Hippo setup that's natural looking and beautiful.
@Mr Gharial
I really enjoyed seeing the lush outdoor enclosure at Duisburg Zoo (Germany) in 2019, with a great indoor area as well.
Both photos via @Maguari
Givskud Zoo (Denmark) has two large Pygmy Hippo exhibits, side by side and both stunning in many ways. A visitor boardwalk cuts between them, allowing close-up views of the inhabitants. A hippo is visible in this photo, on the left.
Another big area for Pygmy Hippos can be found at Parken Zoo (Sweden):
Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) has a scenic Pygmy Hippo exhibit with a pool full of fish. There's underwater viewing and an overhead lookout point as well.
Pygmy Hippos don't always require a substantially sized exhibit, and quite often in Southeast Asian zoos the accommodation is more than adequate but nothing above and beyond. Surabaya Zoo has at least 3 Pygmy Hippo exhibits all in a row, Ragunan Zoo has two large ones, and a couple of the Taman Safari parks have multiple exhibits in a row. One of those zoos had FOUR Pygmy Hippo enclosures, all seen via the Tram Tour. Here's one at Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) that's about the average size of a Pygmy Hippo exhibit in SEA.
Singapore Zoo (Singapore) has had Pygmy Hippos for many years, sometimes in multiple exhibits inside the grounds.
@Hix
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Pygmy Hippo – 1975
2- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Pygmy Hippo – 2003
3- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2006
4- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
5- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
6- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
7- Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
8- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
9- Toronto Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
10- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
11- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
12- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
13- Zoo Miami (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
14- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
15- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
16- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
17- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
18- Franklin Park Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
19- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
20- Jackson Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
21- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2014
22- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
23- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
24- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
25- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
26- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
27- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
28- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
29- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
30- Aalborg Zoo (Denmark) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
31- Parken Zoo (Sweden) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
32- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2023
33- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
34- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
35- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
36- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
37- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
38- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
39- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
40- Batu Secret Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
41- Solo Safari (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
42- Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
43- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
44- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
The one-two punch of Pygmy Hippo and Slender-snouted Crocodile exhibits at San Diego Zoo (USA) is rather spectacular.
The hippos share their space with Wolf's Mona Monkeys:
@MagpieGoose
Having underwater viewing, such as at Taronga Zoo (Australia), adds a layer of visitor excitement to a Pygmy Hippo exhibit.
@WhistlingKite24
Brookfield Zoo (USA) used to have Pygmy Hippos inside Tropic World, as shown in this 2008 photo. The hippos have since been moved to an outdoor space at the historic Pachyderm House.
Here's an aerial view of two Pygmy Hippos inside the cavernous Lied Jungle at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA):
A rocky, different sort of Pygmy Hippo exhibit can be found at Louisville Zoo (USA):
When I visited Montgomery Zoo (USA) in 2010, I was surprised to see Giraffes in an exhibit that could also be accessed by Pygmy Hippos. A couple of hippos were in the water moat that surrounded the Giraffe habitat.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) had a spacious Pygmy Hippo exhibit when I was there in 2012, within the Safari Africa zone.
Jackson Zoo (USA), that much-maligned facility that has lost its AZA accreditation and has looked on the verge of closure for years, has an excellent outdoor Pygmy Hippo exhibit.
@SwampDonkey
GaiaZOO (Netherlands), that superb Dutch zoo that's packed with great exhibits, has a very nice Pygmy Hippo setup that's natural looking and beautiful.
@Mr Gharial
I really enjoyed seeing the lush outdoor enclosure at Duisburg Zoo (Germany) in 2019, with a great indoor area as well.
Both photos via @Maguari
Givskud Zoo (Denmark) has two large Pygmy Hippo exhibits, side by side and both stunning in many ways. A visitor boardwalk cuts between them, allowing close-up views of the inhabitants. A hippo is visible in this photo, on the left.
Another big area for Pygmy Hippos can be found at Parken Zoo (Sweden):
Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) has a scenic Pygmy Hippo exhibit with a pool full of fish. There's underwater viewing and an overhead lookout point as well.
Pygmy Hippos don't always require a substantially sized exhibit, and quite often in Southeast Asian zoos the accommodation is more than adequate but nothing above and beyond. Surabaya Zoo has at least 3 Pygmy Hippo exhibits all in a row, Ragunan Zoo has two large ones, and a couple of the Taman Safari parks have multiple exhibits in a row. One of those zoos had FOUR Pygmy Hippo enclosures, all seen via the Tram Tour. Here's one at Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) that's about the average size of a Pygmy Hippo exhibit in SEA.
Singapore Zoo (Singapore) has had Pygmy Hippos for many years, sometimes in multiple exhibits inside the grounds.
@Hix
NNM.
Well-Known Member
What would you say is your favorite exhibit for the species you’ve seen?I have seen Common Hippos at 65 zoos.
On my original list I had 7 zoos with both Common Hippos and Pygmy Hippos. San Diego (2006), Adelaide (2007), Brookfield (2008), Toronto (2008), Smithsonian’s National Zoo (2008), Pairi Daiza (2019) and Berlin (2019) are those zoos.
Then I went to Southeast Asia last month and saw an additional 10 zoos with both hippo species in the space of 3 weeks! It's very common in SEA to see both types of hippo in adjacent exhibits in the same zoo and hippos flourish in Asia. They breed them like rats. The zoos: Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand), Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand), Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand), Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia), Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia), Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia), Solo Safari (Indonesia), Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia), Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) and Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia). In total, 17 zoos have had both Pygmy Hippos and Common Hippos in my lifetime and most of those were in SEA.
1- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1986
2- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1988
3- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 1994
4- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2005
5- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
6- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
7- Denver Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
8- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Common Hippo – 2007
9- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
10- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
11- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
12- Toronto Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
13- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
14- Memphis Zoo (USA) - Common Hippo – 2008
15- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
16- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
17- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
18- Wildlife Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
19- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
20- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
21- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
22- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
23- Mesker Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
24- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
25- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
26- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
27- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
28- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
29- Adventure Aquarium (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
30- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
31- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
32- Topeka Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
33- DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2014
34- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
35- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
36- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
37- Zoo Maubeuge (France) – Common Hippo – 2019
38- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
39- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
40- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
41- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
42- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
43- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
44- Safari Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
45- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
46- Hannover Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
47- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
48- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Common Hippo – 2022
49- Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
50- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
51- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
52- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
53- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
54- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
55- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
56- Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024 (off-exhibit at the time)
57- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
58- Night Safari (Singapore) – Common Hippo – 2024
59- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
60- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
61- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
62- Solo Safari (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
63- Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
64- Lembang Park & Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
65- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
66- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
It's always been an enigma when it comes to Common Hippos, in terms of what constitutes an excellent exhibit. When it comes to underwater viewing, that can be spectacular and in many ways that's the best way for a zoo to showcase hippos with up-close views. Who doesn't want to see hippos a few inches away and pooping in the water?
Here are some memorable Common Hippo exhibits:
Calgary Zoo (Canada) has months of snow in the wintertime, and the Common Hippos and Giraffes are confined to their indoor housing for longer periods of the year, but the hippo pool is admittedly an amazing location to view the underwater balletic movements of the hippos.
Contrast that with Woodland Park Zoo (USA) in Seattle, with an exhibit for Common Hippos that was part of an award-winning African Savanna zone 45 years ago. Times have changed. Now, there is one hippo left and there's been talk for years of phasing out the species. There's no adequate filtration system and the water is "pumped and dumped" once or twice a week. The water isn't heated and there's no substantial indoor area either. It might look great in this photo, but at any point the zoo will be done with hippos forever and it will be the end of an era.
San Diego Zoo (USA) has had a beautiful Common Hippo exhibit for decades.
A stunning slice of Africa is at Disney's Animal Kingdom (USA), with multiple Common Hippos present at the park and several pools. Is this the only American zoo with hippos in big numbers?
Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has an amazing setup for underwater viewing, truly world-class, but what about the land area? Is there more than a little sliver of cement? Perhaps there is a larger space just out of view of the public?
@Moebelle
There is certainly a thrill seeing Common Hippos mere inches away and swimming in a pool. San Antonio Zoo (USA) offers up this opportunity, plus there's more than a dozen other zoos in the U.S.A. with underwater viewing for Common Hippos.
Then there's Adventure Aquarium (USA), with two Common Hippos entirely indoors. The pool has underwater viewing, but the whole thing comes across as quite industrial. I felt it was a hit-and-miss exhibit when I was there in 2012 and now I feel that it's quite outdated.
Many exhibits are on the small side, such as this one at Topeka Zoo (USA):
Most American zoos keep two Common Hippos together and that's it. It's 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2 at just about every zoo. Occasionally there's even a zoo with only one hippo, like DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) with its hippo yard in the Michigan wilderness.
Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) has only had the one Common Hippo for years.
Over in Europe, Zoo Maubeuge (France) has a unique Common Hippo exhibit, with an enormous wall and a river-type pool.
Cologne Zoo (Germany) has a famous Common Hippo exhibit:
@zoogiraffe
Berlin Zoo (Germany) has a spectacular Common Hippo/Nyala complex and you can see one of each species in this photo.
@twilighter
But is the land area indoors really large enough? Does it matter to the general public?
@MagpieGoose
ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) has a truly impressive Common Hippo exhibit and in fact 90% of this zoo is full of high-quality animal habitats.
The herds of Nile Lechwe and Common Hippos seem to get along fine at Safari Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) in a memorable exhibit.
@Mr Gharial
Wildlands Emmen (Netherlands) has a fantastic Common Hippo exhibit in what was once a penguin complex.
The pool is incredibly deep:
I saw a TON of hippos in Southeast Asia, with almost zero underwater viewing and very basic accommodation. Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) has a terrific Common Hippo exhibit with a substantial amount of space and a large pool. I will talk more about the multitude of hippos I saw in SEA when I begin my travel thread in January, but some of the pools were gargantuan. They just lacked any sense of presentation in terms of viewing areas and some of the Pygmy Hippo shelters weren't much different from garden sheds due to the warm, tropical climate.
Next up: Pygmy Hippos
Well, @NNM. I really like San Diego Zoo's exhibit for Common Hippos, primarily because the underwater viewing windows are enormous and there's lots of space for big crowds. If a hippo approaches a window, then it's a thrilling sight and hippo enclosures that lack underwater viewing cannot capture those moments. I also love the European mixed-species exhibits with hippos, such as the Nyala in with them at Berlin Zoo and the Nile Lechwe at Safari Park Beekse Bergen. I can't remember if the Sitatunga at ZOOM share the same space with the hippos, but that exhibit there is amazing either way. Common Hippos are very easy to maintain in captivity, they lead long lives and they famously breed like crazy.
Another fantastic Common Hippo exhibit which I didn't highlight before is the one at Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand), which had at least 3 hippos and was delightful. There's a river-like waterway from the holding building to the main pool, as well as a gorgeous jungle backdrop. Here it is:
As for the Pygmy Hippo exhibit at Franklin Park Zoo (USA), it actually seems fine to me and there's a lot of mock-rock in the background and it appears to not have changed much from when I visited the zoo in 2012. However, scanning my list of 44 zoos where I've seen Pygmy Hippos, there's perhaps only 5 of them (Lincoln Park, Brookfield, Toronto, Omaha, Franklin Park) where I saw the species entirely indoors. After seeing so many Southeast Asian zoos with Pygmy Hippos outdoors in the sunshine, with wild monitor lizards and tropical birds mingling in their exhibits, it seems antiquated to keep such a large mammal indoors with zero outside access. Franklin Park's exhibit seems fine and it's probably nice and cozy for the hippos, but these days it's very much an anomaly in keeping Pygmy Hippos indoors. I don't have a huge problem with the practice, but the fact remains that very few zoos do that these days. Around 90% of the zoos I've seen have given Pygmy Hippos an outdoor exhibit.
I'll end off my hippo analysis with a final list combining both species. Check out the bottom section, where a ton of Southeast Asian zoos have both Common and Pygmy Hippos, often in multiple exhibits. There's a lot of African fauna in Asian zoos.
I have visited 92 zoos with some type of hippo (17 zoos with both species)
Common Hippo – 65 zoos
Pygmy Hippo – 44 zoos
Some of these zoos are ones I’ve visited on many occasions, but I’ve listed them only once and that is based on the first time I ever saw hippos at each zoo.
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Pygmy Hippo – 1975
2- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1986
3- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1988
4- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 1994
5- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Pygmy Hippo – 2003
6- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2005
7- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
8- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2006
9- Denver Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
10- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
11- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2007
12- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
13- Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
14- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2008
15- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
16- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
17- Toronto Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2008
18- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2008
19- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
20- Memphis Zoo (USA) - Common Hippo – 2008
21- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
22- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
23- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
24- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
25- Zoo Miami (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
26- Wildlife Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
27- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
28- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
29- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
30- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
31- Mesker Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
32- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
33- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
34- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
35- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
36- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
37- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
38- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
39- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
40- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
41- Franklin Park Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
42- Adventure Aquarium (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
43- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
44- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
45- Jackson Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
46- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
47- Topeka Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
48- DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2014
49- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2014
50- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
51- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
52- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
53- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
54- Zoo Maubeuge (France) – Common Hippo – 2019
55- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
56- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2019
57- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
58- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
59- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
60- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
61- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
62- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
63- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
64- Safari Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
65- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
66- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2019
67- Hannover Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
68- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
69- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
70- Aalborg Zoo (Denmark) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
71- Parken Zoo (Sweden) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
72- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Common Hippo – 2022
73- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2023
74- Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
75- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
76- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
77- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
78- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
79- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
80- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
81- Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024 (didn’t see)
82- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
83- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
84- Night Safari (Singapore) – Common Hippo – 2024
85- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
86- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
87- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
88- Batu Secret Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
89- Solo Safari (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
90- Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
91- Lembang Park & Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
92- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
93- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
Another fantastic Common Hippo exhibit which I didn't highlight before is the one at Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand), which had at least 3 hippos and was delightful. There's a river-like waterway from the holding building to the main pool, as well as a gorgeous jungle backdrop. Here it is:
As for the Pygmy Hippo exhibit at Franklin Park Zoo (USA), it actually seems fine to me and there's a lot of mock-rock in the background and it appears to not have changed much from when I visited the zoo in 2012. However, scanning my list of 44 zoos where I've seen Pygmy Hippos, there's perhaps only 5 of them (Lincoln Park, Brookfield, Toronto, Omaha, Franklin Park) where I saw the species entirely indoors. After seeing so many Southeast Asian zoos with Pygmy Hippos outdoors in the sunshine, with wild monitor lizards and tropical birds mingling in their exhibits, it seems antiquated to keep such a large mammal indoors with zero outside access. Franklin Park's exhibit seems fine and it's probably nice and cozy for the hippos, but these days it's very much an anomaly in keeping Pygmy Hippos indoors. I don't have a huge problem with the practice, but the fact remains that very few zoos do that these days. Around 90% of the zoos I've seen have given Pygmy Hippos an outdoor exhibit.
I'll end off my hippo analysis with a final list combining both species. Check out the bottom section, where a ton of Southeast Asian zoos have both Common and Pygmy Hippos, often in multiple exhibits. There's a lot of African fauna in Asian zoos.
I have visited 92 zoos with some type of hippo (17 zoos with both species)
Common Hippo – 65 zoos
Pygmy Hippo – 44 zoos
Some of these zoos are ones I’ve visited on many occasions, but I’ve listed them only once and that is based on the first time I ever saw hippos at each zoo.
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Pygmy Hippo – 1975
2- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1986
3- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Common Hippo – 1988
4- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 1994
5- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Pygmy Hippo – 2003
6- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2005
7- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
8- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2006
9- Denver Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2006
10- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
11- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2007
12- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2007
13- Lincoln Park Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
14- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2008
15- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
16- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
17- Toronto Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2008
18- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2008
19- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
20- Memphis Zoo (USA) - Common Hippo – 2008
21- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
22- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
23- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
24- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Common Hippo – 2008
25- Zoo Miami (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2008
26- Wildlife Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
27- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
28- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
29- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
30- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
31- Mesker Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
32- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
33- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
34- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
35- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
36- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
37- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
38- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
39- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2010
40- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2010
41- Franklin Park Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
42- Adventure Aquarium (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
43- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
44- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
45- Jackson Zoo (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2012
46- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
47- Topeka Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2012
48- DeYoung Family Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2014
49- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2014
50- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
51- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
52- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Common Hippo – 2015
53- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
54- Zoo Maubeuge (France) – Common Hippo – 2019
55- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
56- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2019
57- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – Common Hippo – 2019
58- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
59- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
60- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
61- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
62- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
63- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
64- Safari Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
65- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Pygmy Hippo – 2019
66- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2019
67- Hannover Zoo (Germany) – Common Hippo – 2019
68- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Common Hippo – 2019
69- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
70- Aalborg Zoo (Denmark) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
71- Parken Zoo (Sweden) – Pygmy Hippo – 2022
72- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Common Hippo – 2022
73- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Pygmy Hippo – 2023
74- Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
75- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
76- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
77- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
78- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
79- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – Common Hippo – 2024
80- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
81- Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024 (didn’t see)
82- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – Common Hippo – 2024
83- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
84- Night Safari (Singapore) – Common Hippo – 2024
85- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
86- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
87- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
88- Batu Secret Zoo (Indonesia) – Pygmy Hippo – 2024
89- Solo Safari (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
90- Gembira Loka Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
91- Lembang Park & Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo – 2024
92- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
93- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Common Hippo & Pygmy Hippo – 2024
The Franklin Park Zoo pygmy hippo exhibit has actually become two exhibits since your last visit- the hippos have access to their original exhibit and the adjacent exhibit (formerly home to capybaras).
I've seen Okapi at 31 zoos. I've never seen the species in my home nation of Canada, or any of the approximately 80 Asian or Australian zoos I've been to either. These are remarkable animals and quite often amongst the favourite species for zoo nerds.
1- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2006
2- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Okapi – 2006
3- Denver Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2006
4- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
5- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
6- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Okapi – 2008
7- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Okapi – 2008
8- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Okapi – 2008
9- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
11- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Okapi – 2008
12- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Okapi – 2008
13- Zoo Miami (USA) – Okapi – 2008
14- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
15- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
16- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
17- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
18- Maryland Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
19- Houston Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
20- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
21- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
22- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Okapi – 2012
23- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Okapi – 2019
24- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Okapi – 2019
25- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
26- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
27- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
28- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Okapi – 2019
29- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
30- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Okapi – 2022
31- Sacramento Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2023
The very first time I saw an Okapi was at San Diego Zoo (USA) in 2006 and the last time I was in San Diego (2023) the exhibit was closed down. It was either getting renovated or the closure was due to the Common Hippo pool construction next door.
I actually prefer the Okapi exhibit at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA), 40 minutes away. It looks terrific in this photo, with the sun shining over the trees. Both San Diego parks have often combined duikers with Okapis.
@IndianRhino
Denver Zoo (USA) has had Okapis for many years, with the exhibit home to Okapis, Secretary Birds and Saddle-billed Storks when I was there in 2012. Recently, Yellow-backed Duikers shared the same space as the Okapis.
Habitat Africa: The Forest, at Brookfield Zoo (USA), has been home to Okapis for a long time and it's quite a nice exhibit.
@pachyderm pro
The Congo Gorilla Forest complex at Bronx Zoo (USA) has a stunning Okapi habitat:
When I was last at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA), I saw two Okapi yards and the species was mixed with Yellow-backed Duikers and Ground Hornbills. It appears that Okapis are fairly good-natured and allow themselves to mingle with other animals.
Okapi, Yellow-backed Duiker and Blue Crane were all together in the past at Disney's Animal Kingdom (USA):
When visiting White Oak Conservation Center (USA) in 2008, I went into an exhibit with an Okapi, but it was too skittish to pet.
The legendary Red Rocks zone at Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has been home to Okapis and Red-flanked Duikers for many years.
I saw Okapis, Speke's Gazelles and Blue Cranes all together at Houston Zoo (USA):
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) incorporated Okapis and Grey Crowned Cranes into the zoo's African Rift Valley complex.
My first time seeing an Okapi in Europe was at Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) and there's a pair of outdoor exhibits there that aren't huge but they are well-planted and are part of an aviary setup.
@Mr Gharial
You can see an Okapi inside its indoor quarters at Blijdorp Zoo, which is head and shoulders above anything in a North American zoo. At first glance, it looks like an outdoor exhibit!
Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) has a Moorish House building for its Okapi and duikers, kept in phenomenal condition and with natural substrate indoors.
@TeaLovingDave
@KevinB
Yet another great European zoo, Cologne Zoo (Germany), has Okapis in a modern, naturalistic exhibit. The mature trees create a wonderful setting.
@twilighter
Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) has multiple Okapi yards, combined with Nyala and sometimes other species in an amazing setting.
@KevinB
Okapis and Red Duikers are together at Berlin Zoo (Germany) in a nice exhibit:
@twilighter
When at Sacramento Zoo (USA) in March 2024 with my family, we were graciously allowed to feed and pet the two male Okapis for an hour. It was an astonishing experience and the two exhibits there are superb.
Order Artiodactyla (23 families):
Antilocapridae: 1 species (30 zoos with Pronghorn)
Delphinidae: 7 species (15 zoos with Common Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Killer Whale, 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphin, 1 Commerson's Dolphin, 1 False Killer Whale, 1 Short-finned Pilot Whale)
Giraffidae: 1 species so far (31 zoos with Okapi)
Hippopotamidae: 2 species (65 zoos with Common Hippo, 44 Pygmy Hippo)
Iniidae: 1 species (1 zoo with Amazon River Dolphin)
Monodontidae: 1 species (7 zoos with Beluga Whale)
Phocoenidae: 1 species (3 zoos with Harbour Porpoise)
1- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2006
2- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Okapi – 2006
3- Denver Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2006
4- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
5- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
6- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Okapi – 2008
7- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Okapi – 2008
8- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Okapi – 2008
9- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
11- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Okapi – 2008
12- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Okapi – 2008
13- Zoo Miami (USA) – Okapi – 2008
14- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
15- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
16- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
17- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
18- Maryland Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
19- Houston Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
20- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
21- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
22- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Okapi – 2012
23- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Okapi – 2019
24- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Okapi – 2019
25- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
26- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
27- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
28- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Okapi – 2019
29- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
30- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Okapi – 2022
31- Sacramento Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2023
The very first time I saw an Okapi was at San Diego Zoo (USA) in 2006 and the last time I was in San Diego (2023) the exhibit was closed down. It was either getting renovated or the closure was due to the Common Hippo pool construction next door.
I actually prefer the Okapi exhibit at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA), 40 minutes away. It looks terrific in this photo, with the sun shining over the trees. Both San Diego parks have often combined duikers with Okapis.
@IndianRhino
Denver Zoo (USA) has had Okapis for many years, with the exhibit home to Okapis, Secretary Birds and Saddle-billed Storks when I was there in 2012. Recently, Yellow-backed Duikers shared the same space as the Okapis.
Habitat Africa: The Forest, at Brookfield Zoo (USA), has been home to Okapis for a long time and it's quite a nice exhibit.
@pachyderm pro
The Congo Gorilla Forest complex at Bronx Zoo (USA) has a stunning Okapi habitat:
When I was last at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA), I saw two Okapi yards and the species was mixed with Yellow-backed Duikers and Ground Hornbills. It appears that Okapis are fairly good-natured and allow themselves to mingle with other animals.
Okapi, Yellow-backed Duiker and Blue Crane were all together in the past at Disney's Animal Kingdom (USA):
When visiting White Oak Conservation Center (USA) in 2008, I went into an exhibit with an Okapi, but it was too skittish to pet.
The legendary Red Rocks zone at Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has been home to Okapis and Red-flanked Duikers for many years.
I saw Okapis, Speke's Gazelles and Blue Cranes all together at Houston Zoo (USA):
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) incorporated Okapis and Grey Crowned Cranes into the zoo's African Rift Valley complex.
My first time seeing an Okapi in Europe was at Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) and there's a pair of outdoor exhibits there that aren't huge but they are well-planted and are part of an aviary setup.
@Mr Gharial
You can see an Okapi inside its indoor quarters at Blijdorp Zoo, which is head and shoulders above anything in a North American zoo. At first glance, it looks like an outdoor exhibit!
Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) has a Moorish House building for its Okapi and duikers, kept in phenomenal condition and with natural substrate indoors.
@TeaLovingDave
@KevinB
Yet another great European zoo, Cologne Zoo (Germany), has Okapis in a modern, naturalistic exhibit. The mature trees create a wonderful setting.
@twilighter
Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) has multiple Okapi yards, combined with Nyala and sometimes other species in an amazing setting.
@KevinB
Okapis and Red Duikers are together at Berlin Zoo (Germany) in a nice exhibit:
@twilighter
When at Sacramento Zoo (USA) in March 2024 with my family, we were graciously allowed to feed and pet the two male Okapis for an hour. It was an astonishing experience and the two exhibits there are superb.
Order Artiodactyla (23 families):
Antilocapridae: 1 species (30 zoos with Pronghorn)
Delphinidae: 7 species (15 zoos with Common Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Killer Whale, 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphin, 1 Commerson's Dolphin, 1 False Killer Whale, 1 Short-finned Pilot Whale)
Giraffidae: 1 species so far (31 zoos with Okapi)
Hippopotamidae: 2 species (65 zoos with Common Hippo, 44 Pygmy Hippo)
Iniidae: 1 species (1 zoo with Amazon River Dolphin)
Monodontidae: 1 species (7 zoos with Beluga Whale)
Phocoenidae: 1 species (3 zoos with Harbour Porpoise)
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USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
The okapis there are oddly friendly, it came up to the fence for me and I got multiple great pictures.When I was last at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA), I saw two Okapi yards and the species was mixed with Yellow-backed Duikers and Ground Hornbills. It appears that Okapis are fairly good-natured and allow themselves to mingle with other animals.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom still maintains the okapi / duiker mix to this day; just without the blue cranes, which were moved to the nearby Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Panda_Fan
Well-Known Member
So the trip brought indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin, huh?I've seen Okapi at 31 zoos. I've never seen the species in my home nation of Canada, or any of the approximately 80 Asian or Australian zoos I've been to either. These are remarkable animals and quite often amongst the favourite species for zoo nerds.
1- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2006
2- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Okapi – 2006
3- Denver Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2006
4- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
5- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
6- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA) – Okapi – 2008
7- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Okapi – 2008
8- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Okapi – 2008
9- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2008
11- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Okapi – 2008
12- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Okapi – 2008
13- Zoo Miami (USA) – Okapi – 2008
14- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
15- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
16- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
17- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
18- Maryland Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
19- Houston Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
20- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
21- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2010
22- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Okapi – 2012
23- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Okapi – 2019
24- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Okapi – 2019
25- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
26- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
27- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
28- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Okapi – 2019
29- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Okapi – 2019
30- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Okapi – 2022
31- Sacramento Zoo (USA) – Okapi – 2023
The very first time I saw an Okapi was at San Diego Zoo (USA) in 2006 and the last time I was in San Diego (2023) the exhibit was closed down. It was either getting renovated or the closure was due to the Common Hippo pool construction next door.
I actually prefer the Okapi exhibit at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA), 40 minutes away. It looks terrific in this photo, with the sun shining over the trees. Both San Diego parks have often combined duikers with Okapis.
@IndianRhino
Denver Zoo (USA) has had Okapis for many years, with the exhibit home to Okapis, Secretary Birds and Saddle-billed Storks when I was there in 2012. Recently, Yellow-backed Duikers shared the same space as the Okapis.
Habitat Africa: The Forest, at Brookfield Zoo (USA), has been home to Okapis for a long time and it's quite a nice exhibit.
@pachyderm pro
The Congo Gorilla Forest complex at Bronx Zoo (USA) has a stunning Okapi habitat:
When I was last at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA), I saw two Okapi yards and the species was mixed with Yellow-backed Duikers and Ground Hornbills. It appears that Okapis are fairly good-natured and allow themselves to mingle with other animals.
Okapi, Yellow-backed Duiker and Blue Crane were all together in the past at Disney's Animal Kingdom (USA):
When visiting White Oak Conservation Center (USA) in 2008, I went into an exhibit with an Okapi, but it was too skittish to pet.
The legendary Red Rocks zone at Saint Louis Zoo (USA) has been home to Okapis and Red-flanked Duikers for many years.
I saw Okapis, Speke's Gazelles and Blue Cranes all together at Houston Zoo (USA):
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) incorporated Okapis and Grey Crowned Cranes into the zoo's African Rift Valley complex.
My first time seeing an Okapi in Europe was at Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) and there's a pair of outdoor exhibits there that aren't huge but they are well-planted and are part of an aviary setup.
@Mr Gharial
You can see an Okapi inside its indoor quarters at Blijdorp Zoo, which is head and shoulders above anything in a North American zoo. At first glance, it looks like an outdoor exhibit!
Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) has a Moorish House building for its Okapi and duikers, kept in phenomenal condition and with natural substrate indoors.
@TeaLovingDave
@KevinB
Yet another great European zoo, Cologne Zoo (Germany), has Okapis in a modern, naturalistic exhibit. The mature trees create a wonderful setting.
@twilighter
Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) has multiple Okapi yards, combined with Nyala and sometimes other species in an amazing setting.
@KevinB
Okapis and Red Duikers are together at Berlin Zoo (Germany) in a nice exhibit:
@twilighter
When at Sacramento Zoo (USA) in March 2024 with my family, we were graciously allowed to feed and pet the two male Okapis for an hour. It was an astonishing experience and the two exhibits there are superb.
Order Artiodactyla (23 families):
Antilocapridae: 1 species (30 zoos with Pronghorn)
Delphinidae: 7 species (14 zoos with Common Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Killer Whale, 3 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphin, 1 Commerson's Dolphin, 1 False Killer Whale, 1 Short-finned Pilot Whale)
Giraffidae: 1 species so far (31 zoos with Okapi)
Hippopotamidae: 2 species (65 zoos with Common Hippo, 44 Pygmy Hippo)
Iniidae: 1 species (1 zoo with Amazon River Dolphin)
Monodontidae: 1 species (7 zoos with Beluga Whale)
Phocoenidae: 1 species (3 zoos with Harbour Porpoise)
So the trip brought indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin, huh?
It's neat that you saw that. @twilighter and I saw 4 zoos with dolphins on the trip. As far as we know, Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) had Common Bottlenose Dolphins, and then Taman Safari II Prigen, Taman Safari I Bogor, and Samudra Ancol, all 3 found in Indonesia, all had Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins. Yet another new mammal species for us.
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I've seen Giraffes at a whopping 175 zoos.
Giraffes are incredibly popular in captivity, almost a guarantee at a major collection. At many American zoos, feeding platforms have become ubiquitous, which makes some zoos not having Giraffes a shock. Nevertheless, as things stand there's zoos like Akron, John Ball, Little Rock, Minnesota, Point Defiance and Smithsonian's National Zoo that all currently lack Giraffes, although that will change in the future for a few of those facilities.
Giraffe taxonomy has famously been muddled. Looking at Wikipedia, the International Union for Conservation of Nature recognizes one Giraffe species and 9 subspecies. There was only one Giraffe species for decades, then two and onwards to three, then six and quickly eight, and now there's four even though I've visited loads of zoos with outdated signs ranging from one to nine species. It will undoubtedly change again in the years ahead. There doesn't seen to be a definitive answer.
Perhaps Giraffes are like Klipspringers, going from one species to a dozen with all the crazy splits, and then tumbling back down to one again. I'm curious to know if this happens with non-mammals as frequently. For example, has there always been one Rhinoceros Iguana species, then that single type became a dozen different Rhinoceros Iguanas, and eventually back down to one again? All the chopping and changing is one reason why I never compiled a mammals species list until this year, as it can be difficult to nail down an exact number of species for some animals. Also, meeting various curators in Europe and Asia on my last couple of major international trips, it's a bit eye-opening when experienced, university trained zoologists freely admit they don't always 100% know what species they have in an enclosure. Wow.
Anyway, I've seen vast numbers of Giraffes at 175 zoos, ranging from famous collections to dozens of obscure, privately-owned zoos. It's very easy to purchase a Giraffe if you run a second-rate zoo in the U.S., and even in Southeast Asia I saw a half-dozen zoos with only a single Giraffe in them. All the Mammals of the World (2023) lists 4 species (Maasai, Northern, Reticulated, Southern), but I have listed the Giraffes by the sign on their exhibit and so you will see a few names like Baringo, Angolan, a different spelling of 'Masai', and take them all with a grain of salt as the names have changed over the years.
I've seen Giraffes everywhere and anywhere, but these 4 summers really stand out:
2008 = 23 zoos (USA)
2010 = 32 zoos (USA)
2019 = 29 zoos (Western Europe)
2024 = 20 zoos (Southeast Asia)
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Reticulated Giraffe – 1975
2- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 1996
3- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Reticulated Giraffe – 1998
4- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2005
5- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2006
6- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2006
7- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2006
8- Denver Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2006
9- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Giraffe – 2006
10- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2007
11- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Giraffe – 2007
12- Monarto Zoo (Australia) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2007
13- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Giraffe – 2007
14- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
15- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
16- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
17- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
18- Toronto Zoo (Canada) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
19- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
20- Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
21- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
22- Indianapolis Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
23- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
24- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
25- Knoxville Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
26- Zoo Atlanta (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
27- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
28- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
29- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – Reticulated & Masai Giraffe – 2008
30- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
31- Mountain View Conservation Centre (Canada) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
32- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
33- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
34- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
35- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
36- Zoo Miami (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
37- Wildlife Safari (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
38- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
39- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
40- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
41- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
42- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
43- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
44- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
45- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
46- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
47- Binder Park Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
48- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
49- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
50- Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
51- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
52- Maryland Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
53- North Carolina Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
54- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
55- Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
56- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
57- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
58- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
59- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
60- Houston Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
61- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
62- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
63- Cameron Park Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
64- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
65- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
66- El Paso Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
67- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
68- Zoo Boise (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
69- Oakland Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2011
70- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Baringo & Masai Giraffe – 2011
71- Reid Park Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2011
72- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2011
73- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2011
74- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2011
75- Sacramento Zoo (USA) – Reticulated & Masai Giraffe – 2011
76- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
77- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2012
78- Erie Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
79- Franklin Park Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2012
80- Virginia Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2012
81- Brevard Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2012
82- Naples Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
83- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Reticulated & Masai Giraffe – 2012
84- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
85- Jackson Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
86- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
87- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Baringo Giraffe – 2012
88- Topeka Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
89- Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
90- Roosevelt Park Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
91- Como Park Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
92- Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
93- Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
94- Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) – Masai & Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
95- Henry Vilas Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
96- Racine Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2014
97- Niabi Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
98- Peoria Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
99- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
100- Lee Richardson Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
101- Arbuckle Wilderness Park (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
102- Frank Buck Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2015
103- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
104- Gone Wild Safari (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
105- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2015
106- Franklin Drive-Thru Safari (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
107- Bayou Wildlife Park (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
108- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2015
109- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
110- Hillcrest Park Zoo (USA) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2015
111- Out of Africa (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
112- Lion Habitat Ranch (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
113- B. Bryan Preserve (USA) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2017
114- Safari West Wildlife Preserve (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2017
115- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2017
116- Indian Creek Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2018
117- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2018
118- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2018
119- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Giraffe – 2019
120- Van Blanckendaell Park (Netherlands) – Giraffe – 2019
121- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Giraffe – 2019
122- Maubeuge Zoo (France) – Giraffe – 2019
123- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Giraffe – 2019
124- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Kordofan Giraffe – 2019
125- Pakawi Park (Belgium) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
126- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
127- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – Giraffe – 2019
128- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
129- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
130- Opel Zoo (Germany) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
131- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Giraffe – 2019
132- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – Angolan Giraffe – 2019
133- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
134- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
135- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Nubian Giraffe – 2019
136- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
137- Ouwehands Dierenpark (Netherlands) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
138- Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
139- Tierpark Hagenbeck (Germany) – Giraffe – 2019
140- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Giraffe – 2019
141- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
142- Erlebnis Zoo Hannover (Germany) – Giraffe – 2019
143- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
144- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
145- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
146- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
147- Dierenpark Amersfoort (Netherlands) – Giraffe – 2019
148- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2022
149- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2022
150- Aalborg Zoo (Denmark) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2022
151- Odense Zoo (Denmark) – Giraffe – 2022
152- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2022
153- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2022
154- Kristiansand Zoo (Norway) – Giraffe – 2022
155- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2022
156- Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) – Giraffe – 2024
157- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Giraffe – 2024
158- Pattaya Crocodile Farm (Thailand) – Giraffe – 2024
159- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) - Giraffe – 2024
160- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) - Giraffe – 2024
161- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) - Giraffe – 2024
162- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) - Giraffe – 2024
163- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) - Giraffe – 2024
164- Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia) - Giraffe – 2024
165- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) - Giraffe – 2024
166- Zoo Melaka (Malaysia) - Giraffe – 2024
167- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) - Giraffe – 2024
168- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
169- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
170- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
171- Batu Secret Zoo (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
172- Bandung Zoo (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
173- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
174- Royal Safari Garden Resort (Indonesia) – Giraffe – 2024
175- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Giraffe – 2024
An iconic captive image of a Giraffe would be at Taronga Zoo (Australia), with some photographers able to get a Giraffe, the Sydney Opera House, and sometimes even the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tower in the legendary skyline. I had a wonderful day there in 2007.
@Jabiru96
Here's my photo of a Giraffe outside its Egyptian-themed barn at Detroit Zoo (USA) in 2008. Since then, the Egyptian facade has been completely demolished and the barn, while extensively expanded and modernized, is now a boring 'eggshell white' colour and is bland and forgettable. In a European zoo, the original exterior would have been kept permanently.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) had Giraffes with various antelope and penguins (!!) when I first visited the zoo in 2008. It was a remarkable mixed-species habitat. By the time I last toured the zoo, in 2018, the fantastic African Grasslands complex had opened and the Giraffes had a couple of acres of space with a herd of Impala, some Ostriches, storks and possibly even other animals. The Giraffe Barn in Omaha is apparently the largest in North America, and the 1st or 2nd best zoo in the U.S. does well with Giraffes.
Every giraffe fan has been to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA), right? This is the place with a unique setting, a herd of around 20 Giraffes at any given time, and with more than 200 births it's the epicenter for Giraffes in North America. On my second visit, I did think that the space was a little tight for the number of Giraffes they had, but a future expansion is in the works.
Possibly the largest Giraffe exhibit in North America is the 18-acre African Savanna at Binder Park Zoo (USA). That tall speck in the distance is a Giraffe and there's usually approximately 7 different species that roam a space that is larger than many entire zoos!
North Carolina Zoo (USA) has its Africa: Forest Edge exhibit that is 3.5 acres/1.4 hectares and stunning. While some AZA-accredited zoos have puny Giraffe complexes (I'm looking at you Buffalo!), North Carolina excels at giving its animals space.
Dallas Zoo (USA) has its Giants of the Savanna exhibit, with a herd of Giraffes that can mingle with African Elephants and a variety of antelope in a splendid modern habitat.
The Living Desert Zoo (USA), in a region of the world that regularly sees 40 degrees Celsius/104 Fahrenheit temperatures, has a beautiful Giraffe/Greater Kudu/Ostrich exhibit that has curving hills as a backdrop and it's difficult to know where the enclosure ends.
Blijdorp Zoo (Netherlands) has its Giraffe 'Onion' House, much loved by zoo nerds. The outdoor exhibit is equally excellent.
@Mr Gharial
I was really impressed with the structure and here's what it looks like inside. There's an incredible amount of height, and it's large and airy for the animals.
Built in the 1850s, the Egyptian Temple at Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) is a work of art and it still houses Giraffes to this day.
@TeaLovingDave
I enjoyed seeing De Brazza's Monkeys and Giraffes together at ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) in 2019.
From certain angles, the Serenga savanna area at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) is scenic and peaceful.
Do you want to see a herd of Giraffes and hundreds of other mammals in acres of a coniferous forest? Then head to Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) and take the 30-minute gondola tour. For some people, it's one of the most spectacular zoo experiences in the world.
I chuckle when I see 3 Giraffe on the "African Savanna" at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, USA. Maybe a couple of antelope and an Ostrich are tossed in there too. Compare that to the vast mixed-species herds in the African Savannas of European zoos. Boras Zoo (Sweden) has herds of African Elephants, Giraffes, Cape Buffalo and various antelope in this jaw-dropping, 5-acre/2 hectare landscape:
@twilighter
Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) has Giraffes and a half-dozen other species in its African Savanna, all with a jungle backdrop and with wild Long-tailed and Pig-tailed Macaques stealing food from the captive animals. Haha!
Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) used to have 200+ Giraffes in their drive-through Safari Park area, but since many were shipped out to the Middle East, there's "only" around 40 Giraffes to be seen these days. That sounds like a much more manageable number to me and double what Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has ever had at one time.
@twilighter
Order Artiodactyla (23 families):
Antilocapridae: 1 species (30 zoos with Pronghorn)
Delphinidae: 7 species (15 zoos with Common Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Killer Whale, 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphin, 1 Commerson's Dolphin, 1 False Killer Whale, 1 Short-finned Pilot Whale)
Giraffidae: 5 species (175 zoos with Giraffe (4 species), 31 Okapi)
Hippopotamidae: 2 species (65 zoos with Common Hippo, 44 Pygmy Hippo)
Iniidae: 1 species (1 zoo with Amazon River Dolphin)
Monodontidae: 1 species (7 zoos with Beluga Whale)
Phocoenidae: 1 species (3 zoos with Harbour Porpoise)
Giraffes are incredibly popular in captivity, almost a guarantee at a major collection. At many American zoos, feeding platforms have become ubiquitous, which makes some zoos not having Giraffes a shock. Nevertheless, as things stand there's zoos like Akron, John Ball, Little Rock, Minnesota, Point Defiance and Smithsonian's National Zoo that all currently lack Giraffes, although that will change in the future for a few of those facilities.
Giraffe taxonomy has famously been muddled. Looking at Wikipedia, the International Union for Conservation of Nature recognizes one Giraffe species and 9 subspecies. There was only one Giraffe species for decades, then two and onwards to three, then six and quickly eight, and now there's four even though I've visited loads of zoos with outdated signs ranging from one to nine species. It will undoubtedly change again in the years ahead. There doesn't seen to be a definitive answer.
Perhaps Giraffes are like Klipspringers, going from one species to a dozen with all the crazy splits, and then tumbling back down to one again. I'm curious to know if this happens with non-mammals as frequently. For example, has there always been one Rhinoceros Iguana species, then that single type became a dozen different Rhinoceros Iguanas, and eventually back down to one again? All the chopping and changing is one reason why I never compiled a mammals species list until this year, as it can be difficult to nail down an exact number of species for some animals. Also, meeting various curators in Europe and Asia on my last couple of major international trips, it's a bit eye-opening when experienced, university trained zoologists freely admit they don't always 100% know what species they have in an enclosure. Wow.
Anyway, I've seen vast numbers of Giraffes at 175 zoos, ranging from famous collections to dozens of obscure, privately-owned zoos. It's very easy to purchase a Giraffe if you run a second-rate zoo in the U.S., and even in Southeast Asia I saw a half-dozen zoos with only a single Giraffe in them. All the Mammals of the World (2023) lists 4 species (Maasai, Northern, Reticulated, Southern), but I have listed the Giraffes by the sign on their exhibit and so you will see a few names like Baringo, Angolan, a different spelling of 'Masai', and take them all with a grain of salt as the names have changed over the years.
I've seen Giraffes everywhere and anywhere, but these 4 summers really stand out:
2008 = 23 zoos (USA)
2010 = 32 zoos (USA)
2019 = 29 zoos (Western Europe)
2024 = 20 zoos (Southeast Asia)
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Reticulated Giraffe – 1975
2- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 1996
3- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Reticulated Giraffe – 1998
4- Oregon Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2005
5- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2006
6- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2006
7- San Diego Zoo Safari Park (USA) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2006
8- Denver Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2006
9- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Giraffe – 2006
10- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2007
11- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Giraffe – 2007
12- Monarto Zoo (Australia) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2007
13- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Giraffe – 2007
14- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
15- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
16- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
17- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
18- Toronto Zoo (Canada) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
19- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
20- Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
21- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
22- Indianapolis Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
23- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
24- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
25- Knoxville Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
26- Zoo Atlanta (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
27- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
28- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
29- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – Reticulated & Masai Giraffe – 2008
30- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
31- Mountain View Conservation Centre (Canada) – Masai Giraffe – 2008
32- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
33- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
34- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
35- White Oak Conservation Center (USA) – Giraffe – 2008
36- Zoo Miami (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2008
37- Wildlife Safari (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
38- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
39- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
40- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
41- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
42- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
43- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
44- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
45- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
46- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
47- Binder Park Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
48- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
49- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
50- Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
51- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
52- Maryland Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
53- North Carolina Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
54- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
55- Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
56- Birmingham Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
57- Montgomery Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
58- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
59- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
60- Houston Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2010
61- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
62- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
63- Cameron Park Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
64- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
65- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
66- El Paso Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
67- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2010
68- Zoo Boise (USA) – Giraffe – 2010
69- Oakland Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2011
70- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Baringo & Masai Giraffe – 2011
71- Reid Park Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2011
72- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2011
73- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2011
74- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2011
75- Sacramento Zoo (USA) – Reticulated & Masai Giraffe – 2011
76- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
77- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2012
78- Erie Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
79- Franklin Park Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2012
80- Virginia Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2012
81- Brevard Zoo (USA) – Giraffe – 2012
82- Naples Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
83- ZooTampa at Lowry Park (USA) – Reticulated & Masai Giraffe – 2012
84- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
85- Jackson Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
86- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
87- Dickerson Park Zoo (USA) – Baringo Giraffe – 2012
88- Topeka Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
89- Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2012
90- Roosevelt Park Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
91- Como Park Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
92- Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
93- Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
94- Timbavati Wildlife Park (USA) – Masai & Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
95- Henry Vilas Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
96- Racine Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2014
97- Niabi Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
98- Peoria Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
99- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
100- Lee Richardson Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2014
101- Arbuckle Wilderness Park (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
102- Frank Buck Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2015
103- Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
104- Gone Wild Safari (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
105- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Masai Giraffe – 2015
106- Franklin Drive-Thru Safari (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
107- Bayou Wildlife Park (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
108- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2015
109- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
110- Hillcrest Park Zoo (USA) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2015
111- Out of Africa (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
112- Lion Habitat Ranch (USA) – Giraffe – 2015
113- B. Bryan Preserve (USA) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2017
114- Safari West Wildlife Preserve (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2017
115- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2017
116- Indian Creek Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2018
117- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2018
118- Special Memories Zoo (USA) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2018
119- Artis Royal Zoo (Netherlands) – Giraffe – 2019
120- Van Blanckendaell Park (Netherlands) – Giraffe – 2019
121- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Giraffe – 2019
122- Maubeuge Zoo (France) – Giraffe – 2019
123- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Giraffe – 2019
124- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Kordofan Giraffe – 2019
125- Pakawi Park (Belgium) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
126- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
127- Safari Parc Monde Sauvage (Belgium) – Giraffe – 2019
128- GaiaZOO (Netherlands) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
129- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
130- Opel Zoo (Germany) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
131- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Giraffe – 2019
132- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – Angolan Giraffe – 2019
133- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
134- Duisburg Zoo (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
135- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Nubian Giraffe – 2019
136- ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
137- Ouwehands Dierenpark (Netherlands) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
138- Burgers' Zoo (Netherlands) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
139- Tierpark Hagenbeck (Germany) – Giraffe – 2019
140- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Giraffe – 2019
141- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
142- Erlebnis Zoo Hannover (Germany) – Giraffe – 2019
143- Serengeti-Park (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
144- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
145- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2019
146- Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2019
147- Dierenpark Amersfoort (Netherlands) – Giraffe – 2019
148- Givskud Zoo (Denmark) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2022
149- Ree Park Safari (Denmark) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2022
150- Aalborg Zoo (Denmark) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2022
151- Odense Zoo (Denmark) – Giraffe – 2022
152- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2022
153- Boras Zoo (Sweden) – Rothschild’s Giraffe – 2022
154- Kristiansand Zoo (Norway) – Giraffe – 2022
155- Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) – Reticulated Giraffe – 2022
156- Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) – Giraffe – 2024
157- Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) – Giraffe – 2024
158- Pattaya Crocodile Farm (Thailand) – Giraffe – 2024
159- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) - Giraffe – 2024
160- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) - Giraffe – 2024
161- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) - Giraffe – 2024
162- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) - Giraffe – 2024
163- Taiping Zoo (Malaysia) - Giraffe – 2024
164- Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia) - Giraffe – 2024
165- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) - Giraffe – 2024
166- Zoo Melaka (Malaysia) - Giraffe – 2024
167- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) - Giraffe – 2024
168- Taman Safari III Bali (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
169- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
170- Taman Safari II Prigen (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
171- Batu Secret Zoo (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
172- Bandung Zoo (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
173- Taman Safari I Bogor (Indonesia) - Giraffe – 2024
174- Royal Safari Garden Resort (Indonesia) – Giraffe – 2024
175- Ragunan Zoo (Indonesia) – Giraffe – 2024
An iconic captive image of a Giraffe would be at Taronga Zoo (Australia), with some photographers able to get a Giraffe, the Sydney Opera House, and sometimes even the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tower in the legendary skyline. I had a wonderful day there in 2007.
@Jabiru96
Here's my photo of a Giraffe outside its Egyptian-themed barn at Detroit Zoo (USA) in 2008. Since then, the Egyptian facade has been completely demolished and the barn, while extensively expanded and modernized, is now a boring 'eggshell white' colour and is bland and forgettable. In a European zoo, the original exterior would have been kept permanently.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) had Giraffes with various antelope and penguins (!!) when I first visited the zoo in 2008. It was a remarkable mixed-species habitat. By the time I last toured the zoo, in 2018, the fantastic African Grasslands complex had opened and the Giraffes had a couple of acres of space with a herd of Impala, some Ostriches, storks and possibly even other animals. The Giraffe Barn in Omaha is apparently the largest in North America, and the 1st or 2nd best zoo in the U.S. does well with Giraffes.
Every giraffe fan has been to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA), right? This is the place with a unique setting, a herd of around 20 Giraffes at any given time, and with more than 200 births it's the epicenter for Giraffes in North America. On my second visit, I did think that the space was a little tight for the number of Giraffes they had, but a future expansion is in the works.
Possibly the largest Giraffe exhibit in North America is the 18-acre African Savanna at Binder Park Zoo (USA). That tall speck in the distance is a Giraffe and there's usually approximately 7 different species that roam a space that is larger than many entire zoos!
North Carolina Zoo (USA) has its Africa: Forest Edge exhibit that is 3.5 acres/1.4 hectares and stunning. While some AZA-accredited zoos have puny Giraffe complexes (I'm looking at you Buffalo!), North Carolina excels at giving its animals space.
Dallas Zoo (USA) has its Giants of the Savanna exhibit, with a herd of Giraffes that can mingle with African Elephants and a variety of antelope in a splendid modern habitat.
The Living Desert Zoo (USA), in a region of the world that regularly sees 40 degrees Celsius/104 Fahrenheit temperatures, has a beautiful Giraffe/Greater Kudu/Ostrich exhibit that has curving hills as a backdrop and it's difficult to know where the enclosure ends.
Blijdorp Zoo (Netherlands) has its Giraffe 'Onion' House, much loved by zoo nerds. The outdoor exhibit is equally excellent.
@Mr Gharial
I was really impressed with the structure and here's what it looks like inside. There's an incredible amount of height, and it's large and airy for the animals.
Built in the 1850s, the Egyptian Temple at Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) is a work of art and it still houses Giraffes to this day.
@TeaLovingDave
I enjoyed seeing De Brazza's Monkeys and Giraffes together at ZooParc Overloon (Netherlands) in 2019.
From certain angles, the Serenga savanna area at Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen (Netherlands) is scenic and peaceful.
Do you want to see a herd of Giraffes and hundreds of other mammals in acres of a coniferous forest? Then head to Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) and take the 30-minute gondola tour. For some people, it's one of the most spectacular zoo experiences in the world.
I chuckle when I see 3 Giraffe on the "African Savanna" at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, USA. Maybe a couple of antelope and an Ostrich are tossed in there too. Compare that to the vast mixed-species herds in the African Savannas of European zoos. Boras Zoo (Sweden) has herds of African Elephants, Giraffes, Cape Buffalo and various antelope in this jaw-dropping, 5-acre/2 hectare landscape:
@twilighter
Khao Kheow Zoo (Thailand) has Giraffes and a half-dozen other species in its African Savanna, all with a jungle backdrop and with wild Long-tailed and Pig-tailed Macaques stealing food from the captive animals. Haha!
Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) used to have 200+ Giraffes in their drive-through Safari Park area, but since many were shipped out to the Middle East, there's "only" around 40 Giraffes to be seen these days. That sounds like a much more manageable number to me and double what Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has ever had at one time.
@twilighter
Order Artiodactyla (23 families):
Antilocapridae: 1 species (30 zoos with Pronghorn)
Delphinidae: 7 species (15 zoos with Common Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, 3 Killer Whale, 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphin, 1 Commerson's Dolphin, 1 False Killer Whale, 1 Short-finned Pilot Whale)
Giraffidae: 5 species (175 zoos with Giraffe (4 species), 31 Okapi)
Hippopotamidae: 2 species (65 zoos with Common Hippo, 44 Pygmy Hippo)
Iniidae: 1 species (1 zoo with Amazon River Dolphin)
Monodontidae: 1 species (7 zoos with Beluga Whale)
Phocoenidae: 1 species (3 zoos with Harbour Porpoise)