Cities in need of zoos

[MOG2012]

I agree with the point about the Phoenix Zoo. Plus I think Vegas could stick with a desert themed zoo (if you stretch the definition a bit) and have some ABC species. Maybe make it open 24 hours.

That’s what I did for my version of the zoo on the Speculative Zoo Design & Planning Forums, you should check it out, feedback is wanted and appreciated

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

Kalamazoo, Michigan would be an ideal place for a zoo (even if it is small). It sure is a shame there isn't one, because the name KalamaZOO would easily be very eye-catching, and one of the coolest names of any zoo in the world!

 

[Springbok]

I think my hometown of Salisbury needs a zoo in some shape or form.

 

[NSU42]

Kalamazoo, Michigan would be an ideal place for a zoo (even if it is small). It sure is a shame there isn't one, because the name KalamaZOO would easily be very eye-catching, and one of the coolest names of any zoo in the world!

Does it really though? That area is pretty saturated with AZA zoos, not to mention the decent number of non-AZA facilities in the area. Binder Park (Battle Creek) is 35 min away, John Ball (Grand Rapids) is under an hour, Potter Park (Lansing) is around an hour and 15 mins, Potwatomi (South Bend, IN) is around 1.5 hours, and Fort Wayne is about 2 hours. Those are just the zoos in the typical 2 hour radius the average zoo visitor comes from. If we extend that just slightly you then get two major zoos in Detroit at about 2 hours and 15 min away and Toledo at about 2.5 hours. (All times estimated by using Google Maps and "Kalamazoo, MI" as the starting point.) I'm not from the area, so perhaps locals do feel like there is not a zoo close enough, but I doubt it. I have a feeling a zoo in Kalamazoo, even a small one, would have a very hard time getting any traction and funding to even start it. The only argument I see for "it needs a zoo" is it is a somewhat bigger city in Michigan that doesn't have one, but that ignores the fact there are a number of places that are pretty easily accessible.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Does it really though? That area is pretty saturated with AZA zoos, not to mention the decent number of non-AZA facilities in the area. Binder Park (Battle Creek) is 35 min away, John Ball (Grand Rapids) is under an hour, Potter Park (Lansing) is around an hour and 15 mins, Potwatomi (South Bend, IN) is around 1.5 hours, and Fort Wayne is about 2 hours. Those are just the zoos in the typical 2 hour radius the average zoo visitor comes from. If we extend that just slightly you then get two major zoos in Detroit at about 2 hours and 15 min away and Toledo at about 2.5 hours. (All times estimated by using Google Maps and "Kalamazoo, MI" as the starting point.) I'm not from the area, so perhaps locals do feel like there is not a zoo close enough, but I doubt it. I have a feeling a zoo in Kalamazoo, even a small one, would have a very hard time getting any traction and funding to even start it. The only argument I see for "it needs a zoo" is it is a somewhat bigger city in Michigan that doesn't have one, but that ignores the fact there are a number of places that are pretty easily accessible.

Battle Creek is a strong argument, 35 min is not that far/long in any major metro to drive to one's local zoo. It takes me about 20 minutes and I consider my zoo to be "close" to my house.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I think my hometown of Salisbury needs a zoo in some shape or form.

It would be nice to have one closer, but with Longleat and Marwell Zoos and the Oceanarium in Bournemouth being within an hour I would say Salisbury is really well placed for a zoo fan as it is.

 

[X213G]

What we do need is another zoo in the Greater Los Angeles Area.I personally think LA is way overdue for another zoo.

 

[GodzillaLover04]

My home town, Youngstown, Ohio, could use a zoo, even though Akron Zoo is 40 minutes away and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is an hour away.

 

[SwampDonkey]

My home town, Youngstown, Ohio, could use a zoo, even though Akron Zoo is 40 minutes away and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is an hour away.

It is a bit distant, but also interestingly located to several major zoos including Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh Zoo and the National Aviary are all about just under or just over an hour away. I see two private zoos in PA, but even those are about 40 minutes away.

An hour each way is a bit much to ask for most non-zoo nerds as what could be a morning or afternoon family trip becomes a whole day trip with driving both ways.

 

[GodzillaLover04]

It is a bit distant, but also interestingly located to several major zoos including Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh Zoo and the National Aviary are all about just under or just over an hour away. I see two private zoos in PA, but even those are about 40 minutes away.

An hour each way is a bit much to ask for most non-zoo nerds as what could be a morning or afternoon family trip becomes a whole day trip with driving both ways.

Well, my area once had a Safari Park named Wagon Trails, it was low budget but I liked it, it was 20 or so minutes away. It closed in 2022.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Well, my area once had a Safari Park named Wagon Trails, it was low budget but I liked it, it was 20 or so minutes away. It closed in 2022.

Sorry to hear that, it is disappointing when a local place doesn't make it.

 

[GodzillaLover04]

Sorry to hear that, it is disappointing when a local place doesn't make it.

It was as much of a childhood gem as Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is. I hope somebody, somewhere out there, buys the land Wagon Trails was at, and bring back Wagon Trails as a proper zoo with both drive through and wagon ride options, plus more animals.

 

[ContraryPython]

Houston needs a state of the art aquarium. The closest aquarium that is actually worth a visit near Houston is actually in Galveston with Moody Gardens.

 

[MonkeyBat]

Houston needs a state of the art aquarium. The closest aquarium that is actually worth a visit near Houston is actually in Galveston with Moody Gardens.

They already have the Downtown Aquarium though...

 

[ContraryPython]

They already have the Downtown Aquarium though...

That place is a cheap tourist trap that is not worth your time. Trust me.

 

[British explorer]

I know it’s a small city but I feel my local city Hereford would be a nice place for a zoo or aquarium.

 

[tigris115]

I'd love a zoo in Albany

 

[RatioTile]

Regarding Canada, what zoos are in Newfoundland, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan? It might be from lack of research, but none come to mind for me. Also, does every state in Brazil have at least one zoo?

 

[jopif]

Since this thread is up, I'll try to list the few major European cities that don't have a zoo nearby [Wildlife parks, specialized parks (reptiles, birds) and aquariums are not counted]

Norway :
- Bergen

Finland :
- Tampere

Ireland :
- Galway

Spain :
- Zaragoza
- Any city in Castilla y León

Italy :
- Cagliari
- Catania
- Messina
- Bologna (?)

Croatia :
- Split

Greece :
- Thessaloniki

Russia :
- Volgograd
- Saratov
- Any city in Russian Caucasus

I also looked for the biggest world city without a zoo nearby, and I think that Luanda (the capital of Angola) (with a population of 9,650,000 ~50th biggest city of the world) is probably the biggest zoo-less city in the world.

I may have missed a city, or mentioned one that didn't belong there. Please correct me.

 

[jopif]

Regarding Canada, what zoos are in Newfoundland, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan? It might be from lack of research, but none come to mind for me. Also, does every state in Brazil have at least one zoo?

I think you'd like to have a look at this thread which contains this tool made by @Trebaruna It's very useful for visualizing the geographical distribution of zoos. I don't know if the data is up to date or not, so double check if necessary.

Thanks to it I can tell you that there are zoos in Saskatoon and Winnipeg. In Newfoundland, however, there are only a few small aquariums. On the other hand, not all Brazilian states have zoos, Mato Grosso and Tocantins doesn't for example.