Semester Abroad: Pachyderm Pro Goes to Europe
- Thread starter pachyderm pro
- Start date
SeaOtterHQ
Well-Known Member
I've really enjoyed reading this thread so far! I know it's quite a distance from Vienna, but I'm curious if you plan to make the trip out to the Iberian peninsula to see their zoos/aquaria such as Oceanografic/Bioparc Valencia or the Lisbon Oceanarium (I would say that the Vasco da Gama Aquarium, also in Lisbon, is likewise worth a visit, though the Oceanarium is definitely superior)? Or a trip to Copenhagen to see Den Blå Planet? Denmark probably has the best zoos in Scandinavia as well - namely Odense Zoo, Randers Regnskov, and Knuthenborg Safaripark.
Unfortunately Oceanopolis Brest is long trip away from France's other major zoos, but I'm sure @Kalaw and others would vouch for it, though I think a few major exhibits are currently undergoing renovations.
A zoo that I've heard praised a lot by locals but that rarely gets mentioned on Zoochat is the Nyíregyháza/Sosto Zoo in Hungary. Once again, it's near the eastern border of Hungary and so will require a lengthy trip even from Vienna, but it would be great if a Zoochatter could finally get over there and write a detailed review of the facility. Hungarians seem to unanimously agree that it's superior to the Budapest Zoo.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
The fact that primate walkthroughs don’t exist in North America is always something that catches me off guard when reading American reviews of European collections. They are, as you say, so common here that I completely take them for granted. London has four, and coincidentally three of those make up the only exhibits at the zoo that I skip nearly every time (though for other reasons, as I still do really enjoy a good walkthrough with any species, especially livelier ones like sakis).
Why are they so rare in North America? Is it a fear of lawsuits, or some AZA / governmental restrictions? I’m guessing walkthrough aviaries are still abundant, just not with mammals.
Speaking of this, @pachyderm pro , unless you intend to keep such details a surprise, will you be having any overnight excursions outside of Vienna, and how much time do you have for such things? What is the furthest from Austria you intend to travel?
Why are they so rare in North America? Is it a fear of lawsuits, or some AZA / governmental restrictions? I’m guessing walkthrough aviaries are still abundant, just not with mammals.
I will indeed second that Océanopolis suggestion, though I’m not sure what else there is in the area to encourage Pachyderm Pro to go out of his way to go to Bretagne; Mont Saint-Michel (which is amazing) and a lot of World War II history. And as you say the Polar Pavilion is (I think) under reconstruction, with which the place loses a lot of its allure.
Speaking of this, @pachyderm pro , unless you intend to keep such details a surprise, will you be having any overnight excursions outside of Vienna, and how much time do you have for such things? What is the furthest from Austria you intend to travel?
Without giving anything away, there's only one other major aquarium I'll likely get to during my stay. And it's a strong maybe. Most of my zoo related travels will be largely concentrated around Central Europe with only one or two exceptions.
They aren't completely non-existent: Phoenix Zoo has a walkthrough squirrel monkey exhibit (with only a dozen or so animals) and Moody Gardens has free-roaming white-faced sakis and tamarins in the rainforest pyramid. There's probably a couple others I'm missing, but it's slim pickings.
Mainly lawsuit culture, yes. If a monkey bites someone in Europe, an apology and a free tickets for next time is all it takes for guests to be on their merry way. Back in America it would likely be sensationalized on national news, lawyers would get involved, and be more of a headache than it's worth for most zoos. Walkthrough aviaries are still plentiful, but the only mammals you'll see in the same space would be muntjacs, macropods, sloths or bats (with an occasional surprise here and there).
There will be many overnight trips from Vienna, the first of which will be next weekend if all goes as planned. Most of my plans are pretty fluid and subject to change, so I'd rather not reveal the exact details until everything falls into place. Keeps up the suspense as well!
merlin
Well-Known Member
I've been enjoying this thread so far and it made me happy to see you've enjoyed Schönbrunn so much! It is indeed a beautiful zoo with unique atmosphere.
But I came here to tell you more about the Czech zoos. I bet you are going to visit Prague, which is a zoo that can be enjoyed even during colder months - sure, some of the rare birds are kept off-show during winter, for example the Brazilian mergansers, but a winter trip to Prague can still be very enjoyable. But there are also a few zoos you should try to visit asap (ideally during September, but October should be still fine too). I don't want to be annoying, but I think there are some facilities that get overshadowed by Prague, although they deserve the spotlight too! I know you probably have some of your trips already planned, but if you can fit those in, I believe you won't be disappointed.
I'm going to start with Zlín, which is my personal favorite. And not just mine - Zlín is beloved by the general public too. It is known for not keeping as many species as other Czech zoos, but it is still worth visiting. Some interesting rarities can be seen there as well, including capuchinbirds, black-faced spoonbills, spotted wood owls, horned screamers and the only lesser adjutants in Europe. I should not forget about the last black-legged seriema outside South America. The bird collection is truly amazing.
But what I aprecciate the most about Zlín are the exhibits. There's a smaller, but very nice tropical hall called Yucatan with free roaming birds, white-faced sakis and two-toed sloths. The biggest inhabitants of this hall are the giant otters, which are always fun to watch. And if you want to, you can see the great barbets hidden backstage too!
Gora Ark is a big aviary for various vulture (and other bird) species. Piapiacs can be currently seen in the aviary too.
The zoo is currently working on it's biggest project yet. The project is called Karibuni and it's going to be a complex of spacious exhibits for African animals. The big enclosure for African bush elephants is already finished and it's one of the Czech must-see exhibits. The view is amazing and very immersive. There are currently 5 elephants. A male, three females and a young one. But keep in mind they can be seen only during some hours! You can find more about it on the zoo's website (or you can just ask me).
A new lion exhibit is opening today. It is probably amongst the most beautiful ones in Central Europe. The exhibit is called Abamboo. The biggest enclosure is home to the breeding pair and their three cubs. There are also several smaller enclosures that hold confiscated lions.
Another exhibit worth mentioning is Jaguar trek, an exhibit for jaguars that opened just few years ago. It's not as amazing as the Chester exhibit, but it was clearly inspired by it. A cub was born in June and so you can already see her if you are lucky enough!
Oh, and I forgot to mention this zoo has gaurs, aardwolves, sloth bears, ...
(Sorry for the lenght of this, I am very fond of this zoo.)
The second Czech zoos you should ideally visit in September too is Dvůr. I suppose you've already heard of this place, but I am going to write a little summary too. The zoo focuses on African fauna and has some very cool species: aardwolves, greater spot-nosed monkeys, brown hyenas, brown greater galagos, honey badgers, various ungulate species and many birds, including black herons and African jacanas! The zoo is infamous for it's safari. Personally, I love the hippo lake and the new spotted hyena exhibit, but other enclosures might feel rather outdated. Still a very pleasant zoo that is absolutely worth visiting. Basically an Africa in the middle of Europe...
Another zoo somehow accessible from Vienna is Ostrava. Although there are still some very outdated exhibits, it still belongs between the most modern facilities in the country. The environment of this zoo is beautiful, as it takes place in a forest. There's a huge mixed exhibit for Asian black bears and Hanuman langurs which is a must-see in my opinion. The House of Evolution is a nice modern pavilion which opened 10 years ago. It's mainly home to a group of chimps, but there's also an exhibit for Diana's monkeys and several smaller animal species, including West African lungfish. There are countless smaller hidden exhibits around the whole zoo. The zoo breeds some very rare fish species. Other animals worth mentioning are the two tree hyrax species, Garnett's galagos, several lemur species (keep in mind these can be seen only during warmer months), Hamlyn's monkeys, ...
But I came here to tell you more about the Czech zoos. I bet you are going to visit Prague, which is a zoo that can be enjoyed even during colder months - sure, some of the rare birds are kept off-show during winter, for example the Brazilian mergansers, but a winter trip to Prague can still be very enjoyable. But there are also a few zoos you should try to visit asap (ideally during September, but October should be still fine too). I don't want to be annoying, but I think there are some facilities that get overshadowed by Prague, although they deserve the spotlight too! I know you probably have some of your trips already planned, but if you can fit those in, I believe you won't be disappointed.
I'm going to start with Zlín, which is my personal favorite. And not just mine - Zlín is beloved by the general public too. It is known for not keeping as many species as other Czech zoos, but it is still worth visiting. Some interesting rarities can be seen there as well, including capuchinbirds, black-faced spoonbills, spotted wood owls, horned screamers and the only lesser adjutants in Europe. I should not forget about the last black-legged seriema outside South America. The bird collection is truly amazing.
But what I aprecciate the most about Zlín are the exhibits. There's a smaller, but very nice tropical hall called Yucatan with free roaming birds, white-faced sakis and two-toed sloths. The biggest inhabitants of this hall are the giant otters, which are always fun to watch. And if you want to, you can see the great barbets hidden backstage too!
Gora Ark is a big aviary for various vulture (and other bird) species. Piapiacs can be currently seen in the aviary too.
The zoo is currently working on it's biggest project yet. The project is called Karibuni and it's going to be a complex of spacious exhibits for African animals. The big enclosure for African bush elephants is already finished and it's one of the Czech must-see exhibits. The view is amazing and very immersive. There are currently 5 elephants. A male, three females and a young one. But keep in mind they can be seen only during some hours! You can find more about it on the zoo's website (or you can just ask me).
A new lion exhibit is opening today. It is probably amongst the most beautiful ones in Central Europe. The exhibit is called Abamboo. The biggest enclosure is home to the breeding pair and their three cubs. There are also several smaller enclosures that hold confiscated lions.
Another exhibit worth mentioning is Jaguar trek, an exhibit for jaguars that opened just few years ago. It's not as amazing as the Chester exhibit, but it was clearly inspired by it. A cub was born in June and so you can already see her if you are lucky enough!
Oh, and I forgot to mention this zoo has gaurs, aardwolves, sloth bears, ...
(Sorry for the lenght of this, I am very fond of this zoo.)
The second Czech zoos you should ideally visit in September too is Dvůr. I suppose you've already heard of this place, but I am going to write a little summary too. The zoo focuses on African fauna and has some very cool species: aardwolves, greater spot-nosed monkeys, brown hyenas, brown greater galagos, honey badgers, various ungulate species and many birds, including black herons and African jacanas! The zoo is infamous for it's safari. Personally, I love the hippo lake and the new spotted hyena exhibit, but other enclosures might feel rather outdated. Still a very pleasant zoo that is absolutely worth visiting. Basically an Africa in the middle of Europe...
Another zoo somehow accessible from Vienna is Ostrava. Although there are still some very outdated exhibits, it still belongs between the most modern facilities in the country. The environment of this zoo is beautiful, as it takes place in a forest. There's a huge mixed exhibit for Asian black bears and Hanuman langurs which is a must-see in my opinion. The House of Evolution is a nice modern pavilion which opened 10 years ago. It's mainly home to a group of chimps, but there's also an exhibit for Diana's monkeys and several smaller animal species, including West African lungfish. There are countless smaller hidden exhibits around the whole zoo. The zoo breeds some very rare fish species. Other animals worth mentioning are the two tree hyrax species, Garnett's galagos, several lemur species (keep in mind these can be seen only during warmer months), Hamlyn's monkeys, ...
MountainLioness
Member
It is quite untrue that Brest is a long trip away from other major zoos in France. While Brest is on the end of the peninsula, it's very much doable to stay somewhere in Britanny for a week and visit Nataé, Branféré, Trégomeur, la Bourbansais and/or Brest during that week - plus la Boissière and Planète Sauvage near Nantes.
For instance if you stay in Rennes or Vannes, it's 2 hours in train, so it's long but definitely doable in a day - and it can be combined with other interesting things to visit in Brest, like the Musée de la Marine and the botanical gardens, for a day long trip.
None of those zoos are particularly big (they're half-day zoos, mostly) but they're all worth the visit. Branféré in particular is still one of the best zoos in France in terms in quality and design, with one of the best okapi enclosure in the continent.
This can be done as part of a larger trip in north-western France, which is one of the most zoo-dense region in the entire continent (see eg Lintworm's thread on his trip there - Into the unknown: zoos of western France ).
That said, most of the Brest aquarium are in renovation until 2026, and Vienna is quite far away from France, so I wouldn't advise it for pachyderm pro here - there are enough great and world class zoos in Austria, Czechia, South Germany and Switzerland combined for a semester of travel.
merlin
Well-Known Member
Yes, judging from what I've seen on their socials. But it does not sound bad, so why not.They really named the enclosure after their own animal?
@pachyderm pro , I am very consciously NOT following you around Vienna, but was at Schonnbrunn yesterday (for the third time), which I agree with you in loving, and Haus des Meeres today, which I agree with you in not especially liking very much.
I don't know if you are into art, but I was gratified today that amongst the Klimts and Schieles at the Belvedere, there are some extremely fine animal portraits from Prinz Eugene's menagerie by various 18th c. artists, plus the radiating spokes of the layout of the menagerie itself can still be roughly seen in the gardens to the side of the palace.
I don't know if you are into art, but I was gratified today that amongst the Klimts and Schieles at the Belvedere, there are some extremely fine animal portraits from Prinz Eugene's menagerie by various 18th c. artists, plus the radiating spokes of the layout of the menagerie itself can still be roughly seen in the gardens to the side of the palace.
You're never gonna believe where I was yesterday while you were writing this...
Is that how I came off? I liked Haus Des Meeres plenty, it was just the aquarium bits that didn't leave much of an impression on me. Thinking about if further however, it should be noted that the large cylindrical tank on the 9th(?) floor really is an amazing feat of engineering considering how high off the ground it is.
merlin
Well-Known Member
When I saw your post in the Zlín thread yesterday, I suddenly felt really stupidYou're never gonna believe where I was yesterday while you were writing this...
Can't wait for your report though!
Blumengärten Hirschstetten
I mentioned that a majority of the zoos I’ll be visiting during my stay are large, well known collections that have been covered on this site ad nauseum. There will be some exceptions however and this small collection near the outskirts of Vienna is the first. The Blumengärten used to be a plant breeding center by the city that gradually became obsolete. These days it can be described as a botanical garden/native species zoo hybrid, a quite nice one at that. The century-old Palmenhaus that once is essentially a small, but rather atmospheric rainforest house with free-flight birds and free-standing terrariums for Asian herps and invertebrates.
The zoological offerings are limited and often simplistic, but well done overall. European pond turtles and other native chelonians are treated to spacious yards tucked away in a more secluded part of the grounds that were lovely to walk among. Other herps like green lizards and various amphibians have massive netted enclosures spread throughout the gardens (there may also be some traditional terraria that I missed?). Eurasian harvest mice can be found in a large rectangular glass box and sousliks (Europe’s answer to prairie dogs) have a nice outdoor exhibit as well. However, I was under the impression beforehand that the souslik colony was free-ranging throughout the entire park. Didn't see any either way which was disappointing.
Various local birds can be found in the bird house, which isn't actually a proper animal house, but instead a large aviary designed akin to a greenhouse. It was nice, but nothing too special or out of the ordinary. The modest bird collection is rounded out by yards for white stork, a pair of owl aviaries (little owl and ural owl) and a couple more small aviaries elsewhere for Fischer’s lovebird, Lady Amherst’s pheasant, and bearded tit.
The highlight of my visit was observing an active pair of European wildcats patrolling their enclosures, both of which are simple wood and wire cages, but are filled with plants and climbing structures making for a pleasant accommodation. This must be how European zoo nerds feel when watching coyotes in American zoos.
That summarizes the entire animal collection (minus a heritage farm area with domestics). While the Blumengarten is very nice, it’s worth seeing for the botanical displays even more so than the animal exhibits, with some beautiful gardens themed around different countries such as England, Mexico, India, etc. The stunning flower beds were worth meandering through and the whole atmosphere is quite pleasant. This isn't anywhere I’ll be rushing to get back to (mainly because everything but the palmenhaus closes for the season next month), but I enjoyed my time here well enough to recommend it to anyone in the area. Easy little bonus after Haus Des Meeres in the morning.
I mentioned that a majority of the zoos I’ll be visiting during my stay are large, well known collections that have been covered on this site ad nauseum. There will be some exceptions however and this small collection near the outskirts of Vienna is the first. The Blumengärten used to be a plant breeding center by the city that gradually became obsolete. These days it can be described as a botanical garden/native species zoo hybrid, a quite nice one at that. The century-old Palmenhaus that once is essentially a small, but rather atmospheric rainforest house with free-flight birds and free-standing terrariums for Asian herps and invertebrates.
The zoological offerings are limited and often simplistic, but well done overall. European pond turtles and other native chelonians are treated to spacious yards tucked away in a more secluded part of the grounds that were lovely to walk among. Other herps like green lizards and various amphibians have massive netted enclosures spread throughout the gardens (there may also be some traditional terraria that I missed?). Eurasian harvest mice can be found in a large rectangular glass box and sousliks (Europe’s answer to prairie dogs) have a nice outdoor exhibit as well. However, I was under the impression beforehand that the souslik colony was free-ranging throughout the entire park. Didn't see any either way which was disappointing.
Various local birds can be found in the bird house, which isn't actually a proper animal house, but instead a large aviary designed akin to a greenhouse. It was nice, but nothing too special or out of the ordinary. The modest bird collection is rounded out by yards for white stork, a pair of owl aviaries (little owl and ural owl) and a couple more small aviaries elsewhere for Fischer’s lovebird, Lady Amherst’s pheasant, and bearded tit.
The highlight of my visit was observing an active pair of European wildcats patrolling their enclosures, both of which are simple wood and wire cages, but are filled with plants and climbing structures making for a pleasant accommodation. This must be how European zoo nerds feel when watching coyotes in American zoos.
That summarizes the entire animal collection (minus a heritage farm area with domestics). While the Blumengarten is very nice, it’s worth seeing for the botanical displays even more so than the animal exhibits, with some beautiful gardens themed around different countries such as England, Mexico, India, etc. The stunning flower beds were worth meandering through and the whole atmosphere is quite pleasant. This isn't anywhere I’ll be rushing to get back to (mainly because everything but the palmenhaus closes for the season next month), but I enjoyed my time here well enough to recommend it to anyone in the area. Easy little bonus after Haus Des Meeres in the morning.
Looks like the trip is already very productive so far and you've already covered a very great variety of institutions -- a large zoo, an aquarium, a smaller facility. Also some beautiful photography as always! I'm definitely taking notes to borrow from your itinerary if I ever make it out to that neck of the woods.
Particularly glad you go to see European wildcats and enjoy a primate walkthrough as those were among the highlights of my trip to the UK.
Particularly glad you go to see European wildcats and enjoy a primate walkthrough as those were among the highlights of my trip to the UK.
I managed to visit HdM this year and love the fact that this collection is allowed to exist. I can imagine an alternative timeline where the flack tower could have been made into a shopping mall or a soulless office building instead of a zoo-aquarium and it makes me shudder. While I wouldn’t expect another project like this to appear again I hope it could inspire someone to repurpose an old building into a living collection of small critters.Haus Des Meeres
What a truly bizarre place this is, and I mean that as a term of endearment. There is often discussion about the homogenization of zoos in recent years, but finding truly unique aquariums is an even taller order. Yet within this former WWII flak tower lies a facility that manages to work even when it shouldn't. There are eleven floors worth of displays spread across this tower including several outdoor exhibits located many stories up. There are literally aviaries protruding out of the building and it’s all a pretty surreal sight upon first glance.
The actual aquatic elements here didn't really grab me however. Mostly it consisted of just typical aquarium displays without any eye-catching species of note. There were several larger tanks that impressed such as the tall reef tank with split-level viewing, the cylindrical tank that nearly stretched the length of the room, and an open-topped mangrove display. Of course there’s the classic walk-through tunnel every aquarium is seemingly mandated to have in 2025, but this one felt oddly small and restricted by the design of the entryway. Only the open-topped tank filled with a bunch of sterlets being prepared for release held my attention, which was great. Everything else was good, but rarely left me lingering for more than a moment.
Where I did linger however was the pair of tropical halls both accessible on the third floor. The first is the crocodile park, featuring a slender-snouted croc resting below while cotton-top tamarins and various birds scurried above. Another one of those displays I can only describe properly with the word; awesome! Even better was the tropical hall with white-faced sakis, callimicos and Spix’s saddle-backed tamarins – the latter of which can only be found in a half-dozen European collections and none in the states. The monkeys had no reservations about coming right up to visitors and it was thrilling to get inches away from all of them. It may seem like no big deal to your average European zoo nerd, but I’m pretty sure this was my first time in a real primate walkthrough. Hopefully the first of many.
Near the very top of the building is a floor centered around island ecosystems. Never thought I’d see a multi-leveled komodo dragon exhibit, but the big guy was making good use of his ramp connecting both floors. A mixed-species Madagascar display is nearby, connected to an outdoor enclosure is quite literally a balcony giving these lemurs a better view of the city than most residents. It’s a truly impressive display and black lemurs were awesome to see, but I was bummed to learn that the last narrow-striped mongoose had died not too long ago as that was perhaps my most anticipated species here. There’s also an Australia hall wrapped around the building's perimeter with an assortment of parrots and parakeets, as well as woylie apparently, but the odds of seeing them must be slim to none.
This place really felt like a maze to navigate at times. It seems straightforward enough to simply go from the bottom to the top, but you really have to go out of your way to find certain exhibits. For example, I noticed a series of terrariums in the same room as the crocodile hall, except you couldn't reach them from the main boardwalk. I had to find the correct stairwell elsewhere, go through the correct door to reach a dead-end path with the terrariums (one featuring a brilliant new species for me in the form of namaqua chameleon). Maybe this kind of set-up isn’t for everyone, but I personally loved the small challenge of having to figure out how to reach certain areas. It’s like playing a video game where you’re trying to reach a secret room to earn special collectables.
Dallas World Aquarium comes to mind as the natural U.S. comparison; another quirky collection within a vertical building, where the actual aquarium aspects are overshadowed by rainforest walkthroughs. However, unlike the DWA which crams in way more species than it can comfortably handle, HDM recognizes its limitations and strikes a perfect balance between fitting in a number of interesting species beyond just fish while not overwhelming its resources. In fact, all of the herp terrariums across each floor were quite spacious even for smaller species. With multiple small-to-medium sized monkeys, lemurs, komodo dragon, and a large croc, there’s plenty worth going out of your way for even if you’re not a fish enthusiast. Slowly ascending the Vienna skyline, which continuously appears in the background of the larger halls, makes a visit even more worthwhile.
Perhaps my most anticipated review! The comparison to DWA is very appropriate, the entire time reading this post I was reminded of the similarly quirky 'indoor zoo' that poses as an aquarium, but all the best parts are elsewhere. It's great to hear that HDM has great husbandry and adequate accommodations in contrast to DWA, remedying it's obvious weak point and showcasing that this type of institution can be done while still being good for the inhabitants.
Zlin Zoo
This past weekend I made my first day trip outside of Austria and of course I had to start with the most complicated to reach, out of the way collection on my itinerary. It was imperative I make it to Zlin early on before a bulk of the extensive large bird collection is moved off-show for the season. Massive shoutout to @TeaLovingDave whose excellent directions are probably the only reason I made it there and back without any major issues. And believe me, there were some close calls. From getting on the wrong bus at the Ciganov stop to nearly missing the last train back to Vienna at Oktrovice, the journey was stressful to say the least. Being confused in a train station in a random Czech town, where English is seldom spoken, late in the evening, with your phone at 1%, is not a good feeling. It was all totally worth it though not only because I got a story out of it, but because this is an excellent zoo.
Zlin can be described as one of the rising stars in Europe. It’s somewhere I was totally unaware of until just a couple years ago, but has been continuously pumping out high quality projects year after year, the most recent one quite literally just days old. And the rapid pace of development is reflected in the zoo’s visitor numbers. Crowds were massive from the moment I arrived (shortly before noon) to the moment I left around closing. It’s also structured very much like an American zoo, with culturally themed areas complete with Ethiopian thatch huts, Japanese zen gardens, Mayan ruined temples, etc. At times it felt like you couldn’t round a corner without finding another themed cafe, snack shop, drink bar or coffee cart. Can’t say it’s unjustified though as each and every one of them was packed to the gills.
My visit happened to coincide with the grand opening of the new lion rescue center, which will house individuals confiscated from private individuals in Czechia. This is an excellent enclosure where the pride rested atop one of the tall mountains overlooking the whole area. It marks completion of the second phase of the Karibuni development, which is shaping up to be a first class African precinct. Phase 1 consisted of a sublime African elephant exhibit (with some Somali sheep as well) where the main yard can be completely circumnavigated. At first the herd was confined to their small side yard while keepers put out food for the afternoon, but 30 minutes later they were charging and trumpeting through the expansive main paddock. My favorite bit is the pool with highly minimal barriers creating a terrific illusion. For both elephants and lions these are some of the very best exhibits I’ve seen anywhere and in the future giraffes, rhinos, hippos and various hoofstock will be featured here (plus a bunch of hotel rooms between the enclosures).
As I said, larger birds are a speciality for Zlin and the numbers they put up are staggering. About a dozen hornbills, ten vultures, similar amounts of parrots and storks, five ratites, five cranes, two flamingos, various owls, several toucans/toucanets, crowned eagles, secretary birds, etc. If large birds are of any interest to you then this zoo is a must-see without question. Even if they aren't, there’s a non-zero chance they will be after a trip out here. So many wonderful species I’ve rarely seen (lesser adjutants, painted stork, secretary bird, crowned eagle), never before seen (Maguari stork, white-headed vulture, black-faced spoonbill), and a few I didn't even know existed (spotted wood owl, horned screamer, black-casqued hornbill). Any other zoo would be envious to have a fraction of this collection.
But it’s not simply the volume of birds in the collection, but how they’re exhibited. After years of seeing flight-restricted macaws on sticks, observing multiple species treated to a beautiful walkthrough aviary was a heartwarming sight. The lovely little kiwi/kea complex tucked away near the back of the zoo brought back good memories from my New Zealand trip earlier this year and was the first time I’ve seen an outdoor kiwi enclosure in a public collection. And what other zoo has two walk-in aviaries filled with rare storks from Africa and Asia respectively? However, none of them could top the brilliant walkthrough vulture (and others) aviary. Upon entry I was immediately greeted by a group of birds tearing into a deer carcass right by the guest area, a powerful show that many American zoos lack the nerve to put on. From the vultures of multiple species fighting over food, to the secretary birds patrolling their territory, to stunning hornbills calling from the treetops, this buzzard display was buzzing with activity.
Loved the newer Jaguar Trek zone, once again among the best I’ve ever seen for the species and the soft vocalizations from the black cat were chilling in the best way. There are also some massive enclosures for the typical South American pampas lineup, but none of the larger inhabitants were being very showy so it all just felt like a comically large amount of space for maras. I also didn't get why the giant anteater is still in a fairly small enclosure nearby and not in one of these massive yards which are begging for more residents. The older South American enclosures were also excellent. I already mentioned the macaw aviary, but it was the primates who really stole the show here. Two enclosures for squirrel monkeys, both of which were filled with little monkeys chasing one another and bouncing off the mesh, and my first woolly monkeys! Such a cool species.
Herps are an area where the zoo is lacking. This is very much a zoo that focuses on big flashy things, but even then there are no crocodilians or any other large reptiles to be found and without a real reptile house what is present feels like an afterthought. Small things aren’t totally overlooked however. I fully expected the large herd of gaur or the beautiful Moloch’s gibbon island to be the highlight of the Asian area, yet somehow it was a small enclosure for Swinhoe’s striped squirrel that took the crown. These little guys wouldn't sit still, dozens of them bolting in every direction and gathering an enthralled audience. Whoever said squirrels can’t make for engaging zoo exhibits hasn't seen this gem.
While most of the zoo is heavily themed around certain continents, the stunning chateau near the entrance reminded me that we are indeed still in Europe. Can anyone give a breakdown of this structure's history? I believe there are guided tours you can take through it, although I simply appreciated its immaculate beauty from outside. Surrounding the chateau are some older enclosures for penguins and camels, several very nice hornbill aviaries, aardwolves, a stingray touch tank, nothing out of the ordinary…
...oh right, I saw aardwolves! Easily the highlight of the visit. After missing them in the morning I had feared I wouldn't check off on one of my most anticipated lifeticks of this trip. Thankfully the mom and one of her pups were dodging in and out of their burrow later in the afternoon much to my delight. Much smaller than I expected, but a gorgeous species none the less.
From my perspective the obvious comparison here is Nashville, another ever expanding zoo located in a heavily wooded forest that’s been producing high quality projects at a rapid pace. Growth is slated to continue with exhibits for okapi, tapir, and wombat all slated for the coming years in tandem with the multi-phase Karibuni development. Zlin lacks any poor enclosures, maybe a few aviaries that felt a bit snug for their inhabitants (rhinoceros hornbill, owls) and some indoor areas that are awfully small (giraffe, anteater), but nothing that’s in dire need of fixing. Around every part of the grounds you can tell this is a zoo that really tries to be perfect in every way it can. Perhaps it says something about the sheer quality in European collections that @lintworm did not give Zlin a single mention in his 100 must-see exhibits thread. If Zlin were an American zoo, it would claim multiple slots on my list without question. I’ll be watching closely to see how things progress here over the next decade as there’s plenty to be excited about.
This past weekend I made my first day trip outside of Austria and of course I had to start with the most complicated to reach, out of the way collection on my itinerary. It was imperative I make it to Zlin early on before a bulk of the extensive large bird collection is moved off-show for the season. Massive shoutout to @TeaLovingDave whose excellent directions are probably the only reason I made it there and back without any major issues. And believe me, there were some close calls. From getting on the wrong bus at the Ciganov stop to nearly missing the last train back to Vienna at Oktrovice, the journey was stressful to say the least. Being confused in a train station in a random Czech town, where English is seldom spoken, late in the evening, with your phone at 1%, is not a good feeling. It was all totally worth it though not only because I got a story out of it, but because this is an excellent zoo.
Zlin can be described as one of the rising stars in Europe. It’s somewhere I was totally unaware of until just a couple years ago, but has been continuously pumping out high quality projects year after year, the most recent one quite literally just days old. And the rapid pace of development is reflected in the zoo’s visitor numbers. Crowds were massive from the moment I arrived (shortly before noon) to the moment I left around closing. It’s also structured very much like an American zoo, with culturally themed areas complete with Ethiopian thatch huts, Japanese zen gardens, Mayan ruined temples, etc. At times it felt like you couldn’t round a corner without finding another themed cafe, snack shop, drink bar or coffee cart. Can’t say it’s unjustified though as each and every one of them was packed to the gills.
My visit happened to coincide with the grand opening of the new lion rescue center, which will house individuals confiscated from private individuals in Czechia. This is an excellent enclosure where the pride rested atop one of the tall mountains overlooking the whole area. It marks completion of the second phase of the Karibuni development, which is shaping up to be a first class African precinct. Phase 1 consisted of a sublime African elephant exhibit (with some Somali sheep as well) where the main yard can be completely circumnavigated. At first the herd was confined to their small side yard while keepers put out food for the afternoon, but 30 minutes later they were charging and trumpeting through the expansive main paddock. My favorite bit is the pool with highly minimal barriers creating a terrific illusion. For both elephants and lions these are some of the very best exhibits I’ve seen anywhere and in the future giraffes, rhinos, hippos and various hoofstock will be featured here (plus a bunch of hotel rooms between the enclosures).
As I said, larger birds are a speciality for Zlin and the numbers they put up are staggering. About a dozen hornbills, ten vultures, similar amounts of parrots and storks, five ratites, five cranes, two flamingos, various owls, several toucans/toucanets, crowned eagles, secretary birds, etc. If large birds are of any interest to you then this zoo is a must-see without question. Even if they aren't, there’s a non-zero chance they will be after a trip out here. So many wonderful species I’ve rarely seen (lesser adjutants, painted stork, secretary bird, crowned eagle), never before seen (Maguari stork, white-headed vulture, black-faced spoonbill), and a few I didn't even know existed (spotted wood owl, horned screamer, black-casqued hornbill). Any other zoo would be envious to have a fraction of this collection.
But it’s not simply the volume of birds in the collection, but how they’re exhibited. After years of seeing flight-restricted macaws on sticks, observing multiple species treated to a beautiful walkthrough aviary was a heartwarming sight. The lovely little kiwi/kea complex tucked away near the back of the zoo brought back good memories from my New Zealand trip earlier this year and was the first time I’ve seen an outdoor kiwi enclosure in a public collection. And what other zoo has two walk-in aviaries filled with rare storks from Africa and Asia respectively? However, none of them could top the brilliant walkthrough vulture (and others) aviary. Upon entry I was immediately greeted by a group of birds tearing into a deer carcass right by the guest area, a powerful show that many American zoos lack the nerve to put on. From the vultures of multiple species fighting over food, to the secretary birds patrolling their territory, to stunning hornbills calling from the treetops, this buzzard display was buzzing with activity.
Loved the newer Jaguar Trek zone, once again among the best I’ve ever seen for the species and the soft vocalizations from the black cat were chilling in the best way. There are also some massive enclosures for the typical South American pampas lineup, but none of the larger inhabitants were being very showy so it all just felt like a comically large amount of space for maras. I also didn't get why the giant anteater is still in a fairly small enclosure nearby and not in one of these massive yards which are begging for more residents. The older South American enclosures were also excellent. I already mentioned the macaw aviary, but it was the primates who really stole the show here. Two enclosures for squirrel monkeys, both of which were filled with little monkeys chasing one another and bouncing off the mesh, and my first woolly monkeys! Such a cool species.
Herps are an area where the zoo is lacking. This is very much a zoo that focuses on big flashy things, but even then there are no crocodilians or any other large reptiles to be found and without a real reptile house what is present feels like an afterthought. Small things aren’t totally overlooked however. I fully expected the large herd of gaur or the beautiful Moloch’s gibbon island to be the highlight of the Asian area, yet somehow it was a small enclosure for Swinhoe’s striped squirrel that took the crown. These little guys wouldn't sit still, dozens of them bolting in every direction and gathering an enthralled audience. Whoever said squirrels can’t make for engaging zoo exhibits hasn't seen this gem.
While most of the zoo is heavily themed around certain continents, the stunning chateau near the entrance reminded me that we are indeed still in Europe. Can anyone give a breakdown of this structure's history? I believe there are guided tours you can take through it, although I simply appreciated its immaculate beauty from outside. Surrounding the chateau are some older enclosures for penguins and camels, several very nice hornbill aviaries, aardwolves, a stingray touch tank, nothing out of the ordinary…
...oh right, I saw aardwolves! Easily the highlight of the visit. After missing them in the morning I had feared I wouldn't check off on one of my most anticipated lifeticks of this trip. Thankfully the mom and one of her pups were dodging in and out of their burrow later in the afternoon much to my delight. Much smaller than I expected, but a gorgeous species none the less.
From my perspective the obvious comparison here is Nashville, another ever expanding zoo located in a heavily wooded forest that’s been producing high quality projects at a rapid pace. Growth is slated to continue with exhibits for okapi, tapir, and wombat all slated for the coming years in tandem with the multi-phase Karibuni development. Zlin lacks any poor enclosures, maybe a few aviaries that felt a bit snug for their inhabitants (rhinoceros hornbill, owls) and some indoor areas that are awfully small (giraffe, anteater), but nothing that’s in dire need of fixing. Around every part of the grounds you can tell this is a zoo that really tries to be perfect in every way it can. Perhaps it says something about the sheer quality in European collections that @lintworm did not give Zlin a single mention in his 100 must-see exhibits thread. If Zlin were an American zoo, it would claim multiple slots on my list without question. I’ll be watching closely to see how things progress here over the next decade as there’s plenty to be excited about.
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One can feel the excitement from you first steps in Zlin @pachyderm pro You still have a lot to explore in Europe, so I will wait to see where you will put Zlin in the big scheme of things. I loved all my visits there and I think @lintworm should be more generous to this Czech beauty. He will probably reconsider, after he sees the new Lion exhibit, inspired by Doue
You still have a lot to explore in Europe, so I will wait to see where you will put Zlin in the big scheme of things. I loved all my visits there and I think @lintworm should be more generous to this Czech beauty. He will probably reconsider, after he sees the new Lion exhibit, inspired by Doue
They are a lorikeet landing and a kangaroo walkabout away from being the Ultimate American Zoo Experience (sans the homogenization)
merlin
Well-Known Member
I'm delighted to see you've enjoyed Zlín so much! And I completely understand your problems with getting there and from there. On one of our trips with @Kharzo we accidentally did not get off at the zoo stop and so we stepped out from the bus in the next village...Zlin Zoo
This past weekend I made my first day trip outside of Austria and of course I had to start with the most complicated to reach, out of the way collection on my itinerary. It was imperative I make it to Zlin early on before a bulk of the extensive large bird collection is moved off-show for the season. Massive shoutout to @TeaLovingDave whose excellent directions are probably the only reason I made it there and back without any major issues. And believe me, there were some close calls. From getting on the wrong bus at the Ciganov stop to nearly missing the last train back to Vienna at Oktrovice, the journey was stressful to say the least. Being confused in a train station in a random Czech town, where English is seldom spoken, late in the evening, with your phone at 1%, is not a good feeling. It was all totally worth it though not only because I got a story out of it, but because this is an excellent zoo.
Zlin can be described as one of the rising stars in Europe. It’s somewhere I was totally unaware of until just a couple years ago, but has been continuously pumping out high quality projects year after year, the most recent one quite literally just days old. And the rapid pace of development is reflected in the zoo’s visitor numbers. Crowds were massive from the moment I arrived (shortly before noon) to the moment I left around closing. It’s also structured very much like an American zoo, with culturally themed areas complete with Ethiopian thatch huts, Japanese zen gardens, Mayan ruined temples, etc. At times it felt like you couldn’t round a corner without finding another themed cafe, snack shop, drink bar or coffee cart. Can’t say it’s unjustified though as each and every one of them was packed to the gills.
My visit happened to coincide with the grand opening of the new lion rescue center, which will house individuals confiscated from private individuals in Chezia. This is an excellent enclosure where the pride rested atop one of the tall mountains overlooking the whole area. It marks completion of the second phase of the Karibuni development, which is shaping up to be a first class African precinct. Phase 1 consisted of a sublime African elephant exhibit (with some Somali sheep as well) where the main yard can be completely circumnavigated. At first the herd was confined to their small side yard while keepers put out food for the afternoon, but 30 minutes later they were charging and trumpeting through the expansive main paddock. My favorite bit is the pool with highly minimal barriers creating a terrific illusion. For both elephants and lions these are some of the very best exhibits I’ve seen anywhere and in the future giraffes, rhinos, hippos and various hoofstock will be featured here (plus a bunch of hotel rooms between the enclosures).
As I said, larger birds are a speciality for Zlin and the numbers they put up are staggering. About a dozen hornbills, ten vultures, similar amounts of parrots and storks, five ratites, five cranes, two flamingos, various owls, several toucans/toucanets, crowned eagles, secretary birds, etc. If large birds are of any interest to you then this zoo is a must-see without question. Even if they aren't, there’s a non-zero chance they will be after a trip out here. So many wonderful species I’ve rarely seen (lesser adjutants, painted stork, secretary bird, crowned eagle), never before seen (Maguari stork, white-headed vulture, black-faced spoonbill), and a few I didn't even know existed (spotted wood owl, horned screamer, black-casqued hornbill). Any other zoo would be envious to have a fraction of this collection.
But it’s not simply the volume of birds in the collection, but how they’re exhibited. After years of seeing flight-restricted macaws on sticks, observing multiple species treated to a beautiful walkthrough aviary was a heartwarming sight. The lovely little kiwi/kea complex tucked away near the back of the zoo brought back good memories from my New Zealand trip earlier this year and was the first time I’ve seen an outdoor kiwi enclosure in a public collection. And what other zoo has two walk-in aviaries filled with rare storks from Africa and Asia respectively? However, none of them could top the brilliant walkthrough vulture (and others) aviary. Upon entry I was immediately greeted by a group of birds tearing into a deer carcass right by the guest area, a powerful show that many American zoos lack the nerve to put on. From the vultures of multiple species fighting over food, to the secretary birds patrolling their territory, to stunning hornbills calling from the treetops, this buzzard display was buzzing with activity.
Loved the newer Jaguar Trek zone, once again among the best I’ve ever seen for the species and the soft vocalizations from the black cat were chilling in the best way. There are also some massive enclosures for the typical South American pampas lineup, but none of the larger inhabitants were being very showy so it all just felt like a comically large amount of space for maras. I also didn't get why the giant anteater is still in a fairly small enclosure nearby and not in one of these massive yards which are begging for more residents. The older South American enclosures were also excellent. I already mentioned the macaw aviary, but it was the primates who really stole the show here. Two enclosures for squirrel monkeys, both of which were filled with little monkeys chasing one another and bouncing off the mesh, and my first woolly monkeys! Such a cool species.
Herps are an area where the zoo is lacking. This is very much a zoo that focuses on big flashy things, but even then there are no crocodilians or any other large reptiles to be found and without a real reptile house what is present feels like an afterthought. Small things aren’t totally overlooked however. I fully expected the large herd of gaur or the beautiful Moloch’s gibbon island to be the highlight of the Asian area, yet somehow it was a small enclosure for Swinhoe’s striped squirrel that took the crown. These little guys wouldn't sit still, dozens of them bolting in every direction and gathering an enthralled audience. Whoever said squirrels can’t make for engaging zoo exhibits hasn't seen this gem.
While most of the zoo is heavily themed around certain continents, the stunning chateau near the entrance reminded me that we are indeed still in Europe. Can anyone give a breakdown of this structure's history? I believe there are guided tours you can take through it, although I simply appreciated its immaculate beauty from outside. Surrounding the chateau are some older enclosures for penguins and camels, several very nice hornbill aviaries, aardwolves, a stingray touch tank, nothing out of the ordinary…
...oh right, I saw aardwolves! Easily the highlight of the visit. After missing them in the morning I had feared I wouldn't check off on one of my most anticipated lifeticks of this trip. Thankfully the mom and one of her pups were dodging in and out of their burrow later in the afternoon much to my delight. Much smaller than I expected, but a gorgeous species none the less.
From my perspective the obvious comparison here is Nashville, another ever expanding zoo located in a heavily wooded forest that’s been producing high quality projects at a rapid pace. Growth is slated to continue with exhibits for okapi, tapir, and wombat all slated for the coming years in tandem with the multi-phase Karibuni development. Zlin lacks any poor enclosures, maybe a few aviaries that felt a bit snug for their inhabitants (rhinoceros hornbill, owls) and some indoor areas that are awfully small (giraffe, anteater), but nothing that’s in dire need of fixing. Around every part of the grounds you can tell this is a zoo that really tries to be perfect in every way it can. Perhaps it says something about the sheer quality in European collections that @lintworm did not give Zlin a single mention in his 100 must-see exhibits thread. If Zlin were an American zoo, it would claim multiple slots on my list without question. I’ll be watching closely to see how things progress here over the next decade as there’s plenty to be excited about.
I wanted to ask you though... Did you plan to visit the zoo on that particular day because of the opening of the new lion exhibit, or was it a concidence? Because it had to be one of the busiest days of the year - the zoo stated more than 6000 people visited that day.
For the chateau - it was built in the begininning of the 19th century in the baroque style, but the current historicism look is from 1894. It used to be a residence of the Seilern family. Their former residence was castle Lukov, which can be found less than 5 kilometers from the Lešná chateau. The chateau now belongs to the Zlín town. The history of the building is closely related to the history of the zoo, because there used to be a pheasantry and a stud farm at first.