Best Zoo Exhibit in U.S.

ANyhuis said:
Actually, having 8 jaguars would be an ADVANTAGE for Jacksonville! They never display more than 2 or 3 cats at a time -- they rotate them in and out of the exhibit. But since they have 8, that means there's always jaguars in the exhibit. In Seattle, if one of their jaguars is sick or receiving care, that means they have one less jaguar to see.

As for the Mayan temple theme, that's not a matter of "better" or "worse", it's a matter of personal taste. Some like the Mayan temple, some don't. It's as simple as that.

But I'm NOT going to say Jacksonville's jaguar exhibit is better than Woodland Park's Jaguar Cove. Why? BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN JAGUAR COVE YET! Thus, I have no credibility to evaluate between the two. I have, however seen Jon's video of Jaguar Cove, and based on that, I like Jacksonville's slightly better -- slightly. But I won't know for sure until I actually Jaguar Cove for myself.
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Seattle only has one jaguar go out at a time. While I am sure that is great for the human visitors to see a jaguar in view it is not always best for jaguars. They are very solitary, and at the Miami Metrozoo the two jaguars are kept in two separate enclosures. Allen, I don't think you would like Miami's jaguar exhibit, they are always hiding and they really dislike being out in their exhibit. I was lucky the other day to see the female jaguar exploring her stream and playing with a stick. It was at 10AM and thus I had the whole experience to myself. Quite a treat.

I wish I could only evaluate exhibits solely on seeing them in the flesh, but if that were the case I would be barely evaluating any at all, but it is something I love to do so I simply evaluate from photographs, reviews, and videos.
 
Bronx, Woodland Park, and North Carolina are on the top of my list, in that order.

Omaha and Columbus was just checked off the list, and I plan on going to Bronx this summer, maybe North Carolina in the near future as well.

Hopefully I'll be able to go to Woodland Park before or after a cruise to Alaska, which I may be going on next summer.

So that's the goal, and if reached would mean I've visited all the aforementioned zoos plus San Diego, SDWAP, LA, DC, KC, Lincoln Park, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Philadelpha, Miami, Jungle Island, Shedd Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Aquarium of the Pacific within a 2 year strech! Phoenix area zoos a little before that time period as well.

I know it doesn't measure up to snowleopard or our author friend, but pretty darn good for someone who doesn't have a lot of money.
 
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That is a lot of zoos, and a lot of great ones at that. I would make the trip to DC just to see the Asia Trail as that seems like an incredible set of animal habitats. I would really love to go to St. Louis to see their River's Edge, which I presume to be the best exhibit in the mid-west.
 
BlackRhino said:
I wish I could only evaluate exhibits solely on seeing them in the flesh, but if that were the case I would be barely evaluating any at all, but it is something I love to do so I simply evaluate from photographs, reviews, and videos.
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There's nothing at all wrong with evaluating exhibits based on that stuff, but it should be done in the matter that ANyhuis just did with the jaguar exhibits rather than reaching a definitive conclusion, or at least coming off that way.

And as you probably know, actually seeing it in person can greatly change your pre-conceived notions. I was somewhat skeptical of the Lied Jungle and Desert Dome before I went, but came away liking both more than I anticipated.

And sorry to you and everyone for continually harping on this.
 
BlackRhino said:
That is a lot of zoos, and a lot of great ones at that. I would make the trip to DC just to see the Asia Trail as that seems like an incredible set of animal habitats. I would really love to go to St. Louis to see their River's Edge, which I presume to be the best exhibit in the mid-west.
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Sounds like Russias Grizzly Coast in Minnesota might give St. Louis a run for their money in the midwest--need to get there to compare some day
 
reduakari said:
Sounds like Russias Grizzly Coast in Minnesota might give St. Louis a run for their money in the midwest--need to get there to compare some day
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Yeah, that one seems like a contender based on pics and what people are saying, throw in KC's Africa, and although you guys won't agree, the top Omaha exhibits.
 
Ituri:

You and I have something in common: San Diego Zoo's Kopje Exhibit is the one that sparked my interest in zoo design too! I always make sure I see it when at the zoo!
 
I have made a Top 25 list of themed multi enclosure exhibit complexes in zoos I have visited, I have now been to 40 zoos. I have not included aquariums. Keep in mind that I am really oogled by thematic architecture and bold graphics and detailed amenities, not as much by specific species or animal welfare provisions. I favor exhibit complexes with a wide variety of animal kingdoms, so a reptile house or bird aviary complex doesn't rate highly. Here is my list:

1. Congo Gorilla Forest, Bronx Zoo
2. Maharajah Jungle Trek, Disney's Animal Kingdom
3. Wild Asia, Taronga Zoo
4. Gorilla Tropics, San Diego Zoo
5. Desert Dome, Henry Doorly Zoo
6. Lied Jungle, Henry Doorly Zoo
7. Edge of Africa, Busch Gardens Tampa
8. Kingdoms of the Night, Henry Doorly Zoo
9. Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, Disney's Animal Kingdom
10. Asia Trail, National Zoo
11. Jungle World, Bronx Zoo
12. Range of the Jaguar, Jacksonville Zoo
13. Wilds of Africa, Dallas Zoo
14. Tropics of the Americas, Palm Beach Zoo
15. African Savanna, Toronto Zoo
16. Tiger River, San Diego Zoo
17. Heart of Africa, San Diego Wild Animal Park
18. Tropical Asia, Woodland Park Zoo
19. African Plains, Bronx Zoo
20. Polar Bear Plunge, San Diego Zoo
21. Predator Ridge, Denver Zoo
22. Islands of Southeast Asia, Columbus Zoo
23. Texas Wild!, Fort Worth Zoo
24. Tropical Forest, Franklin Park Zoo
25. Primate Panorama, Denver Zoo
 
mweb08 said:
Out of one's I've been to:

1. Lied Jungle(Omaha)
2. Kingdom of the Night(Omaha)
3. Journey into Africa(SDWAP)4. Africa!(KC)
5. Desert Dome(Omaha)
6. Monkey Trails(SD)
7. Elephant Odyssey(SD)
8. Ituri River(SD)
9. Gorilla Tropics(SD)
10. North America(Columbus)

Also some great individual exhibits that I left out because they're not part of a larger exhibit.
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Would actually now put Maryland Zoos African Journey at #7 on that list, move EO down to 11 after thinking about it more. Maryland Wilderness isn't far from being on the list either.
 
@geomorph: a great list of exhibits, even though ranking zoo exhibits is completely subjective and thus two individuals won't necessarily 100% agree. I like many of your selections, and I have visited 21 out of the 25. Numbers 7, 13, 14 and 24 are the four that I've not seen in person.

You have 3 exhibits each from the Bronx Zoo, San Diego Zoo and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, and I think that those are perhaps the 3 best zoos in all of North America. Coincidence? Interesting that you went with "Tropical Asia" at the Woodland Park Zoo, as most people tend to go with "Northern Trail" as the best part of that zoo. Two from Disney's Animal Kingdom, but no "Kilimanjaro Safaris"? Is it because the animals pass by in an 18-minute blur?:) That is why I'd never rank it in my top 25 exhibits, although it is still spectacular in its own right. I assume that you have never visited the Detroit Zoo? "Arctic Ring of Life" is absent, but it is nice to see an Aussie zoo make the list!
 
I am curious as to why Tropical Rain forest at WPZ is never ranked in top 25 exhibits, as the jaguar exhibit there seems to be one of the most brilliant exhibits ever created with its lush foliage, absence of mayan temple, and underwater jaguar viewing. Not to mention that the section also has a top-notch gorilla enclosure.
 
@BlackRhino: how many ZooChatters have actually visited the Woodland Park Zoo since Jaguar Cove opened in 2003? Barely any besides myself, and those that have love everything about the Tropical Rainforest area. The problem is that Tropical Asia, Northern Trail, African Savanna and now the Humboldt Penguins all have to battle it out to decide which is the best set of exhibits at the zoo. It's a tough choice!:)
 
BlackRhino said:
I am curious as to why Tropical Rain forest at WPZ is never ranked in top 25 exhibits, as the jaguar exhibit there seems to be one of the most brilliant exhibits ever created with its lush foliage, absence of mayan temple, and underwater jaguar viewing. Not to mention that the section also has a top-notch gorilla enclosure.
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If you were to take out Jaguar Cove and the Gorilla Exhibit (which were both built at different times than the "award-winning" Tropical Rain Forest... it's just a nice exhibit, but nothing overwhelmingly spectacular.
 
Ituri said:
If you were to take out Jaguar Cove and the Gorilla Exhibit (which were both built at different times than the "award-winning" Tropical Rain Forest... it's just a nice exhibit, but nothing overwhelmingly spectacular.
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But if you include the two primate islands (also built earlier) the complex has some pretty sweet components.
 
BlackRhino said:
I am curious as to why Tropical Rain forest at WPZ is never ranked in top 25 exhibits, as the jaguar exhibit there seems to be one of the most brilliant exhibits ever created with its lush foliage, absence of mayan temple, and underwater jaguar viewing. Not to mention that the section also has a top-notch gorilla enclosure.
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Count me as one who has yet to see Jaguar Cove. But even before it was opened, I think I could identify the problem with this "exhibit" -- it's very disjointed. You're never really sure whether or not you are still in the "Tropical Rain Forest" exhibit.

This of course can be a problem with ranking many multi-enclosure exhibits. For example, here at the Indianapolis Zoo, technically the "Oceans complex" includes the excellent Oceans building, outdoor polar bear exhibit, outside walrus habitat, and the amazing Dolphin Dome and show. If we can really consider these all together as "one exhibit", I think Indianapolis' Oceans complex has to be a Top 10 exhibit in the nation. But Jon and I didn't combine all of these, especially since it's quite a walk from the Oceans building to the Dolphins building. A somewhat similar thing is Kansas City's Africa exhibit. While the area is huge and has many different sections, I couldn't argue with anyone who wanted to consider this different exhibits. But IF you do consider this entire package as one exhibit (as I do, because of the strong continuous theme), then this HAS TO be considered a Top 10 (or Top 5) exhibit!

BlackRhino said:
as the jaguar exhibit there seems to be one of the most brilliant exhibits ever created with its lush foliage, absence of mayan temple, and underwater jaguar viewing
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Let me answer a couple of specifics in your description:
(1) You repeatedly name its "absence of mayan temple" as if this is a "plus". It certainly is to you, but NOT necessarily for everyone else. To be, it's a "minus". I actually LIKE the Mayan temple in Jacksonville's jaguar exhibit slightly better.
(2) I've repeatedly pointed out that "underwater viewing" can be very, very overrated. When it comes to animals that are almost in the water -- hippos, polar bears, sea lions, otters, beavers, etc -- then underwater viewing is amazing! But for animals that are rarely (or only occasionally) in the water -- jaguars, tigers, elephants -- it's not a big deal. I've been to my local Indianapolis Zoo hundreds of times, and in those visits I've seen the elephants in the water maybe 3 times. I've seen the tigers in the water exactly once (I was with SnowLeopard at the time!). So thus Jaguar Cove's "underwater viewing" is really not that big a deal, same with the Bronx Zoo's Tiger Mountain. Even Omaha is very excited that in a few years they'll be opening (what they say is) the world's first elephant exhibit with underwater viewing. Sorry Omaha -- OVERRATED!
 
I didn't include Kilimanjaro Safaris since it is a ride, but I do love the exhibits along its path. I just can't get behind enclosures that I can't spend time with. Its also interesting that one of my favorite zoos, Miami Metrozoo, has no exhibit complex on my list, but I have not been since Amazon and Beyond opened. I have not been to Detroit yet, but I might go later this summer! So maybe Arctic Ring of Life will be on this list. A few of the exhibit complexes are the only compelling reasons to visit a few of the zoos...Dallas would not be worth much if it didn't have the fantastic Wilds of Africa, Palm Beach would be nowhere without the excellent Tropics of the Americas, Franklin Park is abysmal were it not for Tropical Rainforest. At Woodland Park Zoo, I was just there...and Tropical Rain Forest is a great exhibit, especially the duiker exhibit, which is without a doubt the best small antelope exhibit I can remember...was it originally built as a monkey island? I saw the new Penguin exhibit there, and it certainly has the theming to which I am drawn, but since it is a single habitat it doesn't qualify for my best list...I can't even begin to think about that list!
 
Interestingly, the Tropical Rain Forest at Woodland Park is my 26th fave...I have a list that goes to 50, does anyone want me to post that too or is that too much info?
 
More, more, more!! I'd love to analyze a list of the 50 best North American zoo exhibits, and if you want to include zoos like Taronga in Sydney (which is a great zoo and the best in Australia) then feel free to do it! What about a new thread? "Geomorph's Top 50 Exhibits"? What about a top 10 zoo list? From your photos and a couple of brief private messages I'm guessing that Bronx, San Diego, Woodland Park and Miami would all be in your top 10.
 
ANyhuis said:
Let me answer a couple of specifics in your description:
(1) You repeatedly name its "absence of mayan temple" as if this is a "plus". It certainly is to you, but NOT necessarily for everyone else. To be, it's a "minus". I actually LIKE the Mayan temple in Jacksonville's jaguar exhibit slightly better.
(2) I've repeatedly pointed out that "underwater viewing" can be very, very overrated. When it comes to animals that are almost in the water -- hippos, polar bears, sea lions, otters, beavers, etc -- then underwater viewing is amazing! But for animals that are rarely (or only occasionally) in the water -- jaguars, tigers, elephants -- it's not a big deal. I've been to my local Indianapolis Zoo hundreds of times, and in those visits I've seen the elephants in the water maybe 3 times. I've seen the tigers in the water exactly once (I was with SnowLeopard at the time!). So thus Jaguar Cove's "underwater viewing" is really not that big a deal, same with the Bronx Zoo's Tiger Mountain. Even Omaha is very excited that in a few years they'll be opening (what they say is) the world's first elephant exhibit with underwater viewing. Sorry Omaha -- OVERRATED!
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Allen, I personally just don't like Mayan temples. If an animal is to live the most natural life as possible in the wild then there would be no Mayan temples, just 100% natural tropical rain forest. The zoos (I think) should try to replicate an animals habitat in the most natural way possible. I think Mayan temples can make for nice exhibits (i.e. as in the case of Miami's tiger temple and Range of the Jaguar ), but the best of the best should not rely on that theme. Just my opinion.

On the underwater viewing part. I have seen the jaguars at the Miami Metrozoo use their water features three times, thus I find it hard to agree with you here. I have also seen the tigers at Busch Gardens use their underwater viewing pool before. I don't find them overrated at all, and it is better than not having it at all. I think its better for a zoo to have it then not, for those few times an animal decides to use its pool it makes for an incredible experience. I think it depends on luck and if you are willing to wait around. I am sure that will make for an incredible experience at the Henry Doorly Zoo once the underwater elephant area is built, and that will definitely make a reason for me to make it out that way.
 
Ok, well I won't start a new thread but here is my 26 to 50 ranks in the list!:

26. Tropical Rain Forest, Woodland Park Zoo
27. Canadian Wilds, Calgary Zoo
28. African Savanna, Honolulu Zoo
29. Great Northwest, Oregon Zoo
30. African Forest, Columbus Zoo
31. Ituri Forest, San Diego Zoo
32. Monkey Trails and Forest Tails, San Diego Zoo
33. African Savanna, Woodland Park Zoo
34. Northern Trail, Woodland Park Zoo
35. Destination Africa, Calgary Zoo
36. Big Cat Falls, Philadelphia Zoo
37. Africa, Oregon Zoo
38. Jungala, Busch Gardens Tampa
39. Mundo Maya, Dallas World Aquarium - this is more a zoo than an aquarium
40. Florida, Lowry Park Zoo
41. Mountain Woodland, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - this is the exhibit that is the fuzziest in my memory, saw it in 1992 or so
42. Asian Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo
43. Tropical Discovery, Denver Zoo
44. Orinoco Rainforest, Dallas World Aquarium - this is more a zoo than an aquarium
45. Asian Forest Sanctuary, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
46. Asian Falls, Fort Worth Zoo
47. African Kopje, San Diego Zoo - the exhibit that first interested me in the subject of zoo design!
48. Carnivore Kingdom, Philadelphia Zoo
49. Primate World, Lowry Park Zoo
50. African Savanna, San Francisco Zoo - wow, my local zoo made the list!
 
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