Best fresh water otter exhibit?

Best otter exhibit?

  • San Diego

    Votes: 4 11.1%

  • National Zoo(Asian small-clawed)

    Votes: 12 33.3%

  • Kansas City

    Votes: 2 5.6%

  • Woodland Park

    Votes: 3 8.3%

  • Maryland

    Votes: 4 11.1%

  • Dallas

    Votes: 1 2.8%

  • DAK(Asian small-clawed)

    Votes: 2 5.6%

  • Miami

    Votes: 4 11.1%

  • Jacksonville(giant otter)

    Votes: 4 11.1%

  • Caldwell

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    36
mstickmanp said:
I voted for the SD zoo's spotted-neck otter exhibit, mainly because of the size and the interaction between the otters and the monkeys.
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Just my taste, but for me if it's got to be an underwater-viewing exhibit, as otters are just too much fun to watch underwater. That's why I cast my vote for Maryland, where you can not only watch the otters swimming in front of you, but also swimming above you as you stand in an underwater acrylic tunnel.
 
Yeah, the size at the SD exhibit is tremendous, and the interaction with the monkeys is great. I didn't pick it due to the rarity of underwater viewing as the otters don't typically use that area.

The Maryland Zoo's exhibit has great underwater viewing in multiple spots including a tunnel, great clear viewing, lots of space, very good natural look, and very good immersion.
 
ANyhuis said:
Just my taste, but for me if it's got to be an underwater-viewing exhibit, as otters are just too much fun to watch underwater. That's why I cast my vote for Maryland, where you can not only watch the otters swimming in front of you, but also swimming above you as you stand in an underwater acrylic tunnel.
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As I noted, SD is an underwater-viewing exhibit, it's just a small portion of the available space, and they don't use it much.

And did you vote for it? I voted for it and it only shows one vote.
 
Jacksonville tied for the lead and it doesn't even have it's best otter exhibit up for consideration, I like that.
 
FSBlue said:
Jacksonville tied for the lead and it doesn't even have it's best otter exhibit up for consideration, I like that.
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Well now the superior Maryland exhibit takes the lead!

I've never been to JAX, just went with what looked better based on the pics on here.
 
My vote went to National Zoo's asian small clwed otter exhibit. The large group size (6 otters in one, 2 in the other) provide social interaction, the exhibit is huge and provides tons of enriching and natural activities to the otters and to top it all of... The exhibit is really good looking (Full of plants and trees, a flooded forest theme that works well, a very well hidden backline and a large, rocky pool with a crashing waterfall and underwater viewing)

It also ties nicely with the entire Asia Trail section and by 2011, you will even be able to see elephants in the back ground (Providing even more natural views)
 
National Zoo's Asian Small-Clawed Otter exhibit is the best. Well done landscape and underwater viewing. It is completely full of beautiful forest plants.
 
Monterey Aquarium has decent ones and the Seattle Aquarium has a very good otter exhibit with a waterfall and rockbed. None of them have natural plants though. I can't think of any other ones. Toronga Zoo has a very nice otter exhibit, but that's in Australia.

I've searched through the gallery a few times to look at otter exhibits though. What about these zoos?

Bronx
Dallas World Aquarium
Cincinnati Zoo
Columbus Zoo (I remember someone bringing up a best otter exhibit in one of the gallery discussions for this)
 
I was just curious what other otter exhibits you've seen since your answer seemed so definitive. I've been to DC and Maryland Zoos within a week of each other, and I think Maryland is better by a decent margin. Also been to a few of the other zoos in the poll along with Bronx and Columbus.
 
Yeah, I saw Maryland's exhibit in the gallery, and I'm going to man up and say I take back my vote for DC. Its way better for guest viewing angles and has a nice waterfall and landscaping.
 
Otter Lord said:
Yeah, I saw Maryland's exhibit in the gallery, and I'm going to man up and say I take back my vote for DC. Its way better for guest viewing angles and has a nice waterfall and landscaping.
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Sweet, glad I can get some more positive attention to the little talked about Maryland Zoo!
 
From what ive seen in pictures on here Maryland zoo probably has best North American River Exhibit hands down.
 
I like this question and am a couple years late joining this party, but will chime in late anyway. How many species of freshwater otter are in zoos in North America? San Diego Zoo used to have a Eurasian river otter, but I think that it croaked.

I know of Asian small-clawed, spot-necked, North American river, and giant. Are there any others?

Is there any consensus on where the model exhibits for these species are?

For giant otters it seems like the huge exhibit at Moody Gardens in Texas gets excellent reviews.

For North American river otters there seem to be multiple excellent exhibits.

For Asian small-clawed is the National Zoo considered to be the premiere exhibit in terms of space, enrichment, and viewing?

For African spot-necked otters I agree with mstickmanp that San Diego has an excellent combined Allen's swamp monkey-otter complex. The otters have abundant space to romp, swim, and interact with the monkeys. The Reid Park Zoo also has a decent spot-necked otter exhibit. Are there any other good spot-necked otter exhibits in the U.S.?
 
Aside from those you listed there is also a small number of African clawless otters.
 
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