I know that most ZooChatters have never made it out to Utah's Hogle Zoo, and that is not a terrible thing as 90% of the zoo ranges from average to awful, but 2006's "Asian Highlands" is simply brilliant. Five species of cat (Amur leopard, Amur tiger, pallas' cat, Siberian lynx and snow leopard) in top-notch exhibits, along with a Himalayan village theme that of course includes a small gift shop and a cafe with exotic food. Without any hesitation I'd place the entire area as one of the 25 best exhibit complexes of any North American zoo.
When "Rocky Shores" opens in 2012, a large area of average to below average exhibits will be replaced with a new exhibit complex that should be on par with this exhibit for quality. The Rocky Shores complex will house polar bears, harbor seals, California sea lions, northern river otters and bald eagles and will replace the bear grottos, African Savannah, penguin pool, llama, red panda, tortoise, and bobcat exhibits.
@Ituri: you summarized the new exhibit complex quite nicely (as long as the zoo doesn't substitute grizzlies for polar bears) and I have faith that it will be another much-needed addition to Hogle. The exhibits that are making way for "Rocky Shores" are a hodge-podge of mediocrity.
@KCZooFan: Oklahoma City Zoo has 9 feline species in good enclosures on 4 acres, while Memphis has 10 species in a large section in the zoo. Hogle is definitely a challenger to those two other zoos, and the Himalayan village is very well designed.
@snowleopard: If they do substitute grizzlies (or black bears) for polars it will strictly be out of necessity due to the limited availability of polar bears. The exhibit is designed for polar bears specifically, and that is the zoos desire.
