@Moebelle: Now that you are living in the Milwaukee area, what do you think of the local zoo? Much of it was built during the 1970's and there is more mock-rock to be found there than perhaps any other zoo in the nation. My impression when I visited in 2010 was a zoo with a vast collection but perhaps lacking a great exhibit. Lots of decent ones and many crappy ones, but nothing excellent and overall I was rather disappointed. I think that Henry Vilas is perhaps the best of the 12 Wisconsin zoos that I've toured.
@Moebelle: Now that you are living in the Milwaukee area, what do you think of the local zoo? Much of it was built during the 1970's and there is more mock-rock to be found there than perhaps any other zoo in the nation. My impression when I visited in 2010 was a zoo with a vast collection but perhaps lacking a great exhibit. Lots of decent ones and many crappy ones, but nothing excellent and overall I was rather disappointed. I think that Henry Vilas is perhaps the best of the 12 Wisconsin zoos that I've toured.
I've been hoping for this question for some time now since my temporary move. It is hard to judge a zoo that I have become fond of considering the fact that there is no other animal institution within a short distance that can be reached with a short bus ride. It also helps that I have gotten hundreds of my best photo captures taken there. For an unknown reason I have an attraction towards outdated zoos that maintains its original architectural base. Brookfield and St. Louis do this better than other zoo in the country. If I would to put this in a non-biased perspective I would say every single attraction at the zoo needs at least some sort of revamp. The collection is amazing, they have rare animals such as (below) but the zoo overall lacks in appeal. There are only great individual habitats (below again) but nothing would stand out to normal zoo visitor and especially a Zoochatter.
Species: Blue Ground Dove, Red-legged Honeycreeper, American Oystercatcher (very rare), Whooping Crane, Layson Duck, Common Moorhen, Springhaas, Senegal Bushbaby, Mule Deer, Matschie's Tree-Kangaroo, Giant Eland, Burchell's Zebra, American Badger, and more (birds mainly).
Best individual exhibits: Every Family Aviary exhibit, Humboldt Penguin (small, simple, and fun), Japanese Macaque, Caribou, Elk, Moose/Deer, Grey Wolf, Giraffe (small but still very adequate), Red River Hog, South America (Tapir/Alpaca,etc.), Bongo, African Savanna (Impala, Vulture, etc.), and the African Waterhole (Zebra/Eland,etc.).
