Your looking at a piece of zoological history....Phoenix zoo was the center of Arabian Oryx conservation and breeding for decades. This is where the "World Herd" began, wow.
Many people underrate the Phoenix Zoo, including myself before I visited this summer. The Arabian oryx exhibit, desert bighorn sheep enclosure, 4-acre African Savanna and walk-through squirrel monkey forest are all major highlights.
Too bad all of the LA zoo remaining Arabian Oryx were returned to Phoenix. Los Angeles needed both exhibits to house the Peninsular Pronghorns and the Calamian Deers.
And another significant detail is the Phoenix Zoo was within its first year of operation when it was entrusted with the entire world population of Arabian oryx.
The Phoenix Zoo is one of the Best in the States, much better than both Zoos in Chicago or other"big"Zoos. The zoo has wonderful exhibits, very good for the animals and good looking for the visitos and I think, good for the keepers, the zoos has a good collection, not too many animals and species, but so they have more space for the animals ! I like this zoo very much.
@Zebraduiker: I agree that the Phoenix Zoo is better than either Lincoln Park or Brookfield in Chicago (Brookfield is huge but unfortunately packed with outdated enclosures) and I really enjoyed the African Savanna, squirrel monkey exhibit, Arizona Trail and South American section of the zoo. I don't think that Phoenix is a top 10 contender or even perhaps a top 15 contender, but it would definitely make my personal top 20 and that's impressive when there are about 220 members of the AZA.
