Hi AD, how was your visit to the new zoo? Anything particularly outstanding for you?
And how was the rest of your trip? What collections did you end up visiting? And again, any chance of a full trip report...?
I think instead of a separate full report, I will post my findings on the posts I place in each individual zoo. (Zoo Zurich, Wildnispark Zurich, Paris Zoo, Parc Felins, Rare Species Conservation Centre).
I honestly having nothing to say about the new Paris Zoo, either good or bad. It is quite literally the most generic, non-descript zoo I have seen in my life. There is nothing awful about it, but also nothing outstanding.
The carnivore exhibits are the same one replicated all over the grounds ten times or so. Not bad, just generic. They are just big enough to be adequate size but not so big that you really feel the animals have freedom to roam. (Except possibly for the wolverines).
The guanaco-rhea-mara exhibit is perhaps the biggest, but the landscaping is essentially a gravel path and very unoriginal. The most interesting aspect of the entire zoo is the old mountain, which is the only thing left from the original zoo. Except that the cliffside exhibits are no longer used so it seems like a wasted opportunity.
The animal barns are truly ugly. Just a weird plat board design that looks like what communist minimalist construction would look like if Stalin had used wood planks instead of cement.
There is no reason for any ZooChatter to go out of their way to visit this zoo and now that I have seen it I would never go back. (Except possibly if they replaced Eurasian lynx with Iberian lynx).
There is no reason for any ZooChatter to go out of their way to visit this zoo and now that I have seen it I would never go back. (Except possibly if they replaced Eurasian lynx with Iberian lynx).
Well the giraffes have a large yard, but they were all confined in a small yard near the barn. In fact half a dozen were locked in a room inside the barn (which visitors could see). I guess I did not post those pictures, including the graphics for your benefit, so I will do that right now.
Only the kudu and ostrich had access to the large yard on my visit, but it appears the giraffes are supposed to have access too. In terms of design, very generic like the rest of the zoo.
Well the giraffes have a large yard, but they were all confined in a small yard near the barn. In fact half a dozen were locked in a room inside the barn (which visitors could see). I guess I did not post those pictures, including the graphics for your benefit, so I will do that right now.
Only the kudu and ostrich had access to the large yard on my visit, but it appears the giraffes are supposed to have access too. In terms of design, very generic like the rest of the zoo.
I think instead of a separate full report, I will post my findings on the posts I place in each individual zoo. (Zoo Zurich, Wildnispark Zurich, Paris Zoo, Parc Felins, Rare Species Conservation Centre).
That's great, surprised you only managed five zoos though. How long were you over this side of the pond? And how much time did you spend at each place?
I honestly having nothing to say about the new Paris Zoo, either good or bad. It is quite literally the most generic, non-descript zoo I have seen in my life. There is nothing awful about it, but also nothing outstanding.
The carnivore exhibits are the same one replicated all over the grounds ten times or so. Not bad, just generic. They are just big enough to be adequate size but not so big that you really feel the animals have freedom to roam. (Except possibly for the wolverines).
The guanaco-rhea-mara exhibit is perhaps the biggest, but the landscaping is essentially a gravel path and very unoriginal. The most interesting aspect of the entire zoo is the old mountain, which is the only thing left from the original zoo. Except that the cliffside exhibits are no longer used so it seems like a wasted opportunity.
The animal barns are truly ugly. Just a weird plat board design that looks like what communist minimalist construction would look like if Stalin had used wood planks instead of cement.
There is no reason for any ZooChatter to go out of their way to visit this zoo and now that I have seen it I would never go back. (Except possibly if they replaced Eurasian lynx with Iberian lynx).
What you're saying about the Paris zoo is exactly the impression I've been getting from pictures on ZooChat! If I were to find myself in Paris I'd probably visit once but to be honest the Menagerie seems far more interesting, species wise and history wise! Would you agree with that?
That's great, surprised you only managed five zoos though. How long were you over this side of the pond? And how much time did you spend at each place?
I was there ten days, two of which were days arriving and departing, so actually not that long. Photographically speaking, I have a decreasing interest in zoos and an increasing interest in architecture. I spent two days at nights at Mont Saint Michele. (There is a reptile place there called Alligator Bay, but I had zero interest in visiting it).
I have been to both Paris Zoo and Menagerie and really do not like either one, but I suppose if forced I would choose the latter just for the history.
In a slightly cheesy sort of way, Alligator Bay is great - really big groups of big alligators and crocodiles. Even a cat person would have enjoyed it, I'm sure!
