I forget what thread but someone said that we should all meet up at the Zoo Cafe in New Zealand.
I hope to knock down Cincinnati, Prospect Park, Queens, Bronx (re-visit), Beardsley (re-visit), and maybe the New York Aquarium.
~Thylo
2012 :- Your Year In Review.
- Thread starter Brum
- Start date
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- 2012 collections species
I forget what thread but someone said that we should all meet up at the Zoo Cafe in New Zealand.
I hope to knock down Cincinnati, Prospect Park, Queens, Bronx (re-visit), Beardsley (re-visit), and maybe the New York Aquarium.
~Thylo
I forget what thread but someone said that we should all meet up at the Zoo Cafe in New Zealand.
I hope to knock down Cincinnati, Prospect Park, Queens, Bronx (re-visit), Beardsley (re-visit), and maybe the New York Aquarium.
~Thylo
I think some big zoo like San Diego would be great. I think it would be neat if we could actually tour a zoo in person. I know this would be tough for those Zoochatters Down Under or on the other side of the pond.
I think my zoo visits are finished for the year but you never know because I did manage to squeeze Chester Zoo in between Christmas and New Years last year.
My list is 2 collections shorter than last year so 2011 is still my PB...
>Bristol Zoo*
>Antwerp Zoo*
>Rotterdam Zoo*
>Artis*
>Berlin Zoo*
>Singapore Zoo*
>Kyabram Fauna Park
>Melbourne Zoo
>Healesville Sanctuary
>Melbourne Aquarium
*First visits.
My list is 2 collections shorter than last year so 2011 is still my PB...
>Bristol Zoo*
>Antwerp Zoo*
>Rotterdam Zoo*
>Artis*
>Berlin Zoo*
>Singapore Zoo*
>Kyabram Fauna Park
>Melbourne Zoo
>Healesville Sanctuary
>Melbourne Aquarium
*First visits.
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DAK and Busch Gardens completely slipped my mind. I visited Naples 4 years ago.
not many for me this year, and all in New Zealand:
Caroline Bay aviary (Timaru)
Dunedin Botanic Gardens aviary complex (Dunedin)
Otago Museum's Discovery World Tropical Forest (Dunedin)
National Kiwi Centre (Hokitika)
West Coast Wildlife Centre (Franz Josef) [first visit]
Butterfly Creek (Auckland) [first visit]
Kelly Tarltons (Auckland)
Auckland Zoo (Auckland)
Kiwi Birdlife Park (Queenstown)
Te Anau Wildlife Centre (Te Anau) [first visit]
Frankton Zoological Park (Queenstown) [first visit]
Next year there will be some more Asian zoos again, especially from Singapore!!
Caroline Bay aviary (Timaru)
Dunedin Botanic Gardens aviary complex (Dunedin)
Otago Museum's Discovery World Tropical Forest (Dunedin)
National Kiwi Centre (Hokitika)
West Coast Wildlife Centre (Franz Josef) [first visit]
Butterfly Creek (Auckland) [first visit]
Kelly Tarltons (Auckland)
Auckland Zoo (Auckland)
Kiwi Birdlife Park (Queenstown)
Te Anau Wildlife Centre (Te Anau) [first visit]
Frankton Zoological Park (Queenstown) [first visit]
Next year there will be some more Asian zoos again, especially from Singapore!!
My zoological Institutions (zoos, marine parks, aquarias, reptile facilities etc.) of 2012:
- Zoo Zurich (Switzerland)
- Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil (Switzerland)
- Wildpark Zurich aka Tierpark Langenberg (Switzerland)
- Walter Zoo Gossau (Switzerland)
- Schlangenzoo Eschlikon (Switzerland)
- Disneys Animal Kingdom (USA)
- Seaworld Orlando (USA)
- Busch Gardens Tampa (USA)
- Lowry Park Zoo Tampa (USA)
- Zoo Miami (USA)
- Tiergarten Nürnberg (Germany)
- Zoo Leipzig (Germany)
- Zoo Magdeburg (Germany)*
- Zoo Halle (Germany)*
- Zoo Köln/Cologne (Germany)
- Gaia Zoo/Park Kerkrade (Netherlands)*
- Zoo Schmiding (Austria)
- Haus der Natur Salzburg (Austria)
* = first time visit.
Although they have Commerson's dolphins and a few parrots and fishes, I did not count Aquatica Orlando, because it is mainly a water fun park.
@Childonias: Do you already know when exactly you are traveling to Singapore? Maybe we will see us because my family and I will be there at the begining of may 2013 (a 3 day stopover before we return to Switzerland from our holidays in Koh Samui, Thailand).
- Zoo Zurich (Switzerland)
- Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil (Switzerland)
- Wildpark Zurich aka Tierpark Langenberg (Switzerland)
- Walter Zoo Gossau (Switzerland)
- Schlangenzoo Eschlikon (Switzerland)
- Disneys Animal Kingdom (USA)
- Seaworld Orlando (USA)
- Busch Gardens Tampa (USA)
- Lowry Park Zoo Tampa (USA)
- Zoo Miami (USA)
- Tiergarten Nürnberg (Germany)
- Zoo Leipzig (Germany)
- Zoo Magdeburg (Germany)*
- Zoo Halle (Germany)*
- Zoo Köln/Cologne (Germany)
- Gaia Zoo/Park Kerkrade (Netherlands)*
- Zoo Schmiding (Austria)
- Haus der Natur Salzburg (Austria)
* = first time visit.
Although they have Commerson's dolphins and a few parrots and fishes, I did not count Aquatica Orlando, because it is mainly a water fun park.
@Childonias: Do you already know when exactly you are traveling to Singapore? Maybe we will see us because my family and I will be there at the begining of may 2013 (a 3 day stopover before we return to Switzerland from our holidays in Koh Samui, Thailand).
well originally I was betting on around the April/May sort of time, but I've (probably) got another Asian trip around late October/early November so I'm just adding Singapore onto that instead.
Did you get to any collections other than on this trip? If you even did one extra one you're 'winning' so far!
This thread has gone very quiet. I thought a few others would've been posting stats and lists but I guess mid-December could've been a bit too early. I know a few zoochatters have other visits planned before the end of December so maybe there will be a bit more life injected into this thread then? 
This thread has gone very quiet. I thought a few others would've been posting stats and lists but I guess mid-December could've been a bit too early. I know a few zoochatters have other visits planned before the end of December so maybe there will be a bit more life injected into this thread then?
Everyone is busy dealing with the devastating aftermath of the apocalypse.
~Thylo
I am hoping to add six or seven more Sewerby visits and one to Flamingo Land to my list, so I am waiting for 31st December.
I did think I may have started this thread too early...
Addendum:
2 more zoos (Dudley Zoo and Birmingham Nature Centre) and one extra mammal (Western Grey Kangaroo) today. I thought I might be able to scrape a subspecies tick from the kangaroo on a technicality, but on further investigation it turns out to be my first WGK in 2012 of any kind (I forget that with Chester no longer having them they're not automatic as they used to be!).
Addendum for me: Australian Shark and Ray Centre (Port Stephens) and Oakdale Farm and Fauna World.
Both done yesterday, and both first time visits (actually, I'd never heard of the Shark and Ray Centre until I read CGSwan's post #18 in this thread, and I'd never heard of Oakdale until I drove past them on the way to the Shark and Ray Centre yesterday morning!)
Hix
Both done yesterday, and both first time visits (actually, I'd never heard of the Shark and Ray Centre until I read CGSwan's post #18 in this thread, and I'd never heard of Oakdale until I drove past them on the way to the Shark and Ray Centre yesterday morning!)
Hix
I like blospz's setup so here goes my 2012 zoo review;
First Visits:
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: A small zoo with a pretty good collection. They have species that are rare in U.S. zoos (Honey Badgers, Striped Hyenas, Fossas, Cuban Crocs, Dingoes, etc.), but most exhibits are average (the Black Bear exhibit was excellent though), and there are viewing issues with a lot of exhibits.
Roger Williams Park Zoo: A medium-sized zoo that I believe is the best in New England. I quite liked Marco Polo Trek and Fabric of Africa was pretty good. Most exhibits are decent (except the Humboldt Penguins and Harbor Seals), and it's definately worth a visit.
Return Visits:
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo (x8): A small zoo that I visit frequently. Most exhibits are average, with some standouts and a few stinkers. It's always enjoyable for me because for starters, it's my hometown zoo, plus the animals are typically pretty active and it's not crowded, except during the summer.
Busch Gardens Tampa: ZooChatters seem to have a complex relationship with theme parks/zoos. I personally like the exhibits at Busch Gardens and Myombe Reserve and Edge of Africa are phenomenal, but screaming people on rides sometimes ruin the viewing, and there's music seemingly playing at every exhibit.
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk: This is a small aquarium that has a particular focus on Long Island Sound. The recent refurbishment improved the aquarium experience for me immensely. Most exhibits focus on Long Island Sound, and there is also an African zone, a Shark Touch Tank, and there are temporary exhibits during the summer sometimes, such as a white gator this year.
Bronx Zoo: The best zoo I have ever visited. Exhibits are great, and some are world-class (Congo Gorilla Forest, Tiger Mountain, Baboon Reserve, etc.). The only problems I have is that it is nearly impossible to see the whole zoo in one day, and it's often crowded near some hit exhibits. In addition, you must pay to enter some exhibits (I know that CGF money goes to conservation, but JungleWorld admission is a joke), and the monorail goes too fast. I went the day it reopened after Hurricane Sandy however, and some exhibits were closed and it was less crowded, so it was a change of pace from most Bronx visits.
Overall, it was my best zoo year yet.
First Visits:
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: A small zoo with a pretty good collection. They have species that are rare in U.S. zoos (Honey Badgers, Striped Hyenas, Fossas, Cuban Crocs, Dingoes, etc.), but most exhibits are average (the Black Bear exhibit was excellent though), and there are viewing issues with a lot of exhibits.
Roger Williams Park Zoo: A medium-sized zoo that I believe is the best in New England. I quite liked Marco Polo Trek and Fabric of Africa was pretty good. Most exhibits are decent (except the Humboldt Penguins and Harbor Seals), and it's definately worth a visit.
Return Visits:
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo (x8): A small zoo that I visit frequently. Most exhibits are average, with some standouts and a few stinkers. It's always enjoyable for me because for starters, it's my hometown zoo, plus the animals are typically pretty active and it's not crowded, except during the summer.
Busch Gardens Tampa: ZooChatters seem to have a complex relationship with theme parks/zoos. I personally like the exhibits at Busch Gardens and Myombe Reserve and Edge of Africa are phenomenal, but screaming people on rides sometimes ruin the viewing, and there's music seemingly playing at every exhibit.
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk: This is a small aquarium that has a particular focus on Long Island Sound. The recent refurbishment improved the aquarium experience for me immensely. Most exhibits focus on Long Island Sound, and there is also an African zone, a Shark Touch Tank, and there are temporary exhibits during the summer sometimes, such as a white gator this year.
Bronx Zoo: The best zoo I have ever visited. Exhibits are great, and some are world-class (Congo Gorilla Forest, Tiger Mountain, Baboon Reserve, etc.). The only problems I have is that it is nearly impossible to see the whole zoo in one day, and it's often crowded near some hit exhibits. In addition, you must pay to enter some exhibits (I know that CGF money goes to conservation, but JungleWorld admission is a joke), and the monorail goes too fast. I went the day it reopened after Hurricane Sandy however, and some exhibits were closed and it was less crowded, so it was a change of pace from most Bronx visits.
Overall, it was my best zoo year yet.
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I'd also just like to mention for anyone who has not visited the Bronx Zoo that for some exhibits (Asian Monorail, JungleWorld, Congo Gorilla Forest, and Children's Zoo) you have to pay a separate admission to get in. You can buy one of those premium ticket (gets you into all of those) things for roughly the same price as a regular ticket (if regular ticket is bought at the gate) by buying online. Also, the Asian Monorail usually has a line with a wait of about an hour on some days with little things to keep you occupied but the exhibit is great.
Perhaps tomorrow I'll type up mini-reviews for the zoos I've visited.
~Thylo
Perhaps tomorrow I'll type up mini-reviews for the zoos I've visited.
~Thylo
A good year compared to previous:
Return visits:
Taronga Zoo (x 6 – local zoo)
Melbourne Zoo (x 1 – last visit 2010)
San Diego Zoo (weekend plus almost daily in the evenings for a week – last visit 2006)
San Diego Wild Animal Park (x 1 – last visit 1992)
San Diego Sea Work ( x 1– last visit 2006)
Los Angeles Zoo (x 2 – last visit 2006)
Ragunan (Jakarta) Zoo (x 1 – last visit 1994)
Artis (Amsterdam) Zoo (x 1 – last visit 2011)
New Zoos:
Santa Ana Zoo
Santa Barbara Zoo
Bali Zoo
Bali Bird and Reptile Park
Yogyakarta Zoo
Duisburg Zoo
Cologne Zoo
Aqua Zoo Friesland (Leeuwarden)
Species highlights:
Primates at San Diego, and Santa Ana zoos, titis at Santa Barbara, leaf monkeys at Ragunan
Pangolin at San Diego Zoo
Giant Otters at Los Angeles and Duisburg
River Dolphin at Duisburg
Wolverine at Duisburg
Marmot and North American Porcupine at Artis
Racoon Dog and Red Bellied Lemur at Leeuwarden
Red Howlers at Leeuwarden and Cologne
Ring-tailed Mongoose at Cologne
Birds of Paradise at Bali Birk Park
Holding a binturong at Bali Zoo
Feeding the Rhinoceros at San Diego Zoo
Disappointments:
Armadillos where no shows despite many of the zoos above having exhibits
Primates at Duisburg (including Geladas) indoors and impossible to photograph
Bush dogs no show at Leeuwarden
Walrus difficult to see at San Diego Sea World
Not getting to Berlin while I was in Germany
2013 not shaping up to be very exciting
but hoping for at least a trip to Singapore
Greg
Return visits:
Taronga Zoo (x 6 – local zoo)
Melbourne Zoo (x 1 – last visit 2010)
San Diego Zoo (weekend plus almost daily in the evenings for a week – last visit 2006)
San Diego Wild Animal Park (x 1 – last visit 1992)
San Diego Sea Work ( x 1– last visit 2006)
Los Angeles Zoo (x 2 – last visit 2006)
Ragunan (Jakarta) Zoo (x 1 – last visit 1994)
Artis (Amsterdam) Zoo (x 1 – last visit 2011)
New Zoos:
Santa Ana Zoo
Santa Barbara Zoo
Bali Zoo
Bali Bird and Reptile Park
Yogyakarta Zoo
Duisburg Zoo
Cologne Zoo
Aqua Zoo Friesland (Leeuwarden)
Species highlights:
Primates at San Diego, and Santa Ana zoos, titis at Santa Barbara, leaf monkeys at Ragunan
Pangolin at San Diego Zoo
Giant Otters at Los Angeles and Duisburg
River Dolphin at Duisburg
Wolverine at Duisburg
Marmot and North American Porcupine at Artis
Racoon Dog and Red Bellied Lemur at Leeuwarden
Red Howlers at Leeuwarden and Cologne
Ring-tailed Mongoose at Cologne
Birds of Paradise at Bali Birk Park
Holding a binturong at Bali Zoo
Feeding the Rhinoceros at San Diego Zoo
Disappointments:
Armadillos where no shows despite many of the zoos above having exhibits
Primates at Duisburg (including Geladas) indoors and impossible to photograph
Bush dogs no show at Leeuwarden
Walrus difficult to see at San Diego Sea World
Not getting to Berlin while I was in Germany
2013 not shaping up to be very exciting
but hoping for at least a trip to SingaporeGreg
devilfish
Well-Known Member
I'll post now as my afternoon trip was cancelled.
A good zoo year for me, despite limited funds and holiday time. It was the first year of my life that I've not been to Egypt at all, but I'll go back in a few months' time.
As a result, the majority of zoological collections I've visited are minor UK places. I think that my total for 2012 is 53.
Here's my list (* indicates a new collection for me):
Spain - Mainland
Barcelona Zoo*
Barcelona Aquarium*
Cosmocaixa Barcelona*
Madrid Zoo & Aquarium*
Faunia*
GREFA*
Zaragoza Fluvial Aquarium*
Tenerife
Jungle Park*
Monkey Park*
Siam Park*
Loro Parque*
Mariposario del Drago*
Camel Centre*
UK
ZSL London Zoo
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Sea Life London Aquarium
Hounslow Urban Farm*
Syon Park Tropical Forest*
Golders Hill Park Zoo
Battersea Park Children's Zoo*
Crystal Palace Park Farm*
Horniman Museum & Aquarium
WWT London Wetland Centre
Birmingham Nature Centre*
National Sea Life Centre Birmingham
Birmingham Botanical Gardens*
Bournemouth Oceanarium*
Bournemouth Gardens Aviary*
Sea Life Centre Brighton*
Sea Life Centre Weymouth*
Linton Zoo*
Shepreth Wildlife Park*
Howletts*
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park*
Wingham Wildlife Park*
Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth*
Blue Reef Aquarium Hastings*
WWT Arundel*
Clacton SeaQuarium*
Martello Children's Zoo, Clacton*
Colchester Zoo
Huxley's Bird of Prey Centre*
Russell's Garden Centre*
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Cotswold Falconry Centre
Birdland Park & Gardens*
The Deep (Aquarium)*
Animal Education Centre, Hull*
Heron Tower*
Marwell Zoo*
Heronfield Animal Centre*
St. Tiggywinkle's Wildlife Hospital*
Waddesdon Manor Aviary*
Fewer return visits than usual, to London (7), Loro Parque (2), Birmingham Nature Centre (2) and Birmingham (National) Sea Life Centre (2).
Happy New Year everyone!
A good zoo year for me, despite limited funds and holiday time. It was the first year of my life that I've not been to Egypt at all, but I'll go back in a few months' time.
As a result, the majority of zoological collections I've visited are minor UK places. I think that my total for 2012 is 53.
Here's my list (* indicates a new collection for me):
Spain - Mainland
Barcelona Zoo*
Barcelona Aquarium*
Cosmocaixa Barcelona*
Madrid Zoo & Aquarium*
Faunia*
GREFA*
Zaragoza Fluvial Aquarium*
Tenerife
Jungle Park*
Monkey Park*
Siam Park*
Loro Parque*
Mariposario del Drago*
Camel Centre*
UK
ZSL London Zoo
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Sea Life London Aquarium
Hounslow Urban Farm*
Syon Park Tropical Forest*
Golders Hill Park Zoo
Battersea Park Children's Zoo*
Crystal Palace Park Farm*
Horniman Museum & Aquarium
WWT London Wetland Centre
Birmingham Nature Centre*
National Sea Life Centre Birmingham
Birmingham Botanical Gardens*
Bournemouth Oceanarium*
Bournemouth Gardens Aviary*
Sea Life Centre Brighton*
Sea Life Centre Weymouth*
Linton Zoo*
Shepreth Wildlife Park*
Howletts*
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park*
Wingham Wildlife Park*
Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth*
Blue Reef Aquarium Hastings*
WWT Arundel*
Clacton SeaQuarium*
Martello Children's Zoo, Clacton*
Colchester Zoo
Huxley's Bird of Prey Centre*
Russell's Garden Centre*
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Cotswold Falconry Centre
Birdland Park & Gardens*
The Deep (Aquarium)*
Animal Education Centre, Hull*
Heron Tower*
Marwell Zoo*
Heronfield Animal Centre*
St. Tiggywinkle's Wildlife Hospital*
Waddesdon Manor Aviary*
Fewer return visits than usual, to London (7), Loro Parque (2), Birmingham Nature Centre (2) and Birmingham (National) Sea Life Centre (2).
Happy New Year everyone!
Well, here I am back from my final visit to Sewerby this year, and I did manage another outing to Flamingo Land last week. I have ticking off the days I have been to Sewerby this year and I just grabbed the calendar to tot them up only to find no ticks in January 
. Fortunately I have now found another calendar ticked for January. Here goes:-
Sewerby Zoo 155 days with at least one visit
Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park 6 visits
Flamingo Land 4 visits
Paignton Zoo 3 visits (one only two hours after
travelling down on holiday)
One visit each to:
Lotherton Bird Garden
Park Rose Birds of Prey Centre
Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry Centre (my best day of 2012)
Wingz Bird and Animal Sanctuary
Axe Valley Wildlife Park
Exmoor Zoo
Paradise Park
I have recorded the number of days for Sewerby. Sometimes I have been twice in a day, either popping in after a game of pitch and putt and then going back in the afternoon, or going up to spray the Eclectus Parrot in the morning and then back for a visit in the afternoon, but I thought it would be better to record just the number of days. December has been my best month what with Christmas holidays and annual holidays to get in by the 31st. I have visited on 22 days this month. June was my second best month with visits on 16 days. I even managed 12 days in September despite being away for a week. February was my worst month - only 9 days, not good even allowing for only 29 days in the month. I must admit to being a little disappointed that the total is only 155 days. I must try harder!
Happy New Year and good zoo visiting in 2013.
. Fortunately I have now found another calendar ticked for January. Here goes:-Sewerby Zoo 155 days with at least one visit
Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park 6 visits
Flamingo Land 4 visits
Paignton Zoo 3 visits (one only two hours after
travelling down on holiday)
One visit each to:
Lotherton Bird Garden
Park Rose Birds of Prey Centre
Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry Centre (my best day of 2012)
Wingz Bird and Animal Sanctuary
Axe Valley Wildlife Park
Exmoor Zoo
Paradise Park
I have recorded the number of days for Sewerby. Sometimes I have been twice in a day, either popping in after a game of pitch and putt and then going back in the afternoon, or going up to spray the Eclectus Parrot in the morning and then back for a visit in the afternoon, but I thought it would be better to record just the number of days. December has been my best month what with Christmas holidays and annual holidays to get in by the 31st. I have visited on 22 days this month. June was my second best month with visits on 16 days. I even managed 12 days in September despite being away for a week. February was my worst month - only 9 days, not good even allowing for only 29 days in the month. I must admit to being a little disappointed that the total is only 155 days. I must try harder!
Happy New Year and good zoo visiting in 2013.
I too visited here last year but failed to count it in my original list, so if this is to be included then I can add another collection!
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