America's 100 Must See Exhibits

[birdsandbats]

I've seen 36/100:

-Desert Loop Trail, ASDM
-Kilimanjaro Safaris, DAK
-Regenstein Wolf Woods, Brookfield
-Tropic World, Brookfield
-Pepper Family Wildlife Center, Lincoln Park
-Regenstien Center for African Apes, Lincoln Park
-Abbott Oceanarium, Shedd
-Amazon Rising, Shedd
-Wild Reef, Shedd
-International Orangutan Center, Indianapolis
-St. Vincent Dolphin Pavilion, Indianapolis
-Arctic Ring of Life, Detroit
-National Amphibian Conservation Center, Detroit
-Penguin Conservation Center, Detroit
-Russia's Grizzly Coast, Minnesota
-Tiger Base Camp/Lair, Minnesota
-1904 World's Fair Flight Cage, Saint Louis
-Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium, Saint Louis
-Penguin and Puffin Coast, Saint Louis
-Red Rocks, Saint Louis
-River's Edge, Saint Louis
-African Grasslands, Omaha
-Asian Highlands, Omaha
-Desert Dome, Omaha
-Kingdoms of the Night, Omaha
-Lied Jungle, Omaha
-Sea Lion Shores, Omaha
-Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium, Omaha
-Heart of Africa, Columbus
-Manatee Coast, Columbus
-Migratory Bird Aviary, Columbus
-ProMedica Museum of Natural History, Toledo
-Wisconsin Heritage, Henry Vilas
-Whooping Crane Alcove, ICF
-Africa/Asia/South America, Milwaukee
-Stork Aviary, Racine

 

[groundskeeper24]

I will say, while I personally wouldn't have included either historical Cincinnati buildings on my list (this one and the reptile house), Cincinnati certainly has its fair share of absolutely beautiful architecture with these two buildings. If there was a thread for "America's Must-See Zoo Buildings/Zoo Architecture", I would expect both of those gorgeous buildings to near the top of the list. The galapagos giant tortoise exhibit attached to this building also seems great, so I can certainly see the rationale for this inclusion even if it wouldn't make my personal must-see exhibits list (as has already been established, I think it's clear @pachyderm pro puts more emphasis on historic value than I do when judging exhibit's must-see status).

It's a nice building with some very subpar exhibits I'm honestly kind of surprised they still house animals of any kind in it. I always expected them to re-purpose it as Toledo did with their old Lion House.

The Brookfield comparison in the post is accurate in terms of utilization of structures, but the old building(s) used for reptiles there are far superior in terms of their enclosures. Not all exhibits were great, but many were. They has the best reticulated python exhibit I've ever seen.

Positive take on Cincy: I'm grateful that I'm still able to go in the building and see the history.

 

[CMP]

I've seen 31 of the exhibits mentioned on the list
California Academy of Sciences, Osher Rainforest (93)
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Into the Deep: Exploring our Undiscovered Oceans (83)
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Kelp Forest (27)
San Diego Zoo, Elephant Odyssey (60)
San Diego Zoo, Monkey Trails and Forest Tales (10)
San Diego Zoo, Scripps Aviary (45)
San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Field Exhibits (42)
Denver Zoo, Predator Ridge (64)
Denver Zoo, Toyota Elephant Passage (41)
Georgia Aquarium, Ocean Voyager (50)
Brookfield Zoo, Regenstein Wolf Woods (59)
Brookfield Zoo, Tropic World (17)
Lincoln Park Zoo, Pepper Family Wildlife Center (24)
Lincoln Park Zoo, Regenstein Center for African Apes (68)
Shedd Aquarium, Abbott Oceanarium (31)
Shedd Aquarium, Amazon Rising (40)
Shedd Aquarium, Wild Reef (61)
Indianapolis Zoo, International Orangutan Center (39)
Indianapolis Zoo, St. Vincent Dolphin Pavillion (3)
Saint Louis Zoo, 1904 World’s Fair Flight Cage (74)
Saint Louis Zoo, Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium (9)
Saint Louis Zoo, Penguin and Puffin Coast (37)
Saint Louis Zoo, Red Rocks (70)
Saint Louis Zoo, Rivers Edge (28)
Cincinnati Zoo, Elephant House (53)
Cincinnati Zoo, Reptile House (98)
Cincinnati Zoo, World of the Insect (43)
Memphis Zoo, CHINA (48)
Memphis Zoo, Teton Trek (100)
Memphis Zoo, Zambezi River Hippo Camp (67)
Zoo Knoxville, Black Bear Falls (35)
I also saw the former San Diego Zoo, Africa Rocks (90)

Some exhibits I thought could be worthy of mention include Denver's Tropical Discovery, CAS's Steinhardt Aquarium (Especially the large reef), and both DWA's Mundo Maya and Orinoco Rainforest. (Although I understand possible welfare concerns, still, I think DWA deserves some sort of mention, the Cenote is really cool)

 

[Great Argus]

Need to up my game a bit, I've only seen 11 of 100. I've not been to Oakland since California Trail opened and likewise for MBA's Into the Deep. I did see the old hummer house at San Diego as well but not the new one.
Only 24 exhibits west of the Rockies though, so given I've not traveled over them in a long time not too bad. Only 4 exhibits within less than 9 hours one way driving... that doesn't help at any rate.

 

[Philipine eagle]

I know I'd certainly consider Henry Vilas to be less well-known than Maryland Zoo. As fantastic as a facility as it is, I'm also not sure how well-known Living Desert is to the general public outside of southern California.

Since I live in Europe, and have only been once to the USA, my knowledge is based mostly on some books about American zoos. The Henry Vilas Zoo and the ICF are mentioned in most of them.

But I also made a mistake since the Maryland Zoo used to be called the Baltimore Zoo. Some things do change over time.

 

[Coelacanth18]

Congrats on finishing the main 100 entries @pachyderm pro. I know firsthand how much time and labor goes into doing a mega-thread like this - planning, writing, editing, gallery searching, revising, writing responses - and it's a feat to be proud of. This also hit the mark as a very engaging and thought-provoking thread: even if not all entries were met with praise, I think most of us can agree that the more controversial ones created a lot of valuable discussion.

As for myself: I've seen 51 exhibits, so just over half - which was a nice surprise to me. 1 in 7 of the exhibits I haven't seen are at Bronx, so I guess I should start planning a New York trip now I'll wait to give more fleshed out opinions for when we get through the honorable mentions. For now, I'll highlight 4 pleasant surprises; 5 personal favorites; and top 4 bucket list exhibits:

Pleasant Surprises
1904 World's Flight Cage (Saint Louis Zoo)
Australia: Wild Extremes (National Aquarium)
Osher Rainforest (California Academy of Sciences)
Seabird Aviary (Oregon Coast Aquarium)

Personal Favorites
Kingdoms of the Night (Omaha)
Into the Deep (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Herpetarium (Saint Louis Zoo)
California Trail (Oakland)
Scripps Aviary (San Diego Zoo)

Bucket List
Congo Gorilla Forest (Bronx)
Jungle World (Bronx)
MOLA (Fort Worth)
Wings of Asia (Miami)

 

[Wild wolverine]

It's been said many times, but well done! A great thread from start to finish. I've seen 29 of the featured exhibits so far, so clearly I've got quite a bit of traveling to do
Excellent job. I enjoyed seeing so many thoughts and takes on the exhibits included, and learned about some star exhibits from zoos I would not have otherwise given very much thought to. I'm excited to see the stats from the community vote! Awesome work!

 

[pachyderm pro]

Let me say once again, thank you everyone for all of your kind words. It means a lot that so many people remained invested in this thread over the last several months. Time to begin covering the honorable mentions which will showcase exhibits that were considered for the list and are worth giving credit to. I ask for your patience, as I have not written all of these posts yet so it may take a little longer than usual for them to be posted.

Northeast

Not very many collections from the northeast were represented on this list, but many were considered for historical significance. Bronx Zoo had a dominating presence on this thread with seven exhibits featured, but there are even more could have been added. Few exhibits have aged better than the 1941 African Plains. To have an exhibit over 80 years old and still be excellent with minimal changes is an impressive feat. The hooftsock paddocks are spacious and attractive and the famous lion and nyala panorama is still effective. It's not perfect however, as the lion enclosure is quite small by todays standards and the giraffe house should probably be replaced sooner than later. With the number of African savannas already on the list this one fell just short of making the cut, but would have been a worthy addition.

@Milwaukee Man

@TinoPup

@twilighter

Anther standout at Bronx is Himalayan Highlands, a small but excellently crafted complex. A trio of excellent snow leopard enclosure viewed through harp wire and glass are the highlights. They are not open-topped, but the mesh is placed in a way that minimizes its visibility. Attractive satellite habitats for red pandas and a few birds are also very well done and round out gem of an exhibit area.

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

One other exhibit from Bronx that could have been included is the Seabird Aviary abutting the aquatic bird house. The structure is highly impressive, focusing on South American coastal birds like Magellanic penguin and Inca tern. There's always activity here and it's a delightful experience.

@Milwaukee Man

Speaking of South American species, Buffalo Zoo's Rainforest Falls is a very nice rainforest house. Many small to medium-sized Amazon species are featured within the 26,600 square foot building, which is of course isn't at the same tier as many of America's other rainforest houses. It's nicely designed however, with a nice blend of real and fake trees and a few offshoot pathways from the main loop.

@snowleopard

@animalman0341

Few ideas have really taken off like Philadelphia Zoo's Zoo 360 concept. It's not a defined exhibit complex as much as it is a design concept integrated throughout the grounds. Hidden trails for zebras, bridges for goats, overhead tunnels for primates, and numerous other modes of transportation for species big and small. This is where the popularity for overhead big cat walkways originated from showing that countless other zoos have been inspired the vision. The trails allow for expansion of habitats and more stimulation for the inhabitants, without interfering much with the zoos limited footprint and listed buildings.

@SaritaWolf

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

Two cetacean exhibits were included on this list which to some may be too many, but there could have one more. Mystic Aquarium's Arctic Coast is the largest outdoor beluga exhibit in the US with 750,000 gallons of water. The large pool and well done rockwork contrast nicely with the conifer trees in the background adding up to a very attractive enclosure.

@snowleopard

@snowleopard

Lastly, Franklin Park Zoo's historic flight cage has sat empty for many years, but has recently welcomed a pair of Andean condors to the space and has been rebranded into Raptor Ridge. Dating back to 1912, the cage originally held a variety of aquatic birds. It's a cool piece of history at one of America's oldest zoos, but it is also similar to many other historical aviary structures which have been mentioned.

@ZooElephantsMan

@ZooElephantsMan

 

[Smaggledagle]

Let me say once again, thank you everyone for all of your kind words. It means a lot that so many people remained invested in this thread over the last several months. Time to begin covering the honorable mentions which will showcase exhibits that were considered for the list and are worth giving credit to. I ask for your patience, as I have not written all of these posts yet so it may take a little longer than usual for them to be posted.

Northeast

Not very many collections from the northeast were represented on this list, but many were considered for historical significance. Bronx Zoo had a dominating presence on this thread with seven exhibits featured, but there are even more could have been added. Few exhibits have aged better than the 1941 African Plains. To have an exhibit over 80 years old and still be excellent with minimal changes is an impressive feat. The hooftsock paddocks are spacious and attractive and the famous lion and nyala panorama is still effective. It's not perfect however, as the lion enclosure is quite small by todays standards and the giraffe house should probably be replaced sooner than later. With the number of African savannas already on the list this one fell just short of making the cut, but would have been a worthy addition.

@Milwaukee Man

@TinoPup

@twilighter

Anther standout at Bronx is Himalayan Highlands, a small but excellently crafted complex. A trio of excellent snow leopard enclosure viewed through harp wire and glass are the highlights. They are not open-topped, but the mesh is placed in a way that minimizes its visibility. Attractive satellite habitats for red pandas and a few birds are also very well done and round out gem of an exhibit area.

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

One other exhibit from Bronx that could have been included is the Seabird Aviary abutting the aquatic bird house. The structure is highly impressive, focusing on South American coastal birds like Magellanic penguin and Inca tern. There's always activity here and it's a delightful experience.

@Milwaukee Man

Speaking of South American species, Buffalo Zoo's Rainforest Falls is a very nice rainforest house. Many small to medium-sized Amazon species are featured within the 26,600 square foot building, which is of course isn't at the same tier as many of America's other rainforest houses. It's nicely designed however, with a nice blend of real and fake trees and a few offshoot pathways from the main loop.

@snowleopard

@animalman0341

Few ideas have really taken off like Philadelphia Zoo's Zoo 360 concept. It's not a defined exhibit complex as much as it is a design concept integrated throughout the grounds. Hidden trails for zebras, bridges for goats, overhead tunnels for primates, and numerous other modes of transportation for species big and small. This is where the popularity for overhead big cat walkways originated from showing that countless other zoos have been inspired the vision. The trails allow for expansion of habitats and more stimulation for the inhabitants, without interfering much with the zoos limited footprint and listed buildings.

@SaritaWolf

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

Two cetacean exhibits were included on this list which to some may be too many, but there could have one more. Mystic Aquarium's Arctic Coast is the largest outdoor beluga exhibit in the US with 750,000 gallons of water. The large pool and well done rockwork contrast nicely with the conifer trees in the background adding up to a very attractive enclosure.

@snowleopard

@snowleopard

Lastly, Franklin Park Zoo's historic flight cage has sat empty for many years, but has recently welcomed a pair of Andean condors to the space and has been rebranded into Raptor Ridge. Dating back to 1912, the cage originally held a variety of aquatic birds. It's a cool piece of history at one of America's oldest zoos, but it is also similar to many other historical aviary structures which have been mentioned.

@ZooElephantsMan

@ZooElephantsMan

just gonna point out that New York and Pennsylvania aren't in the Northeast, but in the Mid-Atlantic.

 

[Dhole dude]

just gonna point out that New York and Pennsylvania aren't in the Northeast, but in the Mid-Atlantic.

If we are using the definition used by the U.S Census Bureau (Which I assume is what pachyderm pro is going for) then then both states would be considered a part of the Northeast.

 

[TinoPup]

just gonna point out that New York and Pennsylvania aren't in the Northeast, but in the Mid-Atlantic.

New York is 1000% northeast, the only people who disagree are ones who think new england and northeast are the same thing. Mid-Atlantic is firmly Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, possibly stretched to include North Carolina, southeast Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

 

[TinoPup]

Let me say once again, thank you everyone for all of your kind words. It means a lot that so many people remained invested in this thread over the last several months. Time to begin covering the honorable mentions which will showcase exhibits that were considered for the list and are worth giving credit to. I ask for your patience, as I have not written all of these posts yet so it may take a little longer than usual for them to be posted.

Northeast

Not very many collections from the northeast were represented on this list, but many were considered for historical significance. Bronx Zoo had a dominating presence on this thread with seven exhibits featured, but there are even more could have been added. Few exhibits have aged better than the 1941 African Plains. To have an exhibit over 80 years old and still be excellent with minimal changes is an impressive feat. The hooftsock paddocks are spacious and attractive and the famous lion and nyala panorama is still effective. It's not perfect however, as the lion enclosure is quite small by todays standards and the giraffe house should probably be replaced sooner than later. With the number of African savannas already on the list this one fell just short of making the cut, but would have been a worthy addition.

@Milwaukee Man

@TinoPup

@twilighter

Anther standout at Bronx is Himalayan Highlands, a small but excellently crafted complex. A trio of excellent snow leopard enclosure viewed through harp wire and glass are the highlights. They are not open-topped, but the mesh is placed in a way that minimizes its visibility. Attractive satellite habitats for red pandas and a few birds are also very well done and round out gem of an exhibit area.

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

One other exhibit from Bronx that could have been included is the Seabird Aviary abutting the aquatic bird house. The structure is highly impressive, focusing on South American coastal birds like Magellanic penguin and Inca tern. There's always activity here and it's a delightful experience.

@Milwaukee Man

Speaking of South American species, Buffalo Zoo's Rainforest Falls is a very nice rainforest house. Many small to medium-sized Amazon species are featured within the 26,600 square foot building, which is of course isn't at the same tier as many of America's other rainforest houses. It's nicely designed however, with a nice blend of real and fake trees and a few offshoot pathways from the main loop.

@snowleopard

@animalman0341

Few ideas have really taken off like Philadelphia Zoo's Zoo 360 concept. It's not a defined exhibit complex as much as it is a design concept integrated throughout the grounds. Hidden trails for zebras, bridges for goats, overhead tunnels for primates, and numerous other modes of transportation for species big and small. This is where the popularity for overhead big cat walkways originated from showing that countless other zoos have been inspired the vision. The trails allow for expansion of habitats and more stimulation for the inhabitants, without interfering much with the zoos limited footprint and listed buildings.

@SaritaWolf

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

Two cetacean exhibits were included on this list which to some may be too many, but there could have one more. Mystic Aquarium's Arctic Coast is the largest outdoor beluga exhibit in the US with 750,000 gallons of water. The large pool and well done rockwork contrast nicely with the conifer trees in the background adding up to a very attractive enclosure.

@snowleopard

@snowleopard

Lastly, Franklin Park Zoo's historic flight cage has sat empty for many years, but has recently welcomed a pair of Andean condors to the space and has been rebranded into Raptor Ridge. Dating back to 1912, the cage originally held a variety of aquatic birds. It's a cool piece of history at one of America's oldest zoos, but it is also similar to many other historical aviary structures which have been mentioned.

@ZooElephantsMan

@ZooElephantsMan

Thank you for including Zoo360! So many zoos, even roadsides, are using things like this now to make exhibits better. Zoos haven't had something this innovative across a wide range of species in a long time. There isn't a zebra trail yet, that area and the cheetah area are the main two sections that haven't been worked on. Most of the trails are rotational, too, allowing nearly all of their primate species especially to use it, for example. These paths have let me watch primates swing and run for big lengths across part of the zoo, meerkats have a guard stationed in a tower, while the rest dig, a fossa hunt a squirrel in a tree, a tiger stalk under a gorilla, and numerous other wild behaviors that you can't possibly see in a regular exhibit.

 

[CGSwans]

How many ‘honourable mention’ posts do you plan in total?

 

[pachyderm pro]

Thank you for including Zoo360! So many zoos, even roadsides, are using things like this now to make exhibits better. Zoos haven't had something this innovative across a wide range of species in a long time. There isn't a zebra trail yet, that area and the cheetah area are the main two sections that haven't been worked on. Most of the trails are rotational, too, allowing nearly all of their primate species especially to use it, for example. These paths have let me watch primates swing and run for big lengths across part of the zoo, meerkats have a guard stationed in a tower, while the rest dig, a fossa hunt a squirrel in a tree, a tiger stalk under a gorilla, and numerous other wild behaviors that you can't possibly see in a regular exhibit.

Indeed it's a fantastic idea with great execution. The only reason I didn't include it on the main list is because it's not a defined exhibit complex. The concept extends throughout pretty much the entire zoo so it would be tricky to include it all on one spot. When I mentioned a zebra trail I was actually referring to the trail for miniature ponies, which was just a gaff on my part. To see the zoo fully embrace creativity like this is terrific and provides both a memorable guest experience and great for the residents. Are there any more definitive plans to add additional trails or tunnels? I know the zoo had a master plan, but from my understanding that isn't being followed anymore.

How many ‘honourable mention’ posts do you plan in total?

Five, each discussing different regions of the US: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, South Central, and West.

 

[TinoPup]

Indeed it's a fantastic idea with great execution. The only reason I didn't include it on the main list is because it's not a defined exhibit complex. The concept extends throughout pretty much the entire zoo so it would be tricky to include it all on one spot. When I mentioned a zebra trail I was actually referring to the trail for miniature ponies, which was just a gaff on my part. To see the zoo fully embrace creativity like this is terrific and provides both a memorable guest experience and great for the residents. Are there any more definitive plans to add additional trails or tunnels? I know the zoo had a master plan, but from my understanding that isn't being followed anymore.

Five, each discussing different regions of the US: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, South Central, and West.

Yes, the ponies have one! The goats also use it, in addition to their climbing trail. The overall plan is to have the trails throughout the zoo, including ones in the two areas I mentioned. The zoo has been struggling with funding, though, so publicly it's impossible to estimate what is next or when they'll continue to work on that mission. The focus has been on smaller projects and upgrades, and doing summer things like dino stuff to bring in more guests.

 

[15399]

Lastly, Franklin Park Zoo's historic flight cage has sat empty for many years, but has recently welcomed a pair of Andean condors to the space and has been rebranded into Raptor Ridge. Dating back to 1912, the cage originally held a variety of aquatic birds. It's a cool piece of history at one of America's oldest zoos, but it is also similar to many other historical aviary structures which have been mentioned.

This flight cage didn't sit empty for "many years". It had the andean condors for a long time, however recently it closed for about a year for some renovations. It's an impressive aviary regardless, however I'm a bit surprised it was singled out as an entry since I can think of at least ten New England exhibits I'd consider for "must-see" status before this aviary.

 

[CGSwans]

This flight cage didn't sit empty for "many years". It had the andean condors for a long time, however recently it closed for about a year for some renovations. It's an impressive aviary regardless, however I'm a bit surprised it was singled out as an entry since I can think of at least ten New England exhibits I'd consider for "must-see" status before this aviary.

Go on…

 

[ZooElephantMan]

This flight cage didn't sit empty for "many years". It had the andean condors for a long time, however recently it closed for about a year for some renovations. It's an impressive aviary regardless, however I'm a bit surprised it was singled out as an entry since I can think of at least ten New England exhibits I'd consider for "must-see" status before this aviary.

I also didn't expect the flight cage to get an honorable mention, but for me, it was a pleasant surprise. The aviary is historic and is a great size for birds of prey (it is approximately 14,000 square feet). Many zoos keep their birds of prey in exhibits that are way too small to offer enough proper flying space, and so raptor ridge is a nice change of pace from that. In addition to the Andean Condors, there is a 1,500-square-foot section for Stellar's Sea Eagle that nicely adds a second cool species to the historic exhibit.

 

[CMTM]

Lastly, Franklin Park Zoo's historic flight cage has sat empty for many years, but has recently welcomed a pair of Andean condors to the space and has been rebranded into Raptor Ridge. Dating back to 1912, the cage originally held a variety of aquatic birds. It's a cool piece of history at one of America's oldest zoos, but it is also similar to many other historical aviary structures which have been mentioned.

I have very fond memories of the first time I went to this exhibit on a day when the internal cat walk was open. The exhibit is so large we didn't spot the condors at first and right as my brother asked "is there anything in here?" a huge shadow flew over us both. The look of shock on his face as the sun briefly cut out was amazing. We were both huge fans of Jurassic Park and it very much felt like walking into the aviary scene in the 3rd movie. It's also in a pretty quiet corner of the zoo so if you're there on a slow day there's a very strong chance you'll have it all to yourself.

 

[pachyderm pro]

Southeast

One of the rising stars of the North American zoo world right now is Nashville, which punched far above its weight on this thread. Even so there are a few more exhibits that could have gotten a mention as well. Bamboo Trail is a loop through dense woodlands consisting of hundreds of pieces of artificial bamboo. It features some rather interesting species from rainforest environments in nice accommodations. A newer Mexican spider monkey enclosure is very well done and a stellar clouded leopard breeding record is a nice bonus.

@TinoPup

@Moebelle

@Moebelle

Another impressive exhibit is the white rhino enclosure. Formerly an elephant paddock, the large space has allowed the grass to survive being trembled by the pachyderms making for a very attractive enclosure. It does make one wish the elephants were still present however, as they really did fit the space nicely.

@Moebelle

Small but mighty, Nashville's meerkat enclosure is similarly excellent. Well landscaped, interactive, and a strong contender for the best of its kind in the country.

@TinoPup

Three of Memphis Zoo’s themed regions received a spot on the list, but there is another that wasn't mentioned. Northwest Passage has some excellent thematics in typical Memphis fashion, but there isn’t much entirely distinct about this complex compared to the others.

@Moebelle

@ZooNerd1234

In spite of being one of the highest quality zoos in the nation, North Carolina Zoo only received one entry on this list. There's scarcely a poor exhibit to be found at the zoo, but there aren't many sections that truly standout as something you have to see. The entire North American region is outstanding and there are numerous highlights: the spacious prairies for bison and elk, the dense cypress swamp environment for American alligators, and the streamside habitats for native ectotherms. It's all excellent and showcases the excellent quality found at this zoo.

@Moebelle

@Milwaukee Man

@Moebelle

The state of Florida has one of the highest concentration of zoos in the nation, but only two of them had an exhibit on this list. A few more could have been featured as well however, such as the Florida Aquarium with its Wetlands Trail encased within a large glass dome. A very impressive showcase of native species that goes far beyond just fish, many of which are free-roaming.

@SwampDonkey

@SwampDonkey

@SwampDonkey

There is also an abundance of theme parks in the sunshine state, so it makes sense there would be a few zoo/theme park hybrids. Disney's Animal Kingdom is obviously the most famous, but there's also Busch Gardens Tampa. Roller coasters and thrill rides don't always mesh well with animal habitats so exhibitry is a bit flawed in some aspects. The one area that really stands out is Myombe Reserve, a trail tucked away from amusement park chaos with impressive gorilla and chimpanzee exhibits. Both of the enclosures are a bit open and would benefit from more of a canopy, but are very nice overall.

@pachyderm pro

@pachyderm pro

Lastly, I mentioned earlier in this thread that there were two exhibits from non-AZA zoos that I had planned for the list, but eventually cut due to the less than stellar reputations from the facilities they're at. Monkey Jungle is a small primate park located about 20 minutes from Zoo Miami. It's a slightly dodgy place, with the enclosure quality generally being pretty terrible. At the same time, there are a few exhibits that are genuinely fantastic and one of them is the seven acre Java Macaque exhibit. The lengthy tunnel system for guests allows the monkeys to move all around guests. Watching the primates dive for food in keeper demonstrations is a delight, making for an enlightening presentation.

@pachyderm pro

The other cut exhibit is Jackson Zoo’s pygmy hippo enclosure. Pygmy hippos rarely get exhibits that do them justice in the US, so who could have guessed a financially burdened little zoo in Mississippi would have arguably the greatest one in the country. It's essentially an acre or so of fenced in swapland with dense vegetation and pool. Jackson Zoo has had numerous incidents over the last few years however and it’s entirely possible the zoo may have to close sooner than later, so it didn't feel right including on this list.

@snowleopard