Bengal Tiger
Well-Known Member
Good stuff, not including it would have angered all of the Illinoisan zoochatters (myself included) to a point of no return
America's 50 Must See Zoos
- Thread starter pachyderm pro
- Start date
bigfoot410
Well-Known Member
I agree that it could be more than 3: Monterey Aquarium, San Diego's Zoo and Safari Park being the definite ones (unless we are in for a shock snub!). I will be curious if Los Angeles, Living Desert, Aquarium of the Pacific or Fresno makes it.
No harm in a little speculation. Guessing what's next is part of the fun.
Without giving away any specifics, California is the most represented state in this top 50. Take that as you will...
I think Monterey Bay and both Sand Diegos are guaranteed, and I'll think we'll get at least one surprise California collection as well. SeaWorld San Diego maybe? The zoo/amusement park type zoos has to represented somewhere (although maybe Disney will be the representative there...)
It is, though
Apt description. It reminds me of Dallas World Aquarium in that way - sort of an aquarium/indoor zoo combo. The experience is very different from DWA though, and Academy of Sciences is additionally a museum and planetarium so it's not exclusively focused on live animal displays.
I really liked California Academy of Sciences, and I'm glad to see it make a top 50 list because it doesn't seem to get a lot of attention on the forum (I recently uploaded some photos from there after being advised that its media gallery was fairly small). In addition to what @pachyderm pro mentioned, they have a large section devoted to all kinds of ectotherms with different themes about adaptations. The Osher Rainforest is an interesting concept; it feels like a biosphere pod, not so much an untamed jungle as a carefully cultivated ecosystem inside a futuristic orb. The Academy is also home to a number of rarities, which isn't too surprising given its large ectotherm-focused collection. The only drawback is that it's quite expensive... but it's in San Francisco, so that's par for the course.
I hope it is.
I'm calling it now. Sequoia park zoo should be in because of the sequoia alone. (and also bush dog and a certain tyrannosaurid that looks like an ungulate)
No harm in a little speculation. Guessing what's next is part of the fun.
Without giving away any specifics, California is the most represented state in this top 50. Take that as you will...
Considering that the next most represented states are most likely Texas and Florida, I would guess that there will be at least 5 and perhaps more institutions from California. With Texas, DWA, Fort Worth, and Dallas are the most likely, with the possibility for a snub but just as likely a replacement in the form of Moody Gardens, Houston, or any number of other institutions. For Florida, Miami and perhaps DAK are the only mostly safe ones, but Zoo Tampa, Jacksonville, Bush Gardens Tampa, and Seaworld Orlando may also have a good shot.
Pardon my speculation, but this was a great decision for a thread. I am eager to see the rest of the selection for the golden state!
I'd be surprised if none of the big-name zoos like those being suggested make this thread, but it'll be interesting to see which ones actually do. There are a lot of big and great zoos in the US worthy of a visit, but if the question is "are they a must-see" in the sense of being particularly noteworthy or unique I'm not sure all of them would qualify. This may be especially true in America as compared to Europe given that many of our zoo exhibits and collections look similar to each other.
I think that this is good advice for those eager beavers who are guessing which zoos are next. We can talk about omissions though, with Phoenix Zoo obviously missing the cut. It's a very good zoo, with an excellent Africa Trail and a very nice Arizona Trail, but is it "must see"? I suppose not!
Yes, I think waiting until a zoo has made the cut or missed out is an excellent idea.
I liked Phoenix, and I would visit again if I got the opportunity, but I don't think its impressive points - the buttes, the history with oryxes and the excellent Arizona reptile collection - *quite* makes the cut. Must have been close though.
Another favorite of mine. Very different and well worth a visit. I was less impressed with the aquarium than I was with the rainforest.California - California Academy of Sciences
Founded: 2008
Size: 2.5 Acres (1 Hectare)
Species & Subspecies (On and Off Exhibit): c. 750*
On Exhibit Mammals 0
On Exhibit Birds 12
On Exhibit Reptiles & Amphibians 33
On Exhibit Fish 160
This is an institution that’s hard to classify as it doesn't really fit into any one category. It dates back to just a few years after the state of California was annexed by the United States and began in Golden Gate Park as a collection of different museum buildings on a single campus with an aquarium being added several decades later. After being completely rebuilt from the ground up at the same site, there are now elements of an aquarium, a traditional zoo, a natural history museum, and a planetarium all under the same roof. In fact not just any roof, rather a multi-acre living roof that it’s own ecosystem for native insects. The academy has proven to be just as innovative as it is flashy. There are no mammal species, at least no live ones, and fish make up the majority of the collection. The aquarium portion has some beautifully done saltwater tanks; the coral reef display in particular stands out from the rest. The freshwater tanks are just as impressive with a walkthrough tunnel through an Amazon flooded forest display being the most notable. That same tunnel connects to the four-story Osher Rainforest which is similarly stunning and is primarily a large bird and butterfly area with herp displays dotted throughout. The facilities' only real crowd-pleasers are a colony of African penguins that can be found in the Tusher African Hall that otherwise features dioramas with mounted African mammals. That description just barley scratches the surface of the countless amount ecological and scientific displays beyond the live animals. This could easily become a full day attraction for anyone even remotely interested in any of the aforementioned subjects.
*The major discrepancy between the total species estimate and the more specific totals are due to the high collection of coral and invertebrates which have not been counted on an individual basis.
Main Lobby, @geomorph
Philippine Coral Reef Tank, @geomorph
African Penguin Exhibit, @geomorph
Living Roof, @snowleopard
Osher Rainforest, @Coelacanth18
Zoochat Gallery:
California Academy of Sciences - ZooChat
Zoo Website:
California Academy of Sciences
Zoo Map:
https://image.slidesharecdn.com/aca...95/academy-visitormap-2-728.jpg?cb=1345104940
I was more surprised that Wildlife World didn't make the list! A massive (and unique in many ways) collection packed with rarities! Is there no roadside-type zoo on this list? If not, then it truly misses out on an important type of American zoo.
Haha, I can see the sarcasm dripping from this post.
That wasn't meant to be sarcasm.
Well, okay, maybe the last sentence. But only half-sarcasm!
Just adding on to what @CGSwans and @snowleopard have stated above. Let me reiterate that I have no issue with speculating what zoo(s) are next. With that said, I don't want the speculation to stifle discussion of the zoos actually being covered or the zoos that didn't make the cut, so I would appreciate it if we limited all of the guessing to an extent.
@birdsandbats lives in Wisconsin, the American capital of crappy roadside zoos. I assure you he is being completely serious.
That's a pretty bold claim calling roadside parks the most important type of American zoo. You'll be disappointed to find there aren't any on this list and quite frankly I don't see a place for them. There will be some controversial choices as well as some very niche facilities, but having roadside places represent America's must see zoos would be foolish.
I didn't say most important, I just said important.Just adding on to what @CGSwans and @snowleopard have stated above. Let me reiterate that I have no issue with speculating what zoo(s) are next. With that said, I don't want the speculation to stifle discussion of the zoos actually being covered or the zoos that didn't make the cut, so I would appreciate it if we limited all of the guessing to an extent.
@birdsandbats lives in Wisconsin, the American capital of crappy roadside zoos. I assure you he is being completely serious.
That's a pretty bold claim calling roadside parks the most important type of American zoo. You'll be disappointed to find there aren't any on this list and quite frankly I don't see a place for them. There will be some controversial choices as well as some very niche facilities, but having roadside places represent America's must see zoos would be foolish.
Wildlife World would be the obvious choice because of its huge collection (filled with rarities) the fact that are certainly good exhibits there. It is without a doubt America's best roadside zoo.
My apologies, I misread that part. Wildlife World has many rarities but so do many other zoos on this list and they all have significantly better exhibitry. Once every zoo has been covered, I'll go over some of the honorable mentions that didn't make the cut and explain why they missed the list.I didn't say most important, I just said important.
Just to add to what @pachyderm pro said, must-see does not include worst case examples, and although roadside zoos are a pretty dominant American zoo type, they aren't exactly great...
bigfoot410
Well-Known Member
I agree that even though roadside zoos are a long cultural tradition in the United States, I would not put any on a must-see list, even if they exhibit several rare species.
As for possible zoo snubs, I am assuming the list going from Arizona to California means all institutions in Alaska and Alabama are out? I can't really think of any places in Alabama that would make a top 50 list. However, in Alaska the Alaska Wildlife Center has incredible scenery, very natural habitats and a few rarities like wood bison and musk ox. If this list was focused on natural beauty of the surroundings, it would make the cut. But with so many places to choose from I can understand it not making the list.
As for possible zoo snubs, I am assuming the list going from Arizona to California means all institutions in Alaska and Alabama are out? I can't really think of any places in Alabama that would make a top 50 list. However, in Alaska the Alaska Wildlife Center has incredible scenery, very natural habitats and a few rarities like wood bison and musk ox. If this list was focused on natural beauty of the surroundings, it would make the cut. But with so many places to choose from I can understand it not making the list.