Best Exhibit Zones Dedicated to Geographical Area?

My list, restricted only to exhibits I've actually visited.

1. North America: The North American area at Columbus
2. South America: Amazon and Beyond at Miami
3. Africa: Hard to look past the San Diego Safari Park, with Wilds of Africa at Dallas and Congo Gorilla Forest at Bronx as honorable mentions
4. Asia: Asia Trail at the Smithsonian National Zoo
5. Europe: Paris Vincennes by default really, I'm pretty sure it's the only European zoo exhibit I've ever seen
6. Australia: Taronga and Perth are the ones that stick out, outside of Australia probably Toronto.
7. Arctic/Antarctica: Arctic Ring of Life and the Polk Penguin Center at Detroit

amur leopard said:
Have you been to Valencia? The whole zoo is based on Africa...
DAK has 27 African mammal species - Valencia has 51 species and Dvur Kralove has 91 species. Valencia has its species in IMO better enclosures than anything at Disney - here are a few pics:
Click to expand...
The question has to be asked, have you been to Valencia? I actually enjoyed the zoo more than a lot of people on this forum, but I have quite a few African areas higher than Valencia. Visually the zoo looks very nice and there are some good areas (Madagascar and the Hippo cave), but quite a few of the enclosures lack enrichment and size (apes especially), while there's not much species-wise outside of large mammals. Not a bad place at all, but as someone who's been to Disney and Valencia, Disney's enclosures are a lot better.
birdsandbats said:
Not when you don't see a bear.
Click to expand...
Not entirely sure what you mean by this considering the zoo can't really control whether or not the animals are visible. On my two visits I've seen the Bears easily, underwater though, not so much:p.
 
TZDugong said:
5. Europe: Paris Vincennes by default really, I'm pretty sure it's the only European zoo exhibit I've ever seen
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, which other European collections have you visited other than Paris and Valencia?
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Out of curiosity, which other European collections have you visited other than Paris and Valencia?
Click to expand...
4 others - Valencia Oceanographic, Bioparc Rome, Barcelona Zoo and Barcelona Aquarium. Only Oceanographic is a real heavy-hitter, but I enjoyed all the zoos! I'll be going to my 7th European facility (Crete Aquarium) in about a month or so. I wonder, have any zoochatters ever been there?
 
TZDugong said:
4 others - Valencia Oceanographic, Bioparc Rome, Barcelona Zoo and Barcelona Aquarium. Only Oceanographic is a real heavy-hitter, but I enjoyed all the zoos! I'll be going to my 7th European facility (Crete Aquarium) in about a month or so. I wonder, have any zoochatters ever been there?
Click to expand...

Interesting - I'd be inclined to suggest that there are a few pretty nice European exhibits at Barcelona too, to be honest.
 
TZDugong said:
The question has to be asked, have you been to Valencia? I actually enjoyed the zoo more than a lot of people on this forum, but I have quite a few African areas higher than Valencia. Visually the zoo looks very nice and there are some good areas (Madagascar and the Hippo cave), but quite a few of the enclosures lack enrichment and size (apes especially), while there's not much species-wise outside of large mammals. Not a bad place at all, but as someone who's been to Disney and Valencia, Disney's enclosures are a lot better.
Click to expand...

I have - I found it slightly underwhelming given the photos and the fanfare along with the place and the fact that it is entirely new. However, it is still undeniably an excellent representation of African fauna - whether or not they should have been able to do better based on budget etc. is up to you but the fact remains that the African exhibits (not that there are any others of course :p) are very broad and showcase the African continent well.
 
I know it might be far from the best
But still want to show you guys the Taiwan Area in Taipei Zoo
IMG_2140.JPG IMG_0465.JPG IMG_0389.JPG IMG_4448.JPG IMG_5023.JPG IMG_0240.JPG IMG_2105.JPG
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2140.JPG
    IMG_2140.JPG
    201.1 KB · Views: 90
  • IMG_0465.JPG
    IMG_0465.JPG
    281.9 KB · Views: 102
  • IMG_0389.JPG
    IMG_0389.JPG
    194 KB · Views: 94
  • IMG_4448.JPG
    IMG_4448.JPG
    211.1 KB · Views: 102
  • IMG_5023.JPG
    IMG_5023.JPG
    196 KB · Views: 95
  • IMG_0240.JPG
    IMG_0240.JPG
    305.4 KB · Views: 100
  • IMG_2105.JPG
    IMG_2105.JPG
    158.2 KB · Views: 91
TZDugong said:
My list, restricted only to exhibits I've actually visited.

1. North America: The North American area at Columbus
2. South America: Amazon and Beyond at Miami
3. Africa: Hard to look past the San Diego Safari Park, with Wilds of Africa at Dallas and Congo Gorilla Forest at Bronx as honorable mentions
4. Asia: Asia Trail at the Smithsonian National Zoo
5. Europe: Paris Vincennes by default really, I'm pretty sure it's the only European zoo exhibit I've ever seen
6. Australia: Taronga and Perth are the ones that stick out, outside of Australia probably Toronto.
7. Arctic/Antarctica: Arctic Ring of Life and the Polk Penguin Center at Detroit


The question has to be asked, have you been to Valencia? I actually enjoyed the zoo more than a lot of people on this forum, but I have quite a few African areas higher than Valencia. Visually the zoo looks very nice and there are some good areas (Madagascar and the Hippo cave), but quite a few of the enclosures lack enrichment and size (apes especially), while there's not much species-wise outside of large mammals. Not a bad place at all, but as someone who's been to Disney and Valencia, Disney's enclosures are a lot better.

Not entirely sure what you mean by this considering the zoo can't really control whether or not the animals are visible. On my two visits I've seen the Bears easily, underwater though, not so much:p.
Click to expand...
 
The Detroit Zoo penguin exhibit is closed until June...if then. No one has much of an idea of how the virus shutdown is going to affect anything. The contractor did not do a good job in some areas and they were leaking water.
 
Lost Forest at the San Diego Zoo
Heart of Africa at the Columbus Zoo
Asia Quest at the Columbus Zoo
Arctic Ring of Life at the Detroit Zoo
 
birdsandbats said:
Arctic Ring of Life is overrated.
Click to expand...
I think anyway. This complex has been mentioned as really good on several threads lately, and I personally didn't enjoy it as much as other did. The Polar Bear exhibit is simply TOO big, I came several times throughout the day and never saw a bear. The seal and fox exhibits were okay, though.
 
birdsandbats said:
I think anyway. This complex has been mentioned as really good on several threads lately, and I personally didn't enjoy it as much as other did. The Polar Bear exhibit is simply TOO big, I came several times throughout the day and never saw a bear. The seal and fox exhibits were okay, though.
Click to expand...
I believe I may have responded to something like this on another thread, but I really don't understand this argument. The whole AROL complex (which includes eating areas, multiple exhibits and the visitor path) is only around 4 acres, meaning the Polar Bear exhibit is big but not even close to being too large. There are also many different viewing areas, both underwater and above-ground. To be honest it seems like you were just unlucky; I had no problem finding a bear and I know many others have seen them as well.
amur leopard said:
What about Assiniboine park zoo for the Polar exhibit thing?
Click to expand...
That exhibit looks great, but I'd imagine very few zoochatters have ever visited.
 
From personal experience.

1. North America - North Carolina Zoo (Well done and a good overview of the continent)

2. Amazon and Beyond - Zoo Miami (Excellent, natural, and a wide variety of animals)

3. African Areas - San Diego Safari Park - A beautiful location and just so natural and wild. Overall this entire zoo is my favorite zoo.

4. Either Asia Trail/Elephant Trails - Smithsonian National Zoo (Wonderfully done but a little choppy in my memory as my last visit was maybe 2014?), Asian Highlands - Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (Blown away by it, the takin exhibit in particular) or Russia's Grizzly Coast (Very cool concept)

5. None

6. Either Koalafornia - San Diego Zoo (Really nicely done but a little to modern, I like things with an older vibe) Or Walkabout Australia - San Diego Safari Park (Went before the platypus arrived, but it was very nicely done)

7. Not sure I've been to any.
 
Only counting ones i’ve seen:
1. North America - NC Zoo (80 something acres with a comprehensive collection)
2. South America - Shedd Aquarium- Amazon Rising
3. Africa - San Diego Zoo Safari Park (misses out on smaller species and birds though) or NC Zoo (again same issue)
4. Asia - Bronx Zoo (Between Jungleworld, Monorail and Himalayan highlands you have a great collection especially of asian mammals. Also presents basically the only large asian hoofstock collection in the United States.)
5. Europe - God I can’t think of any exhibits or even displays for European species.
6. Antarctica- Seaworld San Diego (simply massive display for penguins)
7. Australia - San Diego Zoo (not the best complex but little competition)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top