Best Zoo Exhibit in U.S.

Miniaturezoo954 said:
Hello Mweb08, i'm glad to know that you enjoy your visit, i will be going in the last week of augoust, do you know if the second floor of the Amazonia building was still close? and what did you think of the rest of the zoo? Out of all the zoos i have visited for the first time, this one is the one that took me the longest time for me to make up my mind, never had second thoughts about San Diego Zoo, but the National Zoo makes me worry, lack of animals seems to be the main problem i read in reviews, i wonder how correct this is.
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Second floor was open.

Concerning the rest of the zoo, I would say it's pretty good.

The collection is not poor at all imo, but it depends on what you like. It's not very strong for monkeys among other areas. However, they have a very good bird collection, what America's Best Zoos call the best small mammal house in the country, most of the high profile animals people come to see, and of course the pandas.

Onto the zoo...

Positives:

Asia Trail: already mentioned, truly a great set of exhibits.

Amazonia: very good small amazon building with a walk through monkey/bird section, now if you could only find the monkeys.

Cheetah exhibit: very spacious and well planted habitats, right up there with KC for best cheetah exhibit I've seen.

Small mammal building: as I mentioned, rated best of its kind by the aforementioned book.

Bird section: A very good aviary, good bird building, and a lot of spacious and nice enclosures for larger birds, including some rare ones, quite good overall.

O-Line: Very cool feature if you're lucky enough to see the orangutans using it.

Gorilla Exhibit: I don't see it mentioned much as being good, but I thought it was quite good, at least the outdoor yard. Decent size, lots of trees, plants, and climbing opportunities.

Invertebrates building: Not something you typically see in zoos, pretty well done.

Reptile house: Pretty good, I actually like that they limit the people in there so you don't have to battle to see everything.

Lemur exhibit: Very large and well planted.

Mexican Wolf exhibit: Also a good size and well planted.

If the golden lion tamarins can still roam freely, that's quite cool as well, didn't see any evidence of that today though.

Negatives:

Orangutan exhibit: Not good other than the O-line.

Monkeys: Not many other than the very small ones in the small mammal house and a couple other spots.

Hippos: Poor exhibits.

No rhinos or giraffes.

Current elephant exhibit.

Decent amount of mediocre exhibits
 
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Thank you Mweb08 it seems like a medium size zoo, and i'm really looking foward to it, i have set my expectations very low, hoping for the best, usually zoos with plenty of history and architectural features like buildings are my favorites, but a key fact of this in the past have been the massive animal collections that come with it, and that is the main consern for me with the National Zoo, but i will visit with a very open mind.
thanks again.
 
Having my zoo experience limited to generally the west, I will reveal my top 10 visited exhibits...

1. Kilimanjaro Safaris, DAK - I've compared my photos with photos from someone's South African safari, and it was honestly quite difficult to tell whose were whose. The answer was usually found in the species or subspecies seen in the picture.

2. Northern Trail, Woodland Park Zoo - In comparing this exhibit with my experiences viewing brown bears and other species in Yellowstone National Park, and this exhibit feels like the real deal. The bear exhibit in particular is phenomenal.

3. African Kopje, San Diego Zoo - This exhibit is what really lit my interest in zoos on fire. When I first experienced it as a child, it was an incredible experience that really transported me to a real place.

4. Desert Loop Trail, ASDM - Once again, the realism here is spectacular. Granted it accurately recreates an upland Sonoran desert effortlessly because it IS an upland Sonoran desert, but the brilliance of the layout and the disguising of barriers is great.

5. Heart of Africa, SDWAP - When this exhibit first opened (I can't speak about it now, since I haven't visited since JiA opened) the skill in recreating an African savannah with disguised barriers was very impressive. I also liked the concept of having a field guide versus posted signs.

I'm sure this list could change once I finally get to a few zoos east of the Rockies, but for now. That is it.
 
The zoo is a pretty good size, and as I've said, while the collection is not huge and has its flaws, it is solid imo. I think some of the complaints about lack of animals is likely due to a lot of walking in between animals at certain spots.
 
The National Zoo is huge -- in terms of trying to see all the animals, mostly because of all the extensive animal houses to see.

BlackRhino, I'm curious as to why Cleveland's RainForest isn't on your list? I saw that you just posted about it on another thread.

MiniZoo954, I really like the way you think! I totally agree with you in your liking of all the Disney exhibits (even the Oasis exhibits, interesting!) and the Berlin zoos!
 
Thank you Anyhuis, i happen to really like the way you think as well, as a matter of fact i have made it a priority for me in 2010 to visit Omaha Zoo mainly based on your reviews of it, not that there is not enough information about it online already to see what a great zoo this place already is, but your take on this specific subject (Omaha Zoo) and based on the already impressive reviews of your outstanding book, it is a place very high in my list of "must see", a lot higher than the Smithsonian, but other matters have taken me to washington D.C. first.

In reference to the DAK exhibits, there is really no question as to their superior quality of design when it comes to almost every other exhibit in the zoo world, in part do to their vast resources and great minds behind each area. The Oasis Exhibits set in my opinion an incredible tone to the experience in DAK, and since they consider this area an exhibit, then it has to be rank.

In terms of Zoological Parks, Congo has to be in my opinion one of the leaders, the progressive thinking in this incredible exhibit is admirable, and even though i did had my reservations as to which is more realistic given the climate location and attention to detail, between Bronx's and DKA's gorilla exhibits, i have to recognise, that based on the climate challenges and incredible modern/informative visitors area in Congo, this one has to be given an edge, but that doesn't make Pangani Forest Exploration Trail any lesser, it just makes Congo stunning.
 
ANyhuis said:
The National Zoo is huge -- in terms of trying to see all the animals, mostly because of all the extensive animal houses to see.

BlackRhino, I'm curious as to why Cleveland's RainForest isn't on your list? I saw that you just posted about it on another thread.

MiniZoo954, I really like the way you think! I totally agree with you in your liking of all the Disney exhibits (even the Oasis exhibits, interesting!) and the Berlin zoos!
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I like it a lot, but I figured I would receive negative reactions if I did. Also, I am not sure if it is truly a top exhibit though.
 
And just as there are many top exhibits in the zoo world, there is also single enclosures that are sometimes the best one its kind.

When Amazon and Beyond was first put into perspective, i remember the center piece of the exhibit was to be a massive freshwater tank, that was said at the time to be the premier place in the world to observe an Amazon flooded forest.
This never became a reality, and as the vegetation will grow (it already has) and many things will get better, this exhibit will not change, it will remain in my mind, a big "what if", this was something i was really looking foward, since in my experience the best freshwater/aquatic fish exhibit in the zoological world is in the Berlin Zoo, and in my opinion leaps above anything here in the US, the 5 massive modules in a circular display are really impressive, and the amount of species here represented are equally impressive.

I would also rank the Hippopotamus House Dome in Berlin Zoo, as possibly the best exhibit to see Hippo's, but this is not an easy choice, since San Diego Zoo's two Hippo enclosures are just gorgeous, but they are not together, so that is in what i base my choice. All the other top Hippo exhibits in the US with underwater viewing exhibit only one species so it has to be between Berlin's Dome, and San Diego's two incredible exhibits for this species.

Even though i have never visited this zoo, it seems to me based on the great amount of information outhere that Woodland Park Zoo has the best Jaguar exhibit in the US, possibly the World?
 
"I like it a lot, but I figured I would receive negative reactions if I did. Also, I am not sure if it is truly a top exhibit though."

If it is good enough in your mind, then try to stack it against the rest, don't worry about anybody's negative reactions, everybody has different things they look at when judging an exhibit, some we mostly agree on, and others are just too in your face to be denied, was this exhibit featured in Ultimate Zoo, i think i remember something about it, but i might be wrong.
 
Miniaturezoo954 said:
"I like it a lot, but I figured I would receive negative reactions if I did. Also, I am not sure if it is truly a top exhibit though."

If it is good enough in your mind, then try to stack it against the rest, don't worry about anybody's negative reactions, everybody has different things they look at when judging an exhibit, some we mostly agree on, and others are just too in your face to be denied, was this exhibit featured in Ultimate Zoo, i think i remember something about it, but i might be wrong.
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Indeed it was featured on Ultimate Zoo. It's too bad Ultimate Zoo is never played anymore as an Ultimate Zoo episode on Elephant Odyssey or Amazon & Beyond would be extremely interesting.
 
Miniaturezoo954 said:
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Even though i have never visited this zoo, it seems to me based on the great amount of information outhere that Woodland Park Zoo has the best Jaguar exhibit in the US, possibly the World?
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I agree with you. I really think it's better than Jacksonville's because it doesn't rely on the Mayan temple theme and they only exhibit 2 jaguars rather than 8. Since jaguars are an extremely solitary species less jaguars would be ideal.
 
BlackRhino said:
I like it a lot, but I figured I would receive negative reactions if I did. Also, I am not sure if it is truly a top exhibit though.
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I'd be shocked if there were any "negative reactions" -- Cleveland's RainForest is beautiful, truly one of the best indoor rain forests in the US. It just barely missed being on my "Top 25 Exhibits" list (and it WAS on my list in my 1994 book, back when it was brand new).
 
ANyhuis said:
I'd be shocked if there were any "negative reactions" -- Cleveland's RainForest is beautiful, truly one of the best indoor rain forests in the US. It just barely missed being on my "Top 25 Exhibits" list (and it WAS on my list in my 1994 book, back when it was brand new).
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Really, I love it too but I always thought I was just being biased. Its my favorite part of the zoo besides the black rhinos, and i'll spend a few hours in there. The zoo takes a lot of pride in it.
 
BlackRhino said:
Really, I love it too but I always thought I was just being biased. Its my favorite part of the zoo besides the black rhinos, and i'll spend a few hours in there. The zoo takes a lot of pride in it.
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Well since you love that indoor rain forest, perphaps you would also love an indoor rain forest in the most visited attraction between Chicago and Denver.;)
 
I don't hate Lied Jungle. I just don't believe it's a top 5 exhibit. It does look like an exhibit I would enjoy, and I think it looks better than my Cleveland Zoo's rain forest.
 
I will have to eventually make it out to Woodland Park Zoo, but this zoo is really not calling me like others that i have not visited, and the location is not exactly an ideal vacation spot, but so neither is Omaha, but that zoo has too many exhibits that i'm really looking foward to exploring in detail.

The last week of next month i will be at the Smithsonian, then in December, we have a trip planned to Singapore, to visit the zoo and bird park, and i have a feeling i'm going to love the Singapore Zoo/Night Safari/Bird park, that is probably the number zoo outhere in my radar right now, the collection seems very strong (the primate collection has to be anywhere), but the landscape is what i'm really looking foward to blow me out of the water.

The after winter in 2010 i will travel to Berlin and visit my zoological heart the Berlin Zoo, and i will have a chance to show my fiance what i have been telling her for some time will be the holly grail of her zoo's experiences. Sometime after this i will travel for a long weekend to Omaha to visit this highly strong contender to America's zoo throne.
 
BlackRhino said:
I agree with you. I really think it's better than Jacksonville's because it doesn't rely on the Mayan temple theme and they only exhibit 2 jaguars rather than 8. Since jaguars are an extremely solitary species less jaguars would be ideal.
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Actually, having 8 jaguars would be an ADVANTAGE for Jacksonville! They never display more than 2 or 3 cats at a time -- they rotate them in and out of the exhibit. But since they have 8, that means there's always jaguars in the exhibit. In Seattle, if one of their jaguars is sick or receiving care, that means they have one less jaguar to see.

As for the Mayan temple theme, that's not a matter of "better" or "worse", it's a matter of personal taste. Some like the Mayan temple, some don't. It's as simple as that.

But I'm NOT going to say Jacksonville's jaguar exhibit is better than Woodland Park's Jaguar Cove. Why? BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN JAGUAR COVE YET! Thus, I have no credibility to evaluate between the two. I have, however seen Jon's video of Jaguar Cove, and based on that, I like Jacksonville's slightly better -- slightly. But I won't know for sure until I actually Jaguar Cove for myself.
 
Lied Jungle, has to be probably one of the most anticipated exhibits outhere for me to visit, add Desert Dome, Kingdom's of the Night and the Aquarium (i love aquarium exhibitions in zoos) and i can't think of a single zoo outhere in the US that has more exhibits that i have not visited yet that could potentially make my top 10 list.
 
I was just messing with you...although I still don't think you're in a position to give such a definitive answer considering you haven't been to the Lied Jungle or any of the exhibits you consider to be top 5.

And it may not be a top 5 exhibit to me either, as I still need to visit many highly regarded ones. So we'll see, but considering I've been to 3 of the other top 5 exhibits on either list in America's Best Zoos, and 2 others in the top 10, and Lied Jungle is my #1, I'm thinking it will remain in the top 5.
 
The three zoos I haven't been to that I would love to go to are Bronx (most of all), Woodland Park, and St. Louis. I would love to see Elephant Odyssey, but I have been to the San Diego Zoo three times and there are other zoos in the U.S. I would rather go to than see San Diego again. Next years opening of Giants of the Savanna in Dallas is very appealing to me, and I may have to add that to one of the zoos I really want to visit.
 
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