I know this has been a tale told many times and might be a little annoying but, despite the title I just want to have a fun little debate because i am going to San Diego in few months for my birthday and i have already been to the Bronx so i just want to see the opinions on this, so lets start with primates, Bronx has nice exhibits for primates like Congo gorilla Forest, Jungle world, and Madagascar, but i do think the cages outside the mouse house do hold it back, what does San Diego have?
Bronx vs San Diego: battle of the coast
- Thread starter squid boy
- Start date
I probably prefer the Bronx, mainly because of the buildings and several knockout exhibits. The feel of it is something that's vanishing from American zoos. I don't know what's changed since I visited over a decade ago, but Bronx seemed to lack a lot of the more modern amusement park features we see in zoos now. Everything seems very tasteful, but also grandiose in scale and collection. It's. hard to describe.
San Diego's main advantage is it's terrain and climate IMO. The collection has declined a bit, and even in it's prime collection years, the exhibitry was a bit unimpressive in certain areas. This all gets covered up by the feeling of being in what seems like an actual outdoor jungle in much of the park. You can actually get lost in it for a bit. It's not an experience akin to walking around concrete buildings and emptiness as you have in a lot of parks. It actually seems like you are a bit immersed in something different.
San Diego's main advantage is it's terrain and climate IMO. The collection has declined a bit, and even in it's prime collection years, the exhibitry was a bit unimpressive in certain areas. This all gets covered up by the feeling of being in what seems like an actual outdoor jungle in much of the park. You can actually get lost in it for a bit. It's not an experience akin to walking around concrete buildings and emptiness as you have in a lot of parks. It actually seems like you are a bit immersed in something different.
Eletan888
Active Member
I visited the Bronx Zoo in July and am visiting the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park in January. I loved the Bronx Zoo so much. I've always thought that the San Diego Zoo would be my favorite once I get the opportunity to visit. However, after learning about the changes in their collection from doing some digging, I'm not so sure. One of the things I was looking forward to the most was seeing black rhinos at the Safari Park. Knowing that now, I'm a little disappointed but still very excited for the rare Oceanian species and other hoofstock
I don’t think one is objectively better than the other. Both are amazing zoos, and while each contains a few outdated animal exhibits, the majority at both are modernistic and beautiful.
However, if I were to be asked which I personally prefer, I would say San Diego as it’s a larger and I feel more “complete” collection. For instance, Bronx has only one bear, four cats, and one great ape, whereas San Diego has five (until recently six) bears, at least 13 cat species by my calculation, and three great apes. Bronx has no hippos while San Diego has both species. Which isn’t to say San Diego outclasses Bronx in every category; for example, the latter has two rhino species while the former currently has none; if I’m not mistaken there are no large ratites at San Diego while Bronx has ostriches and emus; Bronx has two penguin species but San Diego only has one; San Diego only has one large canid while Bronx has two, etc. And then in certain areas, like non-ape primates and crocodilians, both parks have impressive collections. But overall, I would say San Diego caters more to my personal tastes.
It should also be noted that this may not be the most fair comparison considering how San Diego Zoo’s climate allows it to keep many more warm-climate animals outside that would have to spend a good portion of the year indoors in New York. Nonetheless, I stand by personally enjoying San Diego more.
However, if I were to be asked which I personally prefer, I would say San Diego as it’s a larger and I feel more “complete” collection. For instance, Bronx has only one bear, four cats, and one great ape, whereas San Diego has five (until recently six) bears, at least 13 cat species by my calculation, and three great apes. Bronx has no hippos while San Diego has both species. Which isn’t to say San Diego outclasses Bronx in every category; for example, the latter has two rhino species while the former currently has none; if I’m not mistaken there are no large ratites at San Diego while Bronx has ostriches and emus; Bronx has two penguin species but San Diego only has one; San Diego only has one large canid while Bronx has two, etc. And then in certain areas, like non-ape primates and crocodilians, both parks have impressive collections. But overall, I would say San Diego caters more to my personal tastes.
It should also be noted that this may not be the most fair comparison considering how San Diego Zoo’s climate allows it to keep many more warm-climate animals outside that would have to spend a good portion of the year indoors in New York. Nonetheless, I stand by personally enjoying San Diego more.