Cities in need of zoos

Ituri said:
Yes Spokane DEFINITELY needs a proper zoo. It's really bizarre that there isn't a real zoo in the entire inland northwest region.
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Around the turn of the century my minor league annual trip took me to Spokane and I spent a fair amount of time looking for the Walk in the Wild Zoo. This was before smartphones. I eventually figured out that I had an older map and the zoo no longer existed.

They'd probably be unable to maintain a comprehensive zoo but I think a smaller one could be maintained. As far as I know, no one in Spokane things they should.
 
I know it’ll never happen, but an aquarium in DC would be nice— we have 2 (DC aquarium and Glen Echo aquarium) but neither is larger than a room or two. On the bright side, nearby Baltimore’s national aquarium is one of the best on the East coast, from what I’ve heard.
 
I'd always thought that DC or one of the surrounding communities (like Fairfax or Silver Spring, home to both AZA and NOAA) could support a SeaLife Aquarium
 
Has anyone mentioned Midland/Odessa Texas? There are zoos a few hours away in Fort Worth and El Paso…but I think Midland/Odessa could support a zoo.

I’d say Hartford? But Bridgeport and Providence are not far away. And NYC just a bit further. New England and the upper Hudson valley have lost two large zoos in the last 30 years (Benson’s Animal Park and Catskill Game Farm).

At least three small city zoos have been lost as well (probably not a bad thing) in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Massachusetts did better at holding on to it’s smaller zoos at Stoneham, Attleboro, New Bedford and Springfield. I know Springfield, Stoneham (and I believe even Providence and New Bedford) closed down for a period of renewal back in the early 1980’s and 1990’s (for Stoneham).

I think the area around Groton, near Mystic, might be able to support a small well run zoo. Maybe tied into the local Pequot Casinos by displaying native (or native once upon a time) species. There is a very nice museum in the area telling the story of the first peoples.

However with Providence not too far away (nor are the facilities in eastern Massachusetts and Bridgeport) maybe interest would be muted. Also consider the two zoos (very poor zoos) lost were in Groton’s adjacent cities of New London and Norwhich. But those were small Parks and Recreation type zoos of very poor quality. At least we held on to the Mystic Aquarium (which is really in a class of its own).

Thinking it over I’d say just about every mid/large sized city in the United States (outside Charlotte and Las Vegas) has a zoo not too far away. Charlotte isn’t really that far away from several zoos (gas prices redefine that concept) although I imagine it could easily support a mid-sized zoo and probably a large one of high quality. Charleston, S.C has Charles Town Landing…but after that? It’s Columbia or a private zoo in Myrtle Beach. A nice Charleston Zoo might pull visitors in from Savanna and Wilmington, as well as offer folks an either or choice between it and Columbia.

Lots of tourists in Charleston and large military communities nearby as well…I think Mystic really benefitted (and still does) from sailors and their families at the two large Navy and Coast Guard Bases nearby, each with military morale programs for folks stationed far from home needing quality family experiences. Especially in the 1970’s and early 1980’s…before tourism to the area really took off…but that’s just my impression when I was a kid visiting the aquarium.
 
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Brisbane Queensland Australia
Does not have a city zoo. Most other state capitals have a large government owned zoo.

Nearby Gold Coast has theme parks zoos and the sunshine coast has the Irwin Australia zoo. But both are 2 hour drive away.
 
I think a nice mid- or large zoo could prosper somewhere around Pardubice.

Twin-towns Pardubice + Hradec Králové have 200k people. If we add 45 min driving distance we get access to 1000k locals without a proper zoo. Pardubice area has strong economy, brand new highways, zero unemployment and baby boom. Families are eager for new entertainment venues.

A mid-sized zoo without ABC animals and any advertisement could sell 250k tickets easily. A classic large zoo with some ABC species that would succeed to canibalize also inhabitants of Prague east suburbs (just 100km on highway) could sell 750k tickets and become TOP2 zoo in whole Czechia. If the zoo would get in quality on par with Dvur or Zlin and become a local brand, it could break 1mio annually.

Unfortunatelly, there are zero plans for anything like that. Just some petting farms and tiny roadside zoos.
 
Switzerland lacks a real zoo in its french speaking part.
It's not even like there is anything close by in France.

The three major zoos in Switzerland are Basel, Zürich and Bern, and then you have a few other nice ones in Eastern Switzerland.
When it comes to the french speaking part, the Papillorama in Kerzers is accessible, then you have a few smaller zoos like Servion and la Garenne. One feels like a roadside zoo that evolved to be a small zoo. One can see generic lions, tigers and even a couple of Snow leopards there but it doesn't have the zoo experience feeling to it.
La Garenne showcases European species in an interesting setting but that's not what the crowds are after. Aquatis Lausanne focuses on fish and herps, and there is a small zoo near Geneva - Bioparc Genève - which really is a roadside zoo. One that managed to acquire a Fossa, a few Crab-eating raccoons and even White-tailed antsangys, but they don't have money, they don't have space, so development is really difficult.

All this leaves the french speaking part of Switzerland without a real zoo, one that's 9ha or more I'd say, something like the size of Jihlava would be a good start, and if it were to be well located, it could easily target almost half of the population, bringing in quite a few German speakers as well.
 
Westcoastperson said:
Sorry this reply has taken so long as I was working on another project.

Already mention earlier but yes that statistic was wrong to thank you.
Well Los Angeles technically has four aquariums (not counting the science center or Sea Lab(It's closed for now until the owners can reach a rent agreement)). Cabrillo, Manhattan Beach Pier Aquarium, and Santa Monica Pier Aquarium are all extremely small and Aquarium of The Pacific only really serves Orange County and South Los Angeles county. Maybe a larger Aquarium between Los Angeles City and the Inland Empire(1) could work.
(1)I didn't realize this would be important but now it is. The Inland Empire is a general area where San Bernadino and Riverside meet. It also serves as both countys main cities and populations.

Well adding these new zoos is really meant to be for local communities not tourists.

Um wow ok I love the enthusiasm but not every major city in LA needs a zoo that would lead to over-saturation of the market, all I am proposing is for zoos in Los Angeles to be easy to get to. However, I think that your idea for different themed zoos in different areas is a really great idea that could actually work really well.
Now time to go through all of the zoos you suggested:
Riverside:
  • Corona: Giving South Corona a small zoo might not actually be a terrible idea. It is the westernmost part of the Inland Empire and could also serve as a nearby zoo for Lake Elsinore.
  • Moreno Valley: This is so close to the much larger Riverside city it wouldn't make sense to put a zoo here. Maybe a safari park at the east or south ends of the area but I wouldn't.
  • Riverside: Defenitly
  • Murieta: Mureita and Temecula are both very close so you would have to pick a city. I would go with Murieta, its further north to provide a zoo for smaller areas like lake elsinore while also staying away from SDZSP.
  • Temecula: See the above.
San Bernadino:
  • Ontario: This is far enough away from every other major city to work. Maybe move it closer to Pomona.
  • Fontatna: No and I will go in depth later
  • Victorville: Also has Apple Valley and Hesperia. The region already has a zoo that I would do anything to get rid of so maybe a Living Desert like zoo.
  • San Bernadino: So Riverside, Rialto, San Bernadino, and Fontana are all in very close proximity to each other so what would be best is a zoo somewhere between all three. Actually out of every zoo mentioned I believe thiszoo would need to be the biggest and should really happen.
  • Rialto: See the above
  • Rancho Cucamonga: Share a zoo with Ontario.
Ventura
  • Oxnard: Too close to Santa Barabara
  • Thousand Oaks: This could work as a major zoo spot.
  • Ventura: Too close to Santa Barabara
  • Simi Valley: Share a zoo with Thousand Oaks
Los Angeles
  • Burbank: Too close to LA zoo
  • Downey: Could have a minor Zoo
  • El monte: A tough decision maybe a minor zoo or aquarium
  • Glendale: Too close to Los Angeles
  • Ingelwood: Ingelwood, Torrance, and Long Beach ae all viable spots for a major zoo. I would suggest a major zoo somewhere in between all of them.
  • Lancatser: Could use a small zoo and share with Palmdale
  • Long Beach: See Ingelwood
  • Norwalk: Share with Downey
  • Palmdale:Share with Lancaster
  • Pasadena: Too close to Los Angeles
  • Pomona: See Ontario post
  • Santa Clarita: Could do well with a major zoo. Could also cater to tourists because of it's proximity to Six Flags.
  • Torrance: See Ingelwood post
  • West Covina: Share with el monte
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Regarding Moreno Valley, I am not going to lie, I could imagine a Safari Park being established at the now defunct Quail Ranch Golf Course, located on Gilman Springs Road. I used to live down the road from the site of Quail Ranch Golf Course, and drove down Gilman Springs Road on a near daily basis. Quail Ranch Golf Course is located in the eastern portion of Moreno Valley's city limits.
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Having a population of 133,562, they are certainly large enough to have a zoo. Linn County where Cedar Rapids is located has a population of 230,299 people. Again, certainly large enough to support a zoo.

Another region in Iowa that might be able to support a zoo is Iowa City. Iowa City is home to the Iowa Museum of Natural History located on the campus of the University of Iowa, so I think an AZA-accredited zoo might make another nice addition. Though the population of Iowa City is only 75,130 people, the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 171,491 and is concentrated within Johnson County, Iowa.
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As you will read in this link, both Cedar Rapids and Iowa City had municipal zoos historically. It would be a great idea to bring zoological parks (this time AZA accredited) back to those cities.
 
Pleistohorse said:
Has anyone mentioned Midland/Odessa Texas? There are zoos a few hours away in Fort Worth and El Paso…but I think Midland/Odessa could support a zoo.

I’d say Hartford? But Bridgeport and Providence are not far away. And NYC just a bit further. New England and the upper Hudson valley have lost two large zoos in the last 30 years (Benson’s Animal Park and Catskill Game Farm).

At least three small city zoos have been lost as well (probably not a bad thing) in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Massachusetts did better at holding on to it’s smaller zoos at Stoneham, Attleboro, New Bedford and Springfield. I know Springfield, Stoneham (and I believe even Providence and New Bedford) closed down for a period of renewal back in the early 1980’s and 1990’s (for Stoneham).

I think the area around Groton, near Mystic, might be able to support a small well run zoo. Maybe tied into the local Pequot Casinos by displaying native (or native once upon a time) species. There is a very nice museum in the area telling the story of the first peoples.

However with Providence not too far away (nor are the facilities in eastern Massachusetts and Bridgeport) maybe interest would be muted. Also consider the two zoos (very poor zoos) lost were in Groton’s adjacent cities of New London and Norwhich. But those were small Parks and Recreation type zoos of very poor quality. At least we held on to the Mystic Aquarium (which is really in a class of its own).

Thinking it over I’d say just about every mid/large sized city in the United States (outside Charlotte and Las Vegas) has a zoo not too far away. Charlotte isn’t really that far away from several zoos (gas prices redefine that concept) although I imagine it could easily support a mid-sized zoo and probably a large one of high quality. Charleston, S.C has Charles Town Landing…but after that? It’s Columbia or a private zoo in Myrtle Beach. A nice Charleston Zoo might pull visitors in from Savanna and Wilmington, as well as offer folks an either or choice between it and Columbia.

Lots of tourists in Charleston and large military communities nearby as well…I think Mystic really benefitted (and still does) from sailors and their families at the two large Navy and Coast Guard Bases nearby, each with military morale programs for folks stationed far from home needing quality family experiences. Especially in the 1970’s and early 1980’s…before tourism to the area really took off…but that’s just my impression when I was a kid visiting the aquarium.
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Regarding Odessa and Midland, I would support the idea of a full-fledged AZA accredited zoo in each of those cities. The population of the former is 114,428 people at the city level and 165,171 people at the metropolitan statistical area level (Ector County) and the population of the latter is 132,524 people at the city level and 169,983 people at the metropolitan statistical area level (Midland County). Historically Midland did have a zoo and they are in the works of building a new one; Midland is getting a zoo

I would also strongly support establishing a full-fledged AZA-accredited zoo in Charleston, South Carolina. The population of Charleston is 153,672 people. They can definitely support a zoo!
 
Kodak said:
Brisbane Queensland Australia
Does not have a city zoo. Most other state capitals have a large government owned zoo.

Nearby Gold Coast has theme parks zoos and the sunshine coast has the Irwin Australia zoo. But both are 2 hour drive away.
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About three or four decades ago, the Queensland government seriously considered a major zoo in Brisbane but nothing came of it.

When Alma Park Zoo closed they claimed to be moving to a larger property in Logan, but unfortunately that never happened.

I think a major issue now would be that there are now five zoos/wildlife parks/aquariums on the Gold Coast and three on the Sunshine Coast (that I am aware of) and none of them would want to see a zoo in Brisbane. They would all use whatever pollical influence they have to try and stop the Government building one if it was proposed.
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Regarding Moreno Valley, I am not going to lie, I could imagine a Safari Park being established at the now defunct Quail Ranch Golf Course, located on Gilman Springs Road. I used to live down the road from the site of Quail Ranch Golf Course, and drove down Gilman Springs Road on a near daily basis. Quail Ranch Golf Course is located in the eastern portion of Moreno Valley's city limits.
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The site I am referring to is 275 acres. Definitely large enough for a safari park type of facility. I did a calculation of this on www.draftlogic.com
 
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Adelaide lacks a proper aquarium despite most other major Australian cities having one. Brisbane doesn’t either, however, that makes sense as there are two aquariums one hour away on either side of the city (Sea World Goldcoast and SEALIFE Mooloolaba)
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Alright, let me throw in another US state, a neighbor of two states I covered earlier Texas and Arkansas, Louisiana.

Cities in Louisiana that could use a major AZA-Accredited zoo include the following;

Shreveport - Population of 187,593 at the city level, and a population of 237,848 at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level.

Lake Charles - Population of 84,872 at the city level and a population of 216,785 at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level. They have a state university, McNeese State University which used to have a natural history collection, why not a zoo?

Lafayette - Population of 121,374 at the city level and 241,753 at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level. They have a good science museum with extensive natural history exhibits, why not a zoo?

Houma - Population of 33,406 at the city level and 109,580 at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level.

And

Hammond - Population of 20,019 at the city level and 121,097 at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level.
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According to this link, Shreveport, Louisiana did have a zoo historically.

EXTINCT UNITED STATES ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS.pdf
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Now for another neighbor of both Texas and Oklahoma, here is a list of cities in Arkansas that need a major AZA accredited zoo.

Fayetteville - Population of 93,949 at the city level and a population of 239,187 at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level. They are home of the University of Arkansas and their famous team/mascot the Razorbacks.

Fort Smith - Population of 87,891 at the city level and a population of 127,827 at the metropolitan statistical area level.

Jonesboro - Population of 78,394 at the city level and a population of 124,042 at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level.

Hot Springs - Population of 38,797 at the city level and 100,730 at the Metropolitan Statistical Area level. Hot Springs National Park is located in close proximity.
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Again, according to this link, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas had a zoo historically.

EXTINCT UNITED STATES ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS.pdf
 
MRJ said:
About three or four decades ago, the Queensland government seriously considered a major zoo in Brisbane but nothing came of it.
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The Q Zoo project.

The State government did look long and hard at such an idea and finally concluded that it would never make any money!

Later, the State government expressed some interest in the idea of a huge Rhino Reserve in the State's west. It would have surpassed the original plans of the now much reduced Australian Rhino Project but the concept was not received well by the existing tourism industry, nor by the zoo industry's then representatives, and it was abandoned. The "political influence" that @MRJ refers to.

A pity, because apart from the potential conservation benefits of such a massive project, the removal of the cloven hoofed animals currently inhabiting this area [and replacing them with flat footed Rhinos] would have had a positive effect on efforts to reduce land degradation.
 
X213G said:
Hi I’m new here.Does a zoo in Santa Cruz, California sound like a good idea
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I'd support it! There is historical precedent for it, and I'll share some further information about it with you at a later time.
 
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