Dallas World Aquarium or Dallas Zoo: Which to visit?

Hipporex

Hipporex

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Long story short, I'm currently in Texas for a few months for an internship, and in early February, I will be visiting Dallas. I have the option to visit either the Dallas World Aquarium or the Dallas Zoo? So, to those of you who have visited one or both of them, which do you recommend I visit, and why?
 
I unfortunately only got to tour about half of the zoo, but I’ve still got to heavily recommend the aquarium. It's such a unique facility with so many incredible rarities, particularly birds. It left such a strong impression on me that if I could revisit either facility, I’d still probably pick it over getting to experience the other half of the zoo.
 
I have not visited either but unless you love Africa sections, I’d recommend DWA. The only animals at Dallas Zoo the are show stoppers for ZooChatters is really just the Tuatara I believe. It is currently the only one on public display in the US. Yet, DWA has antillean manatees, shoebills, red howlers, blue penguins, and much more rare South American mammals. They also have many bird rarities if I recall correctly.
 
Right now I would recommend DWA, mostly because one of Dallas Zoo's best exhibits, its reptile house is still closed and isn't reopening until the spring. with rare species like Perentie, Tuatara, Gray's Monitor, Dusky Gopher Frog, Ethiopian Mountain Adder and more, it's definitely worth a visit when reopened. Dallas also has one of the last Maguari Storks left in the AZA. DWA however is home to a lot more rarities, Southern Philippine Hornbill, Shoebill Stork, Antillean Manatee, Red Howler Monkey, Brown-Throated Three-Toed Sloth, Dracula Parrot, Black Tyrant Hawk-Eagle just to name a few. With the reptile house open I rank DWA and Dallas Zoo close and your decision would end up if you favor rare birds and fish more or rare reptiles more. But without the reptile house open, I would fully recommend DWA, and a return to Dallas Zoo in the future when the renovations are over!
 
USZOOfan42 said:
I have not visited either but unless you love Africa sections, I’d recommend DWA. The only animals at Dallas Zoo the are show stoppers for ZooChatters is really just the Tuatara I believe. It is currently the only one on public display in the US. Yet, DWA has antillean manatees, shoebills, red howlers, blue penguins, and much more rare South American mammals. They also have many bird rarities if I recall correctly.
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Toledo also has tuatara.
 
I'd definitely reccomended DWA, it's a very unique facility that always will have something slightly different for you to see. You'll almost certainly see some rarities this visit you won't see on the next in a few years, and vice-versa.
 
DWA is the case if you are a stamp collector or interested in rare species, most of which remaining are birds (as well as a few notable mammals) but Dallas Zoo is a more traditional zoo if you are more interested in that sort of experience. Both are AZA-accredited but DWA has been subject to some past controversy.

phraps said:
Toledo also has tuatara.
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I think Toledo's tuatara exhibit is closed temporarily.
 
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