Europe's 50 must see zoos

[lintworm]

Spain - Bioparc Valencia

Founded: 2008
Size: 8.5 hectares
Species and subspecies (including domestics):
Mammals 51
Birds 49
Reptiles & amphibians 13
Fish 39

From time to time a new zoo is built completely from scratch. Most of these zoos seem to have been designed almost completely by a landscape architect. The result is that at first sight most enclosures and visitor areas look amazing. Important features seems to be a lot of mock rock, fake trees and carefully arranged sight lines that make enclosures look larger than they actually are. For theming purposes a jeep of crashed airplane can also be often found. The downside of this approach is that the animals come second, with often surprisingly small enclosures and lacking structure and shade. Valencia is a prime example of such a zoo that looks amazing from one perspective, but is full of flaws from another perspective and opinions on this zoo are divided. Though there are several aesthetically pleasing enclosures that look very modern, the Chimpanzees and Gorilla hardly have any shade and could do with more than a lawn. The Bioparc is fully African themed, with a savanna, rainforest and a Madagascar theme, the planned Asian extension hasn’t materialized. The collection focuses on mammals, but bird and reptile exhibits are integrated throughout the site. Apart from the African ABC’s space is also reserved for the more obscure animals like Klipspringer, Aardvark, Duiker and Talapoin.

@MagpieGoose , Rhino enclosure

@Maguari , Equatorial Africa enclosures

@KEEPER , Gorilla bachelor enclosure

@Maguari , Fossa enclosure

Zoochat gallery:
Bioparc Valencia | ZooChat

www.bioparcvalencia.es

Zoo map:
http://www.bioparcvalencia.es/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/mapa-bioparc-valencia.pdf

 

[CGSwans]

Interesting choice. Do I understand that you're including this *because* rather than in spite of its flaws?

 

[lintworm]

Interesting choice. Do I understand that you're including this *because* rather than in spite of its flaws?

Exactly, I think it is the most stereotypical zoo in it's genre, more so than zoos like ZOOM Torino, Fuengirola and Hannover. As it was one of my main objectives to show European zoos in all their diversity (hence the inclusion of a Wildpark over Munich, Zlin and Budapest), Valencia and it's genre could not be left out.

After I have posted a the list of my 50 zoos, I will give a list of zoos that did not make the cut but deserve a mention, either because I do not think they are standing out but are still very good (category Zlin-Lesna), or zoos that are unique but just not unique enough (category Tallinn). That should help some of the discussions, that will surely arise.

Only 11 zoos left now, one of which is in Spain, the others are distributed across 3 countries and I am sure nobody gets all 11 right

 

[Dassie rat]

I don't think I've ever seen an outdoors fossa enclosure before.

 

[TZDugong]

The first zoo I’ve visited on the list! A very interesting choice, but I like it.

 

[Kakapo]

more obscure animals like Klipspringer, Aardvark, Duiker and Talapoin.

To not mention spotted-necked otter maybe the rarest large animal of the park! This is the most major and well known zoo in my own country that I didn't visited yet, so I must do some year...

 

[CGSwans]

Exactly, I think it is the most stereotypical zoo in it's genre, more so than zoos like ZOOM Torino, Fuengirola and Hannover. As it was one of my main objectives to show European zoos in all their diversity (hence the inclusion of a Wildpark over Munich, Zlin and Budapest), Valencia and it's genre could not be left out.

I absolutely agree the genre belongs, though I think Hannover is a better-executed example of it.

 

[Ned]

So far I've visited 44% of the zoos featured, with the UK still to come I think I'll just miss out on 50%.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I absolutely agree the genre belongs, though I think Hannover is a better-executed example of it.

"More typical" perhaps "better-executed" would imply that Hannover is good.

 

[lintworm]

"More typical" perhaps "better-executed" would imply that Hannover is good.

Maybe Hannover is better executed, but I would argue that Valencia is more typical. Though I must add that I haven't been to Valencia personally (I have been to Hannover), so I had to rely on multiple reviews and many pictures....

 

[CGSwans]

"More typical" perhaps "better-executed" would imply that Hannover is good.

Without taking the bait on Hannover, no it doesn’t. Valencia is simply a bad zoo. Hannover doesn’t have to be ‘good’ so much as it has to be ‘better’.

Maybe Hannover is better executed, but I would argue that Valencia is more typical. Though I must add that I haven't been to Valencia personally (I have been to Hannover), so I had to rely on multiple reviews and many pictures....

I see your thinking but I still think it’s the wrong call. By this logic you should have included a Leningrad, perhaps, or a Sofia as a typical representative of an unreconstructed post-communist zoo with serious problems. It’s one thing to recognise a design trend that demands representation in the hypothetical tour, but having made that call, why wouldn’t you reach for the best available example? I’m not saying Hannover *is* the best, by the way - I haven’t been to Gelsenkirchen for example - but it is certainly better than the expensive turkey that is Valencia.

 

[KEEPER]

I been in Gelsenkirchen, and for sure is better than Valencia. Not too much better, but still better.

 

[lintworm]

Without taking the bait on Hannover, no it doesn’t. Valencia is simply a bad zoo. Hannover doesn’t have to be ‘good’ so much as it has to be ‘better’.



I see your thinking but I still think it’s the wrong call. By this logic you should have included a Leningrad, perhaps, or a Sofia as a typical representative of an unreconstructed post-communist zoo with serious problems. It’s one thing to recognise a design trend that demands representation in the hypothetical tour, but having made that call, why wouldn’t you reach for the best available example? I’m not saying Hannover *is* the best, by the way - I haven’t been to Gelsenkirchen for example - but it is certainly better than the expensive turkey that is Valencia.

I see your point, but I have heard a lot more people rave about Valencia than Hannover (except the odd panda), not only here but also on a Dutch forum (and there are also more people that complain about it). So therefore I thought it would be the best option for this list. From the landscape architect point of view I think Valencia would be the better zoo, especially given the poor execution of the whole Asian zone in Hannover.

 

[AWP]

I liked Bioparc Valencia more than Erlebniszoo Hannover, although some enclosures were too small in size.

If you put Leningrad in this list, wouldn't take you serious anymore. My original plan was to visit Moscow Zoo, but due to a change in the schedule I ended up in Leningrad. Some enclosures were okay, but overall it was the most awfull European zoo I've ever been.

 

[pipaluk]

Only 11 zoos left now, one of which is in Spain, the others are distributed across 3 countries and I am sure nobody gets all 11 right

I can't think of a zoo in Spain after Valencia alphabetically , but the other 10 might be...
One from Sweden?
Basel, Zurich
Chester
Whipsnade
London
Bristol
Slimbridge
Cotswold
Highland Wildlife Park

Outsiders - Howletts, Dudley , Twycross , Living Coasts.

I guess Longleat might make it on historical value, but since the title is 'must see', I really hope it doesn't, I don't rate it at all!

 

[Kakapo]

I can't think of a zoo in Spain after Valencia alphabetically

Valencia Oceanographic is alphabetically after Valencia Bioparc, and certainly maybe the most appropiate Spanish zoological institution for this thread, as it's possibly the most unique architectural choice of European zoos.
There are other institutions alphabetically posterior, but certainly not a "must see", just minor collection (my hometown Zaragoza Fluvial Aquarium).

 

[KEEPER]

Kakapo do you remember A Madroa zoo- in Vigo? Ok not a main zoo, but still a zoo.

 

[sooty mangabey]

I'm not sure why Valencia is attracting such opprobrium - at least from @CGSwans!

Interesting choice. Do I understand that you're including this *because* rather than in spite of its flaws?

Valencia is simply a bad zoo.
Hannover .... is certainly better than the expensive turkey that is Valencia.

This seems pretty rough! Valencia is by no means perfect, and as has been pointed out by many, its cages for gorillas and chimpanzees are both a little unexciting, but there s a great deal that is excellent too....

• A really very good lemur area (and fossa island!)
• The two central ungulate areas are really very beautiful
• Decent elephant exhibit
• Very impressive hippo thing
• One of the most striking multi-mammal displays in Europe, with mandrills, talapoin, sitatunga and pygmy hippo
• A vert nice restaurant, overlooking one of the savannah exhibits
• Some very good enclosures for smaller mammals - aardvarks, warthogs, mongooses
• A very impressive animal show

Best of all, I really like the fact that, despite its being wholly "African" in its focus, it hasn't gone down the route of creating a faux cultural replica of Africa: no "mud huts", no distressed advertising signs, no ghastly piped music, no Tintin-in-the-Congo-chic. For this reason, I would suggest that it is not in the same genre as Hannover....

Exactly, I think it is the most stereotypical zoo in it's genre, more so than zoos like ZOOM Torino, Fuengirola and Hannover.

...in so far as Hannover has gone down the route of trying to create a sense of each continent thought the creation of cultural elements which are tasteless and tacky, and at best naive, at worst racist. This isn't the case at Valencia, where @lintworm 's comment that....

From the landscape architect point of view I think Valencia would be the better zoo, especially given the poor execution of the whole Asian zone in Hannover.

...is certainly true - this is mostly a rather attractive place, unlike Hannover!

 

[CGSwans]

I'm not sure why Valencia is attracting such opprobrium - at least from @CGSwans!





This seems pretty rough! Valencia is by no means perfect, and as has been pointed out by many, its cages for gorillas and chimpanzees are both a little unexciting, but there s a great deal that is excellent too....

• A really very good lemur area (and fossa island!)
• The two central ungulate areas are really very beautiful
• Decent elephant exhibit
• Very impressive hippo thing
• One of the most striking multi-mammal displays in Europe, with mandrills, talapoin, sitatunga and pygmy hippo
• A vert nice restaurant, overlooking one of the savannah exhibits
• Some very good enclosures for smaller mammals - aardvarks, warthogs, mongooses
• A very impressive animal show

Best of all, I really like the fact that, despite its being wholly "African" in its focus, it hasn't gone down the route of creating a faux cultural replica of Africa: no "mud huts", no distressed advertising signs, no ghastly piped music, no Tintin-in-the-Congo-chic. For this reason, I would suggest that it is not in the same genre as Hannover....


...in so far as Hannover has gone down the route of trying to create a sense of each continent thought the creation of cultural elements which are tasteless and tacky, and at best naive, at worst racist. This isn't the case at Valencia, where @lintworm 's comment that....



...is certainly true - this is mostly a rather attractive place, unlike Hannover!

It’s only attractive if your tastes run to barren yards and mock rock.

It’s probably no accident that aside from the the lemur walk-through (excellent, I grant you), it’s the mixed-species savannah and elephant exhibits that are the next-best. Open empty space is the one thing Valencia does consistently well. Anything that needs more complex habitats is poor, and there are some where the focus seems to be more on keeping the grass green than anything approaching useful spaces for the inhabitants.

I have deep reservations about Hannover’s Orientalist Asian zone, but I think the (over-)theming in the African and North American zones, whilst tacky, are clean on ethical grounds. They aren’t parodying cultures that have traditionally been seen as subaltern from white perspectives. And the farm zone, no less themed, is genuinely well done.

What clinches it for Hannover is the truly exceptional polar bear exhibit and the fact that its poorest exhibits (broadly, the Central African rainforest zone) is currently being brought up to the same standard as the rest. Valencia, being only 10 years old, seems unlikely to fix its mistakes any time soon.

I’ll make a point of returning to Oceanografic the next time I’m in Spain, but I wouldn’t bother doing the double again, I don’t think.

 

[Kakapo]

Kakapo do you remember A Madroa zoo- in Vigo? Ok not a main zoo, but still a zoo.

I should had writen: (For example, my hometown Zaragoza fluvial aquarium). I've just tough unnecessary to be so specific. (Tough I was unaware of the existence of a zoo in Vigo).