Least favorite/favorite sections of your zoo(s)?

Meaghan Edwards

Meaghan Edwards

Well-Known Member
For Toronto Zoo:

For my most favorite section of the Toronto Zoo, that would go to either the Tundra Trek, Australasia, Malaysia or African Savannah. Least favorite would probably be Indonesia. They have wonderful species there, but that is probably the most neglected section and needs a renovation and expansion.

I'm also not too fond of the enclosures where the New Guinea Singing Dogs, etc are. The enclosures seem a little too small to me. I'd like to see them give them larger enclosures; they are part of shows so they do get time out of them, however.

For Bird Kingdom, Niagara:

By far, the main aviary. It is a huge thrill to have a gorgeous toucan within touching distance, or to have a pair of Scarlet Ibis nest right by the walkway. The Small Aviary is also a delight, and has an almost park-like setting with small birds and Wattled Jacana.

Least favorite section would probably be the nocturnal section. They have a terrific bat and small owl enclosures, but there's a lot of "empty" space that I think could be put to good use. There's plans on more renovations to Bird Kingdom, so this will likely be addressed.

Safari Niagara:

Especially for a privately run zoo, I'm very impressed by their Syrian and Black Bear/Hippo/River Otter area. Least favorite would be the smaller primates; the cages are a little small barren but improvements are constantly being made when I go here on my yearly visits; the big cats and wolves have nice wooden log ledges to rest on.
 
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At the LA Zoo, my least favorite was the "Aquatics" section because all the exhibits there are concrete and just boring.

My favorite part at the zoo is the "North America" section even though the section has mostly foreign species. The species featured here are Rock Hyrax, Weavers, Turacos, Congo Peafowl, Kookaburra, Red-tailed Hawk, African Wild Dogs, Bactrian Camel, Chacoan Peccaries, Speke's Gazelle, Babirusas, North American River Otters, Peninsular Pronghorns, Desert Bighorn Sheep, Grevy's Zebras, Bat-eared Foxes, Island Fox, and Coati. I like this section because it has the most diversity at the zoo. BTW, this section is known as North America because when the zoo first opened this is where the North American animals were exhibit, but it has changed over the years.
 
My favourites for Toronto Zoo are probably the African Savanna, Tundra Trek (from pictures), Malayan Woods Pavilion and Mayan Temple Ruins (its so peaceful and tranquil)

My least favourite is the Indomalaya Area (except for the Malayan Woods Pavilion and tiger exhibit) and the entire Kids Zoo

The thing about the Indo-Malaya area is that its just so neglected and forgotten almost (There is pretty much NO plans to revitalize it either than the orangutan exhibit)

The Kids Zoo is extremely disapointing as it is fairly new (2004?) and yet, the enclosures are ABOMINATIONS!
 
At San Diego Zoo, I would say my least favorite sections are cat canyon, and the many small, ugly cages around the zoo for primates and small animals.

My favorite section is basically the entire middle of the zoo with Monkey Trails, Tiger River, Gorilla Tropics, Absolutely Apes, and Ituri Forest. EO and the polar bear exhibit are also highlights.
 
My favourite exhibit at Paignton is probably "Primley" in the North-West of the zoo. There is nothing particularly special about it, just that it's almost always quiet and the animal collection is diverse with a number of charismatic species.

My least favourite is the zoo's newest exhibit, "Crocodile Swamp", because there isn't enough foliage, the pools are too small, the whole ghost thing is weird, they brought in salties and nile(ies) to "complement" the CUBAN crocs, there is no substrate in the python exhibit, you generally look down on the animals, it gets really crowded, the graphics are terrible, the inhabitants never do anything (sorry K.B.), it's far too hot for half the year (although nice the other half!), has no proper theme, and had £1,000,000 spent on it :eek: !
 
redpanda said:
My least favourite is the zoo's newest exhibit, "Crocodile Swamp", because there isn't enough foliage, the pools are too small, the whole ghost thing is weird, they brought in salties and nile(ies) to "complement" the CUBAN crocs, there is no substrate in the python exhibit, you generally look down on the animals, it gets really crowded, the graphics are terrible, the inhabitants never do anything (sorry K.B.), it's far too hot for half the year (although nice the other half!), has no proper theme, and had £1,000,000 spent on it :eek: !
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Is there anything you like about it? :)
 
I would think it was great to have Salties at my local zoo; what don't you like about them?

Favourite part at Marwell...tricky. But I'll go for Life in the Trees. This is probably the most 'naturalistic' exhibit at Marwell, as tropical planting is done both inside and around the edges, and a wooden bridge leads to a traditional Indonesian longhouse, where you can view siamang gibbons in a lush exhibit to you're right, and leveled enclosures for Short-Clawed Otter and Anoa to the left, and the otters have an absolutely huge pool below their enclosure. There is also a vivarium for Giant Stick Insect in the Longhouse and aviaries for Prevost's Squirrel and Tree Shrew to compliment the experience. Into Africa and the African Valley viewpoint would probably be my tops, but you need to visit either early or late to truly endorse it as they get quite crowded.
Worst has to be Encounter Village. There are much less animal species than when it kept domestics, and the species they do have are fairly common (apart from the Partula Snails). A play area, kiosk and shop have been fitted in since the 2007 revamp, the tamarins never come into the walk-through unless it's feeding time, and the wallabies tend to stay quite far away in the Bush Walk. In fact the only real good points are the partula snail room, the walk-through kookaburra aviary and the mini reptile house, if it's not too crowded.
 
Marwell Dalek said:
I would think it was great to have Salties at my local zoo; what don't you like about them?
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My point was that the zoo was in possession of three very rare Cuban Crocodiles and, instead of complementing them with more endangered crocodilians (morelets or phillipine maybe), they got the two most common.
 
But doesn't it create a good balance? Rare cubans for the Zoo Nuts, Big and Recognisable Niles and Salties for the (majoritical) average visitor?
 
Marwell Dalek said:
But doesn't it create a good balance? Rare cubans for the Zoo Nuts, Big and Recognisable Niles and Salties for the (majoritical) average visitor?
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Actually, I wouldn't say the Cubans were much (any?) smaller than the other two (plus, you can get large and rare, the Orinoco for example). There are many endangered crocodilians for whom captive breeding would be beneficial, and most zoos (including paignton) say that conservation is a key aspect of their work. Therefore, I don't see why they couldn't have done something a bit special and got some rarer species.
 
My favs at Toronto would be the Tundra Trek, African Savanna, the Canadian Domain (Only because it is so nice down there to be surrounded by Canadian animals, however can't wait for the renovations).

My least fav ould be the Eurasian section and the Indo-Malayan section.

As for the kids zoo I don't mind it that much because the animals have very large indoor exhibits and they are walked, or flown if they are birds around the zoo all the time. I don't think its that bad though.
 
My least favourite part of every zoo I have visited is the same - the Childrens´Zoo/ Kids´Zoo/ Petting Zoo orwhatever you want to call it.Zoos have a priceless opportunity to do something magic with this concept , yet every single Childrens´zoo I have seen has been a sadly lost opportunity.I find such a lost opportunity so depressing I generally avoid these areas.
 
@European Fauna: I would tend to agree with you, and that's why whenever a zoo does invest some money in creating a great children's zoo it comes as a shock to the system. The Pittsburgh Zoo has a 7-acre children's section with loads of animal exhibits and interactive activities, and it is the best that I've ever seen. Several major American zoos (Toledo, Oklahoma, Point Defiance, Brookfield, etc) have recently spent millons of dollars creating brand-new children's areas. Oklahoma and Brookfield open their kiddie zones next year, but Toledo's just opened this summer and from photos and videos looks fantastic. I think that some zoos are recognizing that the need for a top-notch children's zoo has arrived, and Point Defiance spent almost $10 million reinventing their children's section during the past few years.
 
I agree that children's or petting zoos could stand improvement. They need to introduce more species of animals who are child-friendly, and they need to improve the environment for all the animals in the children's zoos.
 
i agree about childres zoos, my dream one would be based around animals that people use, such as water buffalo, walrus and camel
 
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