Here is an “M. Man Review” first – a two-part zoo review! Part of this is because I divided my visit to this large zoo into two days. I assure you, the next segment will not take a few months to post. 
Until then, enjoy the first segment of my review of what was for me, “the one that started it all!”
Review of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Home
The world-famous Columbus Zoo and Aquarium can be found near Powell, Ohio, a smaller town close to the capital city of Columbus. It started in 1927, however it was not until 1956 that the Zoo made its mark in the zoological world; this is when Colo became the first western lowland gorilla to be born in captivity. Years went by, and the Zoo also gained attention when Jack Hanna served as director from 1978 to 1993, paving the way for Columbus to become the world-class institution it is today. At over 7,000 individual animals, representing more than 800 species, the Zoo’s current collection is one of the largest and most extensive.
When I first visited Columbus in 2008, it quickly became my all-time favorite zoo. It also served as the very first in a long line of new zoos I would see each year from then on. So in a way, there was somewhat of a nostalgic feeling returning to this facility. Ten years and many more zoos later, although Columbus has been dethroned as my #1 zoo, I feel it is not only as great as I remembered, but even better. The exhibit areas I originally saw are still solid for the most part, the changes and additions that were made are very welcome, and there is so much else for visitors to do (including an adjacent water and theme park, and golf course across the street) at this Ohio attraction – one could form a short vacation just at this one destination!
North America – Of the major exhibit complexes featured, this one is the oldest. Despite this fact, however, it holds up fairly well on the whole. Part of that is due to a portion of the exhibits receiving an overhaul in 2016. After following a winding path, the first animal enclosure seen is a shaded pond area for trumpeter swan, while Mexican gray wolves reside in a nice, large wooded habitat across the path. The pathway splits up here, and front and center is a large, horseshoe-shaped grassy paddock with American bison and pronghorn. It’s a scenic and strong beginning to the complex, and a small windmill seen at the top of the hill is a nice touch to the plains atmosphere. I headed off to the right towards the “Habitat Hollow and Barn” area, leading to a small clearing with a train station, old western-style restrooms, and another crossroad. Going to the left takes visitors to the prairie dog habitat, a good-sized dirt mound habitat that can be seen from two separate windows. There is also an added bonus in the form of a walkthrough tunnel with an opening in the middle to pop-up for photos. To the right, the trail continues through the forest, coming across the rest of North America’s wildlife.
To begin with, there is a good spacious habitat for two bobcats, with plenty of grass, a rocky pool, bushes, and even a couple pieces of rural scenery such as an upside down wagon used as a shelter. This is followed by an American black bear exhibit that is average in size and design (though I did see one bear make use of its wood climbing structure), a great lush moose habitat that is viewed on a boardwalk surrounded by a marsh (nice touch), and generic enclosures for reindeer and sandhill cranes. At this point, the path crosses the train tracks towards Polar Frontier and Heart of Africa, and we’ll cover those in a bit. Carrying on, next to the black bears, river otters (didn’t see) have a huge habitat that is packed with foliage, but I was a bit surprised to see a pool that was only about so-so in size for such aquatic mammals. Normally those animals have pools that are the center of attention in such exhibits. Around the corner, two American carnivores are seen – a pair of cougars in a good-sized space with decent naturalistic detailing, and a small, steep wolverine exhibit with viewing from inside a rustic cabin. Aside from the moose, reindeer, and wolverine habitats, these are the exhibits that were renovated or added in 2016 – some of them are either fairly basic or have obvious sight lines, but overall work fine for their occupants.
Down the path is a tranquil walkthrough aviary that is very nice with plenty of vegetation, streams and a pond, and home to several species like American robin, tufted titmouse, killdeer, and ibis (I believe it was white-faced). Nearby, there is a bald eagle aviary viewed through wire that consists of two large nests, a series of logs for perching, and a good amount of plants. The complex finishes off with a wetlands area featuring a decent beaver exhibit with underwater viewing (I forgot how big those rodents are!
), and a series of fishponds with native species. On a side note, I remember these ponds having glass windows, but now there’s educational signage covering them, so now one can only see the fish from the surface. The path finally returns to the bison/pronghorn habitat and the intersection by the wolves.
Polar Frontier – Making its debut in 2010, this is an extension of the North American complex. There are only three species here, but the level of quality is phenomenal throughout from the animal habitats to the guest educational features. It begins with a brief walk past a little gemstone mining area and several thought-provoking quotes about conserving the Arctic and global climate change, before arriving at the animal enclosures. The polar bear habitat is fantastic, without a doubt the best I’ve seen. The great white bears have a massive space (over an acre) with a rocky shoreline, an upside-down boat with a broken bow to form a shelter, a large pool of varying depth that has underwater viewing – part of which curves over visitors’ heads, and tons of green grass and other vegetation that almost blend into the background, creating a great sense of immersion. Nearby, a pair of male brown bears (relocated from North America) also resides in a superb habitat. It is a large area that winds around some mock rock and offers up lush grass, a colossal mound to dig through, and a stream that flows into a nice pool with underwater viewing. Finally, Arctic foxes (not seen as the exhibit was closed) are found in a cage that is average in both size and quality. That’s not all though; the visitor experience is also magnificent. The entire complex is set up like a mining company; for instance, the ramp down to the polar bear underwater viewing looks like a mine tunnel – complete with a mine cart above the passage door! Additionally, there’s a large interactive center called “Ice Bear Outpost.” This is an outstanding structure that has a tiny ice-themed play area, a window into the Arctic fox indoor room, a little gift shop, a plethora of information about climate change, polar bear conservation, and Columbus’ polar bear residents, and even interactive screens on the floor where one must push an ice flow towards a bear to rescue it. It’s all extremely well done, and one of the best exhibit interpretive displays I’ve ever seen. Lastly, the “Polar Playground” is a large play area for children, and is the last feature to be found in Columbus’ Arctic-themed section.
Heart of Africa – The Zoo’s newest exhibit complex, which opened in 2014. A small and barren dromedary camel paddock is the first feature of this complex, before coming across the well-designed “Mudiwa Village.” There are various realistically designed buildings, pathways to simulate cracked mud, a little amphitheater area, and the first views into the two major habitats. There is also the “Mapori Restaurant,” which offers an additional look into these spacious enclosures. The first is the lion habitat, a very long exhibit that is packed with grass; a small rocky pool; panoramic views into the gigantic savannah behind; an up-close viewing area, part of which is very inventively within a crashed airplane; a backdrop that replicates some old ruins; and an incredibly steep moat that divides the big cats from the pathway. To be honest, I’m not entirely sold on the design of this exhibit mostly because of the enormous moat (can they access it?); not only is the space above quite narrow and thus a little small, but I feel it could’ve been better utilized. Having said that, it is still a more than adequate lion habitat and definitely an upgrade from the smaller enclosures near Asia Quest. The savannah yard behind is a breathtaking sight with barriers that are seemingly invisible and blend into the trees and hills in the background splendidly. The habitat itself is magnificent with 43 acres to roam, tall and short grasses, termite mounds, trees that sprinkle the vast plains, a separate enclosure for giraffe feedings, a rocky barrier, and a wonderful species line-up: giraffe (Masai and reticulated), Grant’s zebra, greater kudu, gazelle (Thomson’s, dama, and slender-horned – didn’t see), wildebeest, ostrich – in the “Waterhole” habitat, African crowned crane, saddle-billed stork, and Guinea fowl. Another exhibit situated in front of the main savannah is the “Waterhole,” a fairly large and grassy paddock with a small pool that is looked down upon. There are several animals that rotate throughout this habitat, from some of the savannah species, to cheetahs used for the daily cheetah runs, to a few surprise species like spotted hyena, warthog, and even black-backed jackal. On my visit, six ostriches were found in the grassy space. Across the pathway, the cheetahs live in a grassy enclosure with some bushes that is viewed through fencing and a series of windows. The exhibit is on the small side, but because the speedy cats can rotate into the “Waterhole” habitat sometimes, I think it’s fine. Then, an active troop of vervet monkeys (believe this is a first for me, and including a baby) lives in a mesh-enclosed habitat with grass, branches, and even a shaded area by the viewing windows. This section in question is designed like a traditional house with a patio consisting of chairs and a small table. As vervets are said to be similar to raccoons in Africa as nuisances, the educational signage here creatively teaches people the similarities between the two animals, and how to avoid such conflicts with one another. Finally, before backtracking along the same path towards the exit, there is the giraffe feeding pavilion, which is the only primary view of the savannah yards. Also located here is an animal enclosure that almost seems hidden, but upon closer inspection, I was surprised to see a pair of African spurred tortoises living inside. It took a number of years, and while there were a few things to nitpick about in my opinion, the end result was a beautiful, huge, and highly authentic safari adventure that was well worth the wait.
Asia Quest – This was the newest complex in the Zoo back in 2008, opening in two phases in 2006. After walking under a cool stone archway with clawed feet at its bases, guests walk across a covered bridge with two animal exhibits. One side has red-crowned cranes and western tufted deer, while the other side is for Siberian musk deer and giant Malaysian pond turtle (neither of which weren’t seen) – both are fairly nice for their occupants. After viewing the outdoor silvered leaf langur habitat, complete with grass and artificial trees, one steps foot into the oriental-themed “Quest for Enlightenment Interpretive Center.” Tons of educational features about animal conservation and the tragedy of animals getting poached for their parts grab one’s attention as they stroll through the mysterious setting. Other displays include a dragon with a “TV ball” narrating about Earth’s largest continent and its fragile existence, and a line of statues each representing the eight tiger species. Five are intact, while three of them are destroyed – these are the extinct Caspian, Javan, and Bali species. The animal exhibits continue with a wooden indoor room and a gorgeous, naturalistic habitat for a sloth bear (formerly sun bears – one remains off-display), followed by terrariums holding a reticulated python; a Khomain’s water monitor; a roomy space with bright skylights featuring bats (flying fox and golden mantled), crested wood partridge, and another bird species; and two indoor langur spaces with vast windows and plentiful ruins and height. Returning outside, the trail continues to the left, but not before seeing the entrance to “Vanishing Giants,” one of the largest pachyderm buildings in North America. The black rhinoceros has a typical indoor area, but the Asian elephants have a very good interior home. The space is fairly big, there is a pool, a cluster of fake tree trunks, a dirt floor, and the viewing windows offer an extremely close and awesome look. The outdoor paddock is also above average and one of the better Asian elephant habitats I’ve seen. It’s spacious, has a large pool, a number of enrichment sections (including a hanging feeder I saw a young bull utilizing), there’s different substrates of grass and sand, and even a rise in elevation as the exhibit winds around a visitor path peninsula.
Further along the trail, a red panda exhibit comes into view. On first glance, it seems like a fairly small, basic area for the red critters with a grassy area, rocks, and a variety in terrain; but what really elevates it for me is the extremely tall tree that lies within. I looked up and saw a single panda dozing near the top – with a significantly expanded number of opportunities for enrichment and natural behavior, this suddenly became one of my favorite red panda exhibits! Continuing through the foliage, there is a walkthrough aviary that is a decent-sized lush area with several free-ranging species. Some include western cattle egret, azure-winged magpie, and even an elderly white-naped crane and a muntjac, which walked right past my legs. Across the path, a herd of markhor can be seen in an enclosure that is mostly dominated by mock rock, but I was happy to see some grass on the ground area. I believe I remember seeing the exhibit being open-air, but now there is mesh that covers the entire area and visitor viewing. Nevertheless, it is a solid mountain environment with plenty of climbing areas for the unique goats. It is here that the path becomes enclosed in a wooden shelter, with lots of oriental artifacts and conservation signage, more viewing into the markhors, and glass windows for the next two habitats. First is a Pallas’ cat exhibit, that is unfortunately almost entirely fake rock and quite tiny. The last exhibit is for the Amur tiger, and it is a superb finale to the complex. The world’s largest cats have a big, forested habitat with a pool and a couple streams, and many changes in terrain ranging from hills to large fake rocks to scale. It is easily one of the best Amur tiger habitats I’ve seen – probably only beaten by Minnesota’s gargantuan pair of enclosures. Years later, the complex still holds up very well with its mostly excellent exhibits and wonderful theming and education.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: I had hands-down the greatest polar bear experience I’ve had in my life. One of the two bears, which looked to be a younger adult or adolescent, was diving into the pool by the main viewing windows. Eager for the possibility of seeing a polar bear swimming above me, I made my way down to the underwater area. It required some patience, but after the second dive since I got down there, the bear soon made its way towards the above water window to interact with the crowds – right over my head! It would swim along with the top window, jump around, and one time even dove down by to the underwater window next to the excited onlookers. It was an absolute blast to be seeing polar bears from an entirely new point of view!
Until then, enjoy the first segment of my review of what was for me, “the one that started it all!”Review of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Home
The world-famous Columbus Zoo and Aquarium can be found near Powell, Ohio, a smaller town close to the capital city of Columbus. It started in 1927, however it was not until 1956 that the Zoo made its mark in the zoological world; this is when Colo became the first western lowland gorilla to be born in captivity. Years went by, and the Zoo also gained attention when Jack Hanna served as director from 1978 to 1993, paving the way for Columbus to become the world-class institution it is today. At over 7,000 individual animals, representing more than 800 species, the Zoo’s current collection is one of the largest and most extensive.
When I first visited Columbus in 2008, it quickly became my all-time favorite zoo. It also served as the very first in a long line of new zoos I would see each year from then on. So in a way, there was somewhat of a nostalgic feeling returning to this facility. Ten years and many more zoos later, although Columbus has been dethroned as my #1 zoo, I feel it is not only as great as I remembered, but even better. The exhibit areas I originally saw are still solid for the most part, the changes and additions that were made are very welcome, and there is so much else for visitors to do (including an adjacent water and theme park, and golf course across the street) at this Ohio attraction – one could form a short vacation just at this one destination!
Animal Exhibit Complexes
North America – Of the major exhibit complexes featured, this one is the oldest. Despite this fact, however, it holds up fairly well on the whole. Part of that is due to a portion of the exhibits receiving an overhaul in 2016. After following a winding path, the first animal enclosure seen is a shaded pond area for trumpeter swan, while Mexican gray wolves reside in a nice, large wooded habitat across the path. The pathway splits up here, and front and center is a large, horseshoe-shaped grassy paddock with American bison and pronghorn. It’s a scenic and strong beginning to the complex, and a small windmill seen at the top of the hill is a nice touch to the plains atmosphere. I headed off to the right towards the “Habitat Hollow and Barn” area, leading to a small clearing with a train station, old western-style restrooms, and another crossroad. Going to the left takes visitors to the prairie dog habitat, a good-sized dirt mound habitat that can be seen from two separate windows. There is also an added bonus in the form of a walkthrough tunnel with an opening in the middle to pop-up for photos. To the right, the trail continues through the forest, coming across the rest of North America’s wildlife.
To begin with, there is a good spacious habitat for two bobcats, with plenty of grass, a rocky pool, bushes, and even a couple pieces of rural scenery such as an upside down wagon used as a shelter. This is followed by an American black bear exhibit that is average in size and design (though I did see one bear make use of its wood climbing structure), a great lush moose habitat that is viewed on a boardwalk surrounded by a marsh (nice touch), and generic enclosures for reindeer and sandhill cranes. At this point, the path crosses the train tracks towards Polar Frontier and Heart of Africa, and we’ll cover those in a bit. Carrying on, next to the black bears, river otters (didn’t see) have a huge habitat that is packed with foliage, but I was a bit surprised to see a pool that was only about so-so in size for such aquatic mammals. Normally those animals have pools that are the center of attention in such exhibits. Around the corner, two American carnivores are seen – a pair of cougars in a good-sized space with decent naturalistic detailing, and a small, steep wolverine exhibit with viewing from inside a rustic cabin. Aside from the moose, reindeer, and wolverine habitats, these are the exhibits that were renovated or added in 2016 – some of them are either fairly basic or have obvious sight lines, but overall work fine for their occupants.
Down the path is a tranquil walkthrough aviary that is very nice with plenty of vegetation, streams and a pond, and home to several species like American robin, tufted titmouse, killdeer, and ibis (I believe it was white-faced). Nearby, there is a bald eagle aviary viewed through wire that consists of two large nests, a series of logs for perching, and a good amount of plants. The complex finishes off with a wetlands area featuring a decent beaver exhibit with underwater viewing (I forgot how big those rodents are!
), and a series of fishponds with native species. On a side note, I remember these ponds having glass windows, but now there’s educational signage covering them, so now one can only see the fish from the surface. The path finally returns to the bison/pronghorn habitat and the intersection by the wolves.Polar Frontier – Making its debut in 2010, this is an extension of the North American complex. There are only three species here, but the level of quality is phenomenal throughout from the animal habitats to the guest educational features. It begins with a brief walk past a little gemstone mining area and several thought-provoking quotes about conserving the Arctic and global climate change, before arriving at the animal enclosures. The polar bear habitat is fantastic, without a doubt the best I’ve seen. The great white bears have a massive space (over an acre) with a rocky shoreline, an upside-down boat with a broken bow to form a shelter, a large pool of varying depth that has underwater viewing – part of which curves over visitors’ heads, and tons of green grass and other vegetation that almost blend into the background, creating a great sense of immersion. Nearby, a pair of male brown bears (relocated from North America) also resides in a superb habitat. It is a large area that winds around some mock rock and offers up lush grass, a colossal mound to dig through, and a stream that flows into a nice pool with underwater viewing. Finally, Arctic foxes (not seen as the exhibit was closed) are found in a cage that is average in both size and quality. That’s not all though; the visitor experience is also magnificent. The entire complex is set up like a mining company; for instance, the ramp down to the polar bear underwater viewing looks like a mine tunnel – complete with a mine cart above the passage door! Additionally, there’s a large interactive center called “Ice Bear Outpost.” This is an outstanding structure that has a tiny ice-themed play area, a window into the Arctic fox indoor room, a little gift shop, a plethora of information about climate change, polar bear conservation, and Columbus’ polar bear residents, and even interactive screens on the floor where one must push an ice flow towards a bear to rescue it. It’s all extremely well done, and one of the best exhibit interpretive displays I’ve ever seen. Lastly, the “Polar Playground” is a large play area for children, and is the last feature to be found in Columbus’ Arctic-themed section.
Heart of Africa – The Zoo’s newest exhibit complex, which opened in 2014. A small and barren dromedary camel paddock is the first feature of this complex, before coming across the well-designed “Mudiwa Village.” There are various realistically designed buildings, pathways to simulate cracked mud, a little amphitheater area, and the first views into the two major habitats. There is also the “Mapori Restaurant,” which offers an additional look into these spacious enclosures. The first is the lion habitat, a very long exhibit that is packed with grass; a small rocky pool; panoramic views into the gigantic savannah behind; an up-close viewing area, part of which is very inventively within a crashed airplane; a backdrop that replicates some old ruins; and an incredibly steep moat that divides the big cats from the pathway. To be honest, I’m not entirely sold on the design of this exhibit mostly because of the enormous moat (can they access it?); not only is the space above quite narrow and thus a little small, but I feel it could’ve been better utilized. Having said that, it is still a more than adequate lion habitat and definitely an upgrade from the smaller enclosures near Asia Quest. The savannah yard behind is a breathtaking sight with barriers that are seemingly invisible and blend into the trees and hills in the background splendidly. The habitat itself is magnificent with 43 acres to roam, tall and short grasses, termite mounds, trees that sprinkle the vast plains, a separate enclosure for giraffe feedings, a rocky barrier, and a wonderful species line-up: giraffe (Masai and reticulated), Grant’s zebra, greater kudu, gazelle (Thomson’s, dama, and slender-horned – didn’t see), wildebeest, ostrich – in the “Waterhole” habitat, African crowned crane, saddle-billed stork, and Guinea fowl. Another exhibit situated in front of the main savannah is the “Waterhole,” a fairly large and grassy paddock with a small pool that is looked down upon. There are several animals that rotate throughout this habitat, from some of the savannah species, to cheetahs used for the daily cheetah runs, to a few surprise species like spotted hyena, warthog, and even black-backed jackal. On my visit, six ostriches were found in the grassy space. Across the pathway, the cheetahs live in a grassy enclosure with some bushes that is viewed through fencing and a series of windows. The exhibit is on the small side, but because the speedy cats can rotate into the “Waterhole” habitat sometimes, I think it’s fine. Then, an active troop of vervet monkeys (believe this is a first for me, and including a baby) lives in a mesh-enclosed habitat with grass, branches, and even a shaded area by the viewing windows. This section in question is designed like a traditional house with a patio consisting of chairs and a small table. As vervets are said to be similar to raccoons in Africa as nuisances, the educational signage here creatively teaches people the similarities between the two animals, and how to avoid such conflicts with one another. Finally, before backtracking along the same path towards the exit, there is the giraffe feeding pavilion, which is the only primary view of the savannah yards. Also located here is an animal enclosure that almost seems hidden, but upon closer inspection, I was surprised to see a pair of African spurred tortoises living inside. It took a number of years, and while there were a few things to nitpick about in my opinion, the end result was a beautiful, huge, and highly authentic safari adventure that was well worth the wait.
Asia Quest – This was the newest complex in the Zoo back in 2008, opening in two phases in 2006. After walking under a cool stone archway with clawed feet at its bases, guests walk across a covered bridge with two animal exhibits. One side has red-crowned cranes and western tufted deer, while the other side is for Siberian musk deer and giant Malaysian pond turtle (neither of which weren’t seen) – both are fairly nice for their occupants. After viewing the outdoor silvered leaf langur habitat, complete with grass and artificial trees, one steps foot into the oriental-themed “Quest for Enlightenment Interpretive Center.” Tons of educational features about animal conservation and the tragedy of animals getting poached for their parts grab one’s attention as they stroll through the mysterious setting. Other displays include a dragon with a “TV ball” narrating about Earth’s largest continent and its fragile existence, and a line of statues each representing the eight tiger species. Five are intact, while three of them are destroyed – these are the extinct Caspian, Javan, and Bali species. The animal exhibits continue with a wooden indoor room and a gorgeous, naturalistic habitat for a sloth bear (formerly sun bears – one remains off-display), followed by terrariums holding a reticulated python; a Khomain’s water monitor; a roomy space with bright skylights featuring bats (flying fox and golden mantled), crested wood partridge, and another bird species; and two indoor langur spaces with vast windows and plentiful ruins and height. Returning outside, the trail continues to the left, but not before seeing the entrance to “Vanishing Giants,” one of the largest pachyderm buildings in North America. The black rhinoceros has a typical indoor area, but the Asian elephants have a very good interior home. The space is fairly big, there is a pool, a cluster of fake tree trunks, a dirt floor, and the viewing windows offer an extremely close and awesome look. The outdoor paddock is also above average and one of the better Asian elephant habitats I’ve seen. It’s spacious, has a large pool, a number of enrichment sections (including a hanging feeder I saw a young bull utilizing), there’s different substrates of grass and sand, and even a rise in elevation as the exhibit winds around a visitor path peninsula.
Further along the trail, a red panda exhibit comes into view. On first glance, it seems like a fairly small, basic area for the red critters with a grassy area, rocks, and a variety in terrain; but what really elevates it for me is the extremely tall tree that lies within. I looked up and saw a single panda dozing near the top – with a significantly expanded number of opportunities for enrichment and natural behavior, this suddenly became one of my favorite red panda exhibits! Continuing through the foliage, there is a walkthrough aviary that is a decent-sized lush area with several free-ranging species. Some include western cattle egret, azure-winged magpie, and even an elderly white-naped crane and a muntjac, which walked right past my legs. Across the path, a herd of markhor can be seen in an enclosure that is mostly dominated by mock rock, but I was happy to see some grass on the ground area. I believe I remember seeing the exhibit being open-air, but now there is mesh that covers the entire area and visitor viewing. Nevertheless, it is a solid mountain environment with plenty of climbing areas for the unique goats. It is here that the path becomes enclosed in a wooden shelter, with lots of oriental artifacts and conservation signage, more viewing into the markhors, and glass windows for the next two habitats. First is a Pallas’ cat exhibit, that is unfortunately almost entirely fake rock and quite tiny. The last exhibit is for the Amur tiger, and it is a superb finale to the complex. The world’s largest cats have a big, forested habitat with a pool and a couple streams, and many changes in terrain ranging from hills to large fake rocks to scale. It is easily one of the best Amur tiger habitats I’ve seen – probably only beaten by Minnesota’s gargantuan pair of enclosures. Years later, the complex still holds up very well with its mostly excellent exhibits and wonderful theming and education.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: I had hands-down the greatest polar bear experience I’ve had in my life. One of the two bears, which looked to be a younger adult or adolescent, was diving into the pool by the main viewing windows. Eager for the possibility of seeing a polar bear swimming above me, I made my way down to the underwater area. It required some patience, but after the second dive since I got down there, the bear soon made its way towards the above water window to interact with the crowds – right over my head! It would swim along with the top window, jump around, and one time even dove down by to the underwater window next to the excited onlookers. It was an absolute blast to be seeing polar bears from an entirely new point of view!
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), wombat, binturong, Matschie’s tree kangaroo (in an open-air enclosure as opposed to the glass-fronted exhibits), Indian crested porcupine/slow loris (didn’t see), brush-tailed bettong (another first), feathertail glider (another first), and I believe three gecko species. Leaving the dark caverns behind, the walkway opens up into a bright, rainforest environment that is quite nice and lush. This is a free flight room with several birds including kookaburra (in their own glass-fronted aviary), Victoria crowned pigeon, golden pheasant, magpie goose, Bali mynah, and many more.