At the beginning of last year, I had planned a tour through Ohio to hit all of the major zoos of that state, plus maybe scooping up Detroit and/or Louisville along the way. For reasons that don't need to be said, this did not happen and the only major zoo I added to my list in 2020 was Indianapolis. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, but It would have been nice to see some more excitement. This year, I intend to make up for lost time
My tentative plan includes two midwestern zoological titans that are regarded as some of the best of the best. Along side this, a relatively new major aquarium and another midwest zoo that is also highly regarded, just not as much as the others. One could imagine what they may be, but for the sake of suspense I am going to keep my lips sealed. It's no snowleopard summer vacation, nor a CGSwans work holiday, but hopefully it will be enough to to keep you invested.
With at least four brand new (to me) facilities guaranteed, things are already looking pretty exciting. However that may not be all I talk about if I feel like it. I may find time to hit a few smaller places along the way. I may see another major zoo come into the picture before the years end. I may randomly decide to write about one of those niche Florida places I hit shortly before covid. That reminds me, the first of my travels have already started earlier this year in that same state...
Zoo #1: Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park
Zoo Tampa has become a bit like an old friend of mine. I have made several reoccurring visits to this place over my time as a zoo nerd, this being my fifth trip overall. This is because of family that lives in the area and I have already covered all of the major zoos in Tampa and there isn't a whole lot else to see zoo wise that I haven't already (although Big Cat Sanctuary was alluring for all the wrong reasons
). It remains very consistent and is always reliable. There isn't anything down right awful - especially now that the chimp exhibit is empty - but there also isn't anything mind blowing good that separates it from other zoos. However, that's not to say there isn't anything impressive here because there definitely is.
Safari Africa (or just African now I think) is an impressive complex. There are three primary mixed species savannah's for giraffe and zebra, elephant and impala, and white rhino and zebra. All impressive but felt a bit lacking compared to the past. Their down to one giraffe and one zebra in the smallest yard and there is no attempt to hide the obvious wooden fencing that dots the landscape. Because I didn't want to get bored of the main zoo, considering I have seen about six times at this point and there hasn't been a major addition in a while, I decided to do a behind the scenes encounter with the elephants. It was a 30 minute demo in one of the off exhibit yards with a mother and son pair. Cool stuff. Getting a great look at a marabou stork chick was also incredible. I would also be remiss not to mention the large African lodge restaurant in this area which was closed by the time I came, but largely impressive non the less. I have eaten here in the past and I remember the food being much better than most zoos.
The real highlight of the day was undoubtably the shoebill stork. What can I say the storks really stole the show on this day. An incredible animal that always impresses me. So much so I had to make it my avatar. Their new exhibit is fine, but the old walk-in aviary was much more impressive looking. I understand why it was demolished, but regardless it is sad to see it go although I am extremely thankful the storks were maintained. Fantastic time, although it didn't quite surpass my experience with them at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park during a salmon burger and garlic fry lunch. However, I believe I heard they no longer have them on display. Absolutely tragic if true. How many of these are left in America anyway?
Another highlight was walking in on a manatee feeding session. It was neat to them grabbing the lettuce with their flippers and chow down. Most of the time manatees just float around without doing anything entirely interesting so this was a pleasant treat. The rest of the Florida section is solid with a typical line up featuring otters, alligators, Florida panthers, black bears etc. Not a whole lot that needs to be said, with one major exception being the active pair of red wolves. Running all over their exhibit and play fighting. Fantastic stuff!
The rest of the zoo is mostly just fine. Asian Gardens is a bit mediocre all around, but has some excellent rarities (sun bear, Indian gharial, lowland anoa). Primate World is definitely the weakest area as it's mostly just a collection of islands with wooden climbing frames, with the exception of an entirely too small set of cages for tamarins. Thank goodness the chimps have been moved out as that exhibit always stood out at a rather ugly part of the zoo - although there are a great number chimp exhibits worse. The original plan was to refurbish it for bonobos, but that project has always been abandoned. Bizarrely so, as last I heard the zoo already acquired the animals. The orangutan exhibit I found to be entirely more impressive than the rest in this area, purely because Tampa is the one zoo where I have consistently seen orangutans off the ground. I wouldn't mind seeing most of Primate World leveled with the exception of the orangutan exhibit which can easily be integrated into the nearby set of asian exhibits.
Tampa in general is a zoo that has a lot going for it with little going against it, but there is nothing here that is really a must see. Plenty of good stuff, just not much truly great either. I highly doubt this will be the last time I visit so I do hope to see some more enticing additions in the future.
My tentative plan includes two midwestern zoological titans that are regarded as some of the best of the best. Along side this, a relatively new major aquarium and another midwest zoo that is also highly regarded, just not as much as the others. One could imagine what they may be, but for the sake of suspense I am going to keep my lips sealed. It's no snowleopard summer vacation, nor a CGSwans work holiday, but hopefully it will be enough to to keep you invested.
With at least four brand new (to me) facilities guaranteed, things are already looking pretty exciting. However that may not be all I talk about if I feel like it. I may find time to hit a few smaller places along the way. I may see another major zoo come into the picture before the years end. I may randomly decide to write about one of those niche Florida places I hit shortly before covid. That reminds me, the first of my travels have already started earlier this year in that same state...
Zoo #1: Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park
Zoo Tampa has become a bit like an old friend of mine. I have made several reoccurring visits to this place over my time as a zoo nerd, this being my fifth trip overall. This is because of family that lives in the area and I have already covered all of the major zoos in Tampa and there isn't a whole lot else to see zoo wise that I haven't already (although Big Cat Sanctuary was alluring for all the wrong reasons
). It remains very consistent and is always reliable. There isn't anything down right awful - especially now that the chimp exhibit is empty - but there also isn't anything mind blowing good that separates it from other zoos. However, that's not to say there isn't anything impressive here because there definitely is.Safari Africa (or just African now I think) is an impressive complex. There are three primary mixed species savannah's for giraffe and zebra, elephant and impala, and white rhino and zebra. All impressive but felt a bit lacking compared to the past. Their down to one giraffe and one zebra in the smallest yard and there is no attempt to hide the obvious wooden fencing that dots the landscape. Because I didn't want to get bored of the main zoo, considering I have seen about six times at this point and there hasn't been a major addition in a while, I decided to do a behind the scenes encounter with the elephants. It was a 30 minute demo in one of the off exhibit yards with a mother and son pair. Cool stuff. Getting a great look at a marabou stork chick was also incredible. I would also be remiss not to mention the large African lodge restaurant in this area which was closed by the time I came, but largely impressive non the less. I have eaten here in the past and I remember the food being much better than most zoos.
The real highlight of the day was undoubtably the shoebill stork. What can I say the storks really stole the show on this day. An incredible animal that always impresses me. So much so I had to make it my avatar. Their new exhibit is fine, but the old walk-in aviary was much more impressive looking. I understand why it was demolished, but regardless it is sad to see it go although I am extremely thankful the storks were maintained. Fantastic time, although it didn't quite surpass my experience with them at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park during a salmon burger and garlic fry lunch. However, I believe I heard they no longer have them on display. Absolutely tragic if true. How many of these are left in America anyway?
Another highlight was walking in on a manatee feeding session. It was neat to them grabbing the lettuce with their flippers and chow down. Most of the time manatees just float around without doing anything entirely interesting so this was a pleasant treat. The rest of the Florida section is solid with a typical line up featuring otters, alligators, Florida panthers, black bears etc. Not a whole lot that needs to be said, with one major exception being the active pair of red wolves. Running all over their exhibit and play fighting. Fantastic stuff!
The rest of the zoo is mostly just fine. Asian Gardens is a bit mediocre all around, but has some excellent rarities (sun bear, Indian gharial, lowland anoa). Primate World is definitely the weakest area as it's mostly just a collection of islands with wooden climbing frames, with the exception of an entirely too small set of cages for tamarins. Thank goodness the chimps have been moved out as that exhibit always stood out at a rather ugly part of the zoo - although there are a great number chimp exhibits worse. The original plan was to refurbish it for bonobos, but that project has always been abandoned. Bizarrely so, as last I heard the zoo already acquired the animals. The orangutan exhibit I found to be entirely more impressive than the rest in this area, purely because Tampa is the one zoo where I have consistently seen orangutans off the ground. I wouldn't mind seeing most of Primate World leveled with the exception of the orangutan exhibit which can easily be integrated into the nearby set of asian exhibits.
Tampa in general is a zoo that has a lot going for it with little going against it, but there is nothing here that is really a must see. Plenty of good stuff, just not much truly great either. I highly doubt this will be the last time I visit so I do hope to see some more enticing additions in the future.
