GraysonDP
Well-Known Member
Maryland Zoo Review
Date of Visit: July 2011
The Maryland Zoo is a medium sized zoo which only features animals from Africa and North America. Only three exhibit complexes are found on the site: Maryland Wilderness, Polar Bear Watch and African Journey. The exhibit quality has increased with the opening of the seemingly spectacular Penguin Coast in 2014 but on my visit in 2011 it was in most cases an average zoo. The facility was hurt by economic problems in the early 2000s and in 2003-2004 many outdated sections of the zoo were merely closed and several species were phased out. The zoo is still recovering from this and many parts do feel empty but hopefully the multi-million Penguin Coast signals better times are on the way.
The Best
Maryland Wilderness- This large children’s zoo has way too few animals to be amazing (apparently it used to have more animals such as black bears) but what it does have is extremely well done. The crown jewel of the complex is the super river otter exhibit complete with an underwater tunnel. The large habitat has a huge lodge of sticks, shade from several trees, lots of hiding and enrichment opportunities and a huge pond. It has everything you want in an otter exhibit and I’d say a top ten one in the country. Red foxes and alligator snapping turtles share a rocky immersive habitat that isn’t huge but definitely solid. A walk through marsh aviary is very well done as is a bat cave. A few terrariums house snakes and turtles have a pond. Everything here is nice but it needs much more animals to be great. Bobcats will be added soon but I’d love to see black bear, red wolf, deer, beaver and alligators to round out the collection.
African Watering Hole- The highlight of the African Journey complex. The muddy exhibit houses white rhinoceros, zebras and ostriches. It is largely quite dry but has plenty of room and a really nice watering hole for the animals to drink from and there is some more vegetation in the back. The rockwork is quite well done and I would say it’s one of the better habitats for these species. Nothing spectacular but a worthy addition to the zoo.
Polar Bear Watch- A slightly flawed but decent exhibit for the arctic bears. It is smaller than most modern polar bear exhibits and has a mixture of mock rock and grass but is fairly naturalistic and great viewing through a tundra buggy. I like that the surrounding area tries to recreate the habitat of Churchill, where the polar bears can be found rather than just creating an exhibit and calling it a day. A tall fence is found in the back of the habitat but trees cover it up and there are a good amount of enrichments for the bears. Not my favorite polar bear exhibit but a decent one. Arctic foxes have a surprisingly good exhibit nearby.
Sitatunga Exhibit- A simple but brilliant habitat for these water-loving antelope. There’s plenty of water for them to swim in and a lot of trees for them to find shade. Perfect for a sitatunga.
Warthog Exhibit- Decent sized muddy exhibit that works well for the pigs.
Prairie Dog Town- A terrific sandy exhibit for prairie dogs with lots of tunnels is found near the entrance.
Average
Cheetah Savanna- A nice but average cheetah exhibit viewed through a chain-link fence. I’ve seen too many great cheetah exhibits to praise this one.
Antelope Yards- Greater kudu and addra gazelle live in a standard grassy yard. Dik diks live in a better exhibit nearby.
Leopard Lair- A surprisingly spacious topped leopard exhibit. However, it is basically a glorified cage and there aren’t enough enrichments or hiding/climbing opportunities for my liking.
Lion Habitat- A so-so exhibit for the king of beasts. It is decently sized and has a few trees but lacks the level of naturalism, enrichment and detail I like.
Poor
Giraffe House- The outdoor yard is frankly quite bland and lacking of opportunities for the giraffes to browse. Pretty dull. A mediocre okapi exhibit is next door and makes no effort to recreate a Congo rainforest.
African Elephant Habitat- A relatively small and unnatural exhibit. The yards are quite dry and rocks and fences create huge eyesores. A pool is smaller than most and has noticeable concrete edges. One of the weakest elephant exhibits out there and this zoo should really build a modern complex or phase out the species. Does anyone know what the zoo is planning for its elephants?
Chimpanzee Forest- I hate seeing primates in glorified cages so this is a big thumbs down in my book. The smallish exhibit is enclosed by a steel cage and has a few enrichments and ropes but not much naturalism.
Lemurs- Basically live in cages.
Penguin Rock- Substandard exhibit that was there on my visit but has since been replaced by Penguin Coast, which appears to be phenomenal and state-of-the-art.
I am glad I visited the Maryland Zoo especially to see its habitats for otters, polar bears, Arctic foxes, sitatungas and prairie dogs but wouldn’t call it a great zoo. It feels very incomplete in terms of quantity and quality and few parts are that memorable or brilliant. I would say anywhere between 45 and 57 would be an appropriate ranking for this zoo on an America’s best list.
Date of Visit: July 2011
The Maryland Zoo is a medium sized zoo which only features animals from Africa and North America. Only three exhibit complexes are found on the site: Maryland Wilderness, Polar Bear Watch and African Journey. The exhibit quality has increased with the opening of the seemingly spectacular Penguin Coast in 2014 but on my visit in 2011 it was in most cases an average zoo. The facility was hurt by economic problems in the early 2000s and in 2003-2004 many outdated sections of the zoo were merely closed and several species were phased out. The zoo is still recovering from this and many parts do feel empty but hopefully the multi-million Penguin Coast signals better times are on the way.
The Best
Maryland Wilderness- This large children’s zoo has way too few animals to be amazing (apparently it used to have more animals such as black bears) but what it does have is extremely well done. The crown jewel of the complex is the super river otter exhibit complete with an underwater tunnel. The large habitat has a huge lodge of sticks, shade from several trees, lots of hiding and enrichment opportunities and a huge pond. It has everything you want in an otter exhibit and I’d say a top ten one in the country. Red foxes and alligator snapping turtles share a rocky immersive habitat that isn’t huge but definitely solid. A walk through marsh aviary is very well done as is a bat cave. A few terrariums house snakes and turtles have a pond. Everything here is nice but it needs much more animals to be great. Bobcats will be added soon but I’d love to see black bear, red wolf, deer, beaver and alligators to round out the collection.
African Watering Hole- The highlight of the African Journey complex. The muddy exhibit houses white rhinoceros, zebras and ostriches. It is largely quite dry but has plenty of room and a really nice watering hole for the animals to drink from and there is some more vegetation in the back. The rockwork is quite well done and I would say it’s one of the better habitats for these species. Nothing spectacular but a worthy addition to the zoo.
Polar Bear Watch- A slightly flawed but decent exhibit for the arctic bears. It is smaller than most modern polar bear exhibits and has a mixture of mock rock and grass but is fairly naturalistic and great viewing through a tundra buggy. I like that the surrounding area tries to recreate the habitat of Churchill, where the polar bears can be found rather than just creating an exhibit and calling it a day. A tall fence is found in the back of the habitat but trees cover it up and there are a good amount of enrichments for the bears. Not my favorite polar bear exhibit but a decent one. Arctic foxes have a surprisingly good exhibit nearby.
Sitatunga Exhibit- A simple but brilliant habitat for these water-loving antelope. There’s plenty of water for them to swim in and a lot of trees for them to find shade. Perfect for a sitatunga.
Warthog Exhibit- Decent sized muddy exhibit that works well for the pigs.
Prairie Dog Town- A terrific sandy exhibit for prairie dogs with lots of tunnels is found near the entrance.
Average
Cheetah Savanna- A nice but average cheetah exhibit viewed through a chain-link fence. I’ve seen too many great cheetah exhibits to praise this one.
Antelope Yards- Greater kudu and addra gazelle live in a standard grassy yard. Dik diks live in a better exhibit nearby.
Leopard Lair- A surprisingly spacious topped leopard exhibit. However, it is basically a glorified cage and there aren’t enough enrichments or hiding/climbing opportunities for my liking.
Lion Habitat- A so-so exhibit for the king of beasts. It is decently sized and has a few trees but lacks the level of naturalism, enrichment and detail I like.
Poor
Giraffe House- The outdoor yard is frankly quite bland and lacking of opportunities for the giraffes to browse. Pretty dull. A mediocre okapi exhibit is next door and makes no effort to recreate a Congo rainforest.
African Elephant Habitat- A relatively small and unnatural exhibit. The yards are quite dry and rocks and fences create huge eyesores. A pool is smaller than most and has noticeable concrete edges. One of the weakest elephant exhibits out there and this zoo should really build a modern complex or phase out the species. Does anyone know what the zoo is planning for its elephants?
Chimpanzee Forest- I hate seeing primates in glorified cages so this is a big thumbs down in my book. The smallish exhibit is enclosed by a steel cage and has a few enrichments and ropes but not much naturalism.
Lemurs- Basically live in cages.
Penguin Rock- Substandard exhibit that was there on my visit but has since been replaced by Penguin Coast, which appears to be phenomenal and state-of-the-art.
I am glad I visited the Maryland Zoo especially to see its habitats for otters, polar bears, Arctic foxes, sitatungas and prairie dogs but wouldn’t call it a great zoo. It feels very incomplete in terms of quantity and quality and few parts are that memorable or brilliant. I would say anywhere between 45 and 57 would be an appropriate ranking for this zoo on an America’s best list.
