Questions

[adrian1963]

I was going through some of the threads from the early days of zoo chat and wondered how do you feel about improvements in zoos so I have a questionaire for you to read and answer with honest and truthfull replies

1 - Which is your favourite zoo and why
2 - Which is your favourite animal and why
3 - Which is your favourite enclosure and why
4 - Which is your favourite indoor exhibit and why
5 - Which zoo provides the best refreshment areas and why
6 - Most improved zoo over the last 10 years
7 - Best child friendly zoo and why
8 - Best zoo suited for disabled persons and why
9 - Best zoo for education of children
10 - What zoo do you think will most improve in the next 10 years and why

 

[adrian1963]

Sorry folk's forgot to put my replies on earlier

1 - Dudley Zoo reason because I live close by and can visit there every week to 10 days, also the staff are friendly and the animals are very well looked after. I know some people will knock me for choosing Dudley Zoo but it's the way I feel.
2 - Snow Leopard because they are so beautiful and when they move they appear to move so majestically.
3 - Jaguar House at Chester Zoo this was beautifully laidout and it made viewing of the beautiful animals so easy for myself and children alike, they have given the animals a large area to move around in and an area for privacy as well.
4 - It as to be the Bat House at chester zoo this is so facinating to go into another dimension and have the bats flying around while you walk through it makes you feel so wiered.
5 - I feel that I have to give this to Blackpool Zoo because it has a very large restaraunt and the food it sells is of quite a high standard compared to some.
6 - I must say this was a hard one to choose because my local zoo has come on so much in the 10 years but I have to say my vote would go to Chester Zoo I know it's one of the best zoo's in the UK but it's got everything going for it nowadays.
7 - There are so many out there it was hard to choose but I can only go on what I have sen and this goes to Birmingham Nature Centre as the whole place is for children when I go there Ifeel like I'm invading a Education Centre for children the work they do to keep the children happy is brilliant.
8 - this I feel has to go to Blackpool as they have most if not all of there exhibits so easily accessible for wheelchairs users it's great (I know because I push one round all day) This also helps make the person in the wheelchair feel at ease as they know the person pushing is enjoying the zoo as much as they are.
9 - Chester Zoo is great for education of the children (I know I put Birmingham down for number 7 but that was for friendly) every where they look there are signs telling them one thing or another and the staff are always there to give time and answer questions from the children.
10 - I know I'm going to get a bit of stick for this but this goes to Dudley Zoo as there are alot of plans in the back ground that (a) don't cost a lot of money and (b) are actually achieveable there is plenty of ground around the site that is going to be used for new enclosures and some of the buildings are going to have major work carried out on them over the next 5 years so with the forward looking owners of the zoo the future of the zoo is in very good hands.

these are my answers I know alot of you will have different answers but by doing this we may just may be able to find a perfect zoo between us.

 

[Javan Rhino]

I'm probably gonna be pretty biased in this because I love Chester and it is my only 'frequent' zoo. Others I only visit every few years or so.

1) Chester is my favourite simply because that is the zoo I grew up with, and it is superb for both guests and animals. There are very few enclosures I can think of that I don't like.
2) Rhinos or Orangs. For rhinos it is because they just seem so powerful and superb. I can't think why else, it is just one of those things that I can't explain. Orangs because, like all great apes, they are so intelligent and are just brilliant creatures.
3) I would have to agree with Spirit of the Jaguar. It has plenty of places for privacy for the animals, yet it is still possible to see them if you time it right. The planting is superb and the jungle side just looks so natural.
4) Planet Penguin at Loro Parque. This was just an immense experiance, with a massive ice-cap covered in several species of Penguin.
5) I never use the resteraunts at zoos (no bad reason, I just prefer picnics). I like Chester's sunken garden to sit and eat though, so does that count (picnic area)?
6) The only zoo that I've visited frequently enough to notice changes is Chester, so can I say most improved area? I would say Realm of the Red Ape in this instance, since before they had two small islands and a few indoor areas with steel climbing frames. So much has been done with it, and now it looks natural in many places and the Orangs simply have so much more room.
7) Don't know, most zoos have good-looking play areas, though I do like Chester's 'Mongoose Mania'
8) Don't know, but Chester is mainly flat and there are slopes rather than steps in all buildings. I can't think of any areas that are not wheel-chair friendly.
9) Don't know, but most zoos have a good amount of informative displays.
10) It really depends if Chester's 'Natural Vision' goes ahead. That will see the zoo transform into a world class attraction. If Edinburgh get pandas, then I can imagine that visitor numbers would rocket there, in which case they may have more income to develop other areas with (providing they can sustain a profit with pandas after their expenses).

 

[Devi]

1 - Which is your favourite zoo and why

My favourite zoo was Berlin. I ended up spending 2 days there and it had a lot of species I hadn't seen before. I also have a soft spot for Dudley because I used to work there and know it very well.

2 - Which is your favourite animal and why

Way too many to choose. I am rather fond of manatees, because they are unusual and easy going. I think they do themselves no favours in the survival stakes! I also like ring tailed lemur, aye aye, and coati, all three because I find their faces curiously expressive.

3 - Which is your favourite enclosure and why

Clore Rainforest Lookout at London. I couldn't leave, everytime I thought I'd seen everything, suddenly I spotted something new. It makes you feel like a little kid.

4 - Which is your favourite indoor exhibit and why

Oooh, I already chose one above... so I guess I have to choose a second one, I'll go for Wild Arctic in Sea World, I think its great, great theming, great species, lots of natural looking behaviour, I was impressed.

5 - Which zoo provides the best refreshment areas and why

Can I say Dudley cause it has a bar? Hehe. I think in general zoo refreshment areas are dreadful, they have a captive audience so tend to serve the same old burgers and chips everywhere. Would it be too much trouble to stick a nice little restaurant in there? Nothing complicated, something along the lines of a Wetherspoons.
Actually, Country Life has a pub attached that had rather nice food, so I'll go for that, even though it isn't a zoo really.

6 - Most improved zoo over the last 10 years

Dudley, it used to be horrible when I was a kid, but every time I go lately I see new stuff going on, it's ace.

7 - Best child friendly zoo and why

Monkey World because it has the best playground I've seen. Forget the kids, you couldn't get me out of that thing!

8 - Best zoo suited for disabled persons and why

Not Dudley, stupid hill! I'm not sure really, but I was impressed by Monkey world having sculptures of the monkeys so blind people could know there size and shape.

9 - Best zoo for education of children

Not a clue. I tend to like explain stuff myself to my daughter, rather than making her read signs.

10 - What zoo do you think will most improve in the next 10 years and why

I hope it's Dudley, it has come so far but still has quite a way to go. I'd also like to see Birmingham Nature centre develop, it's going in a rather interesting direction at the moment and I'm interested to see where we go next.

 

[Shorts]

I'm off on my first jaunt to European zoos next week so my answers would probably be different then. For now, based on my UK experiences here are my answers:

1. Colchester, because of the range of mammals they have. It really impressed on my first ever visit and I still have a soft spot for it;
2. Armadillos, I think it's the way they scuttle around;
3. Amur Tiger enclosure, Highland Wildlife Park. Basically it's a huge expanse of fenced woodland. All the enclosures there are similarly excellent;
4. Chester's Tropical House, the size and range of species (prefered it when the back passage had reptiles though);
5. Howlett's catering was very good last time I visited, variety and quality, but a lot of zoos seem to have good catering nowadays;
6. Probably Dudley, basically because it was so far behind ten years ago, the enclosures were so overgrown it was unreal, exhibits (Lynx & aviaries) looked like caged bushes, the improvements have been relatively cheap but effective. To be fair, a lot of other zoos haved also improved vastly over the last ten years (Paradise Wildlife Park springs immediately to mind and also the Highland Wildlife Park, but there are many others).
7. Drusilla's by all accounts is excellent for children, personally I've never been (the two facts may be related);
8. I don't know and being fortunate enough to not be disabled I'm probably not in a position to judge, not Colchester though;
9. Not having children, I can't really judge, but I was impressed with the signage at Isle Of Wight Zoo (whether children would appreciate is a different matter);
10. Undoubtedly Chester, they've got the consistent large visitor numbers to have the critical mass and momentum to achieve (some, if not all) their lofty ambitions.

Nice thread, I look forward to seeing others opinions.

 

[Hvedekorn]

1 - Which is your favourite zoo and why
If I should estimate it from one single visit, I'll choose Prague Zoo. Otherwise, it's Aalborg Zoo. It's a city zoo with a very small area, but it has all the classical zoo animals and quite a lot of rare species. But most of all, it was one of the first zoo's I visited, and I still visit at least one time a year (usually more) and I always follow what happens, so this zoo is quite close to me.

2 - Which is your favourite animal and why
The dog (probably because I have a beloved dog myself). Of wild animals and zoo animals, it's probably gibbons, closely followed by baboons, manatees, wolves, elephants and waterfowl. These animals are always exciting. However, I tend to always go for the rare species in a zoo, no matter if it's "just" reptiles or such.

3 - Which is your favourite enclosure and why
Probably the barbary ape exhibit in Givskud Zoo.

4 - Which is your favourite indoor exhibit and why
The indonesian tropical house in Prague Zoo (I don't remember the name of it) or the South American Dome in Randers Tropical Zoo.

5 - Which zoo provides the best refreshment areas and why
I don't really know, when I am to eat in a zoo I usually bring my own lunch. Maybe I should say Copenhagen Zoo (they do have other things to eat than very expensive fastfood, after all).

6 - Most improved zoo over the last 10 years
Of the ones I've visited, it's Copenhagen.

7 - Best child friendly zoo and why
I think it's Jutland's Park Zoo. It has all the smaller classic zoo animals (no elephants, rhinos and hippos, but giraffes, lions, tigers, monkeys, penguins, sea lions etc.) that children want to see, half of the space is playgrounds, there's a little tivoli, you can feed some of the more tame animals, and you can get to close to almost all the animals (in some cases it's sad because the exhibits are too small, but I don't think a generic kid cares about that).

8 - Best zoo suited for disabled persons and why
I don't really know. I feel many zoos are doing good in this area.

9 - Best zoo for education of children
In the education at the exhibits, it's Randers Tropical Zoo. Almost all the education material is directed at young visitors and the school room is often open. I would wish there were a little more education signs directed at visitors over the age of 10-12.

10 - What zoo do you think will most improve in the next 10 years and why
Based on the current plans I know of - Odense Zoo or Copenhagen Zoo. If an old institution moving about 20 miles away and becoming a big new institution counts, then it's surely Denmark's Aquarium.

 

[jwer]

1 - Which is your favourite zoo and why
Zoo Praha, has everything and more; Old, new, birds, reptiles, mammals, beautiful pavillions and old ones as well. Best reason though, their amazing collection of small mammals, my favorite group of animals.

2 - Which is your favourite animal and why
I've always said Giant Otter, but i enjoy active small mammals best. I believe the giant elephant shrew would become a strong contender once i've seen one.

3 - Which is your favourite enclosure and why
Duisburgs' Rio Negro exhibit. I nearly cried when i saw the two boto's in their amazing new exhibit, knowing their story and seeing them in their incredibly small enclosures a few years before... only one that comes close is Emmen's Playa Pinguinos.

4 - Which is your favourite indoor exhibit and why
Considering i allready said Rio Negro before i'll say Burgers' Bush. One of the few places that remains a joy to visit, every single time i get round to Arnhem.

5 - Which zoo provides the best refreshment areas and why
Beuh, can't remember very good ones. The most amazing place was Delhi Zoo which i visited in 2009, because you couldn't get anything to eat in the whole zoo and you weren't allowed to bring anything, which at first i found weird, but after a while i reasoned this would be the only way to keep people from feeding their animals. I applaude the director for taking such a courageous discission to make sure that if people can't be stopped to feed the animals, they're not worth the food!

6 - Most improved zoo over the last 10 years
Toss-up between Zoo Praha and Rotterdam's Blijdorp Zoo. Both are developing at an astonishing rate and continue to do so. Hannover also deserves a mention, almost completely revamped the last decade.

7 - Best child friendly zoo and why
Think it would be Amersfoort Zoo, because they seem to have a lot of children's activities during the day, and a very cuddly mascotte.

8 - Best zoo suited for disabled persons and why
Emmen ZOO was voted "best accessable day-out" for quite a few times by a dutch handicapped organisation, who am i to argue. It's very well suited for disabled people.

9 - Best zoo for education of children
Don't really know, both Rotterdam as Amsterdam seem to run quite a few education programs in their zoo's, as they are required to do so because of the financial support they get from the city council. Think Artis with it's planetarium would deserve first spot.

10 - What zoo do you think will most improve in the next 10 years and why
Rotterdam and Praha will continue with their good work in improving their zoo, very curious to the newbuild of Emmen Zoo...

 

[Gigit]

1. Apenheul - lots of primates in superb surroundings.

2. Orangutans - everything about them, especially their intelligence and ability to stay one step ahead of their keepers.

3. Paignton's Orangutan Islands - full of natural enrichment and praised by officials from Sepilok, who must know what they're talking about.

4. I would never have expected to spend as long looking at fish and coral as I did at Burgers' impressive and colourful Ocean.

5. Burgers' Safari restaurant - interesting buffet-style food and scenic views. You can get a good cappuccino, and drink it while watching gibbons and waterfowl, from Cafe Direct at Paignton, but only in the high season.

6. Paignton, which began major redevelopments in 1996 and continues to improve.

7. I'm probably out of touch now, but when my children were young in the 80s, they were more than happy to go to a zoo to see animals. They didn't need or expect any other amusements, apart from the odd display button to press.

8. I can't really comment, except to say that Twycross's flatness is probably an advantage to those with limited mobility.

9. Any zoo that insists on school parties being supervised by teachers or other adults.

10. I don't know.