Ranking the Big Cat Exhibits

[GraysonDP]

Using the criteria of immersion, space, vegetation/substrate, water (especially for jaguars and tigers), grass (especially for lions and cheetahs), height (especially for jaguars and leopards), enrichment, viewing, number of cats, backdrops, quality of rockwork, flexibility of space, privacy, hiding opportunities and education/conservation value I've decided to rank the big cat exhibits at accredited US/Canadian zoos. I'll be posting them throughout the evening.

Lion

1. San Diego Safari Park- 2004*
   
   
2. Denver Zoo- 2004
   
   
3. Columbus Zoo- 2014*
   
   
4. Kansas City Zoo- 1995
   
   
5. Sedgwick County Zoo- 2000
   
   
6. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo- 2016
   
   
7. Busch Gardens- 1997*
   
   
8. Dallas Zoo- 2010*
   
   
9. Fresno Chaffee Zoo- 2015
   
   
10. Oregon Zoo- 2009
    
    
11. Woodland Park Zoo- 1980
    
    
12. Caldwell Zoo- 1991
    
    
13. Philadelphia Zoo- 2006
    
    
14. John Ball Zoo- 2008
    
    
15. Oklahoma City Zoo- 1997
    
    
16. Hogle Zoo- 2014
    
    
17. Bronx Zoo- 1941*
    
    
18. North Carolina Zoo- 1980*
    
    
19. Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo- 2009
    
    
20. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo- 2013
    
    
21. Disney’s Animal Kingdom- 1998*
    
    
22. Oakland Zoo- 1992
    
    
23. Cincinnati Zoo (African)- 2013*
    
    
24. El Paso Zoo- 2010
    
    
25. Honolulu Zoo- 1992
    
    
26. Pittsburgh Zoo- 1991*
    
    
27. Toronto Zoo- 1998*
    
    
28. Seneca Park Zoo- 2012
    
    
29. Saint Louis Zoo- 1976
    
    
30. Virginia Zoo- 2002
    
    
31. Houston Zoo- 1985*
    
    
32. Calgary Zoo- 2003
    
    
33. Zoo Atlanta- 1989*
    
    
34. Peoria Zoo- 2009
    
    
35. Memphis Zoo- 1993*
    
    
36. Zoo Miami- 1981*
    
    
37. Como Park Zoo- 1980
    
    
38. Detroit Zoo- 2011
    
    
39. Maryland Zoo- 1983*
    
    
40. Indianapolis Zoo- 1988
    
    
41. Idaho Falls Zoo
    
    
42. Knoxville Zoo- 2012*
    
    
43. Santa Barbara Zoo- 2003
    
    
44. Henry Vilas Zoo- 1997
    
    
45. Blank Park Zoo- 1999
    
    
46. Granby Zoo
    
    
47. Lion Country Safari- 1967*
    
    
48. Reid Park Zoo- 1983
    
    
49. Phoenix Zoo- 1970s
    
    
50. National Zoo- 1976 (Renovated in 1998)*
    
    
51. Montgomery Zoo- 1991
    
    
52. Alexandria Zoo- 2003
    
    
53. San Antonio Zoo- 2016
    
    
54. Zoo Boise- 2008
    
    
55. Little Rock Zoo- 1982
    
    
56. Topeka Zoo- 1989
    
    
57. Buffalo Zoo- 1988
    
    
58. Cameron Park Zoo- 1997
    
    
59. San Diego Zoo- 2009
    
    
60. Pueblo Zoo- 1995
    
    
61. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo- 1984*
    
    
62. Cincinnati Zoo (White)- 1975*
    
    
63. Louisville Zoo- 1969
    
    
64. Gladys Porter Zoo- 1971
    
    
65. Akron Zoo- 1998
    
    
66. Franklin Park Zoo- 1997*
    
    
67. Brookfield Zoo- 1934 (Renovated in 1990)*
    
    
68. Lee Richardson Zoo
    
    
69. Ellen Trout Zoo
    
    
70. Wildlife Safari
    
    
71. Milwaukee County Zoo- 1961 (Indoor exhibit in 2005)*
    
    
72. Birmingham Zoo- 1985
    
    
73. Cape May County Zoo
    
    
74. NEW Zoo
    
    
75. Rolling Hills Zoo- 1999*
    
    
76. Naples Zoo
    
    
77. Dickerson Park Zoo
    
    
78. Racine Zoo
    
    
79. Rosamond Gifford Zoo- 1986 (I CAN’T STAND THAT MURAL WALL!!!)
    
    
80. Greenville Zoo
    
    
81. Roosevelt Park Zoo
    
    
82. Abilene Zoo
    
    
83. San Francisco Zoo- 1928
    
    
84. Potter Park Zoo
    
    
85. Lincoln Park Zoo- 1912 (Worst Indoor Exhibit I’ve Ever Seen)*
    
    
86. Tulsa Zoo- 1960s
    
    
87. Rio Grande Zoo
    
    
88. Lake Superior Zoo
    
    
89. Riverside Discovery Center
    
    
90. Fort Worth Zoo*
    
    
91. Riverbanks Zoo- 1974
    
    
92. Capron Park Zoo
    
    
93. Los Angeles Zoo- 1966*
    
    
94. Potawatomi Zoo- 1979

 

[GraysonDP]

I will add Jacksonville to the list at 18.

 

[GraysonDP]

I'll put Erie at 92 and Sacramento at 75 for lions. Also * means I've been there.

 

[GraysonDP]

Tiger

1. Bronx Zoo (Amur)- 2003*
   
   
2. San Diego Safari Park (Sumatran)- 2014
   
   
3. Minnesota Zoo (Amur)- 1978/2002
   
   
4. Columbus Zoo (Amur)- 2006*
   
   
5. Jacksonville Zoo (Sumatran/Malayan)- 2014* (the underwater viewing is a HUGE plus)
   
   
6. Dallas Zoo (Sumatran)- 1999*
   
   
7. San Diego Zoo (Malayan)- 1988*
   
   
8. Sedgwick County Zoo (Amur)- 2009
   
   
9. Virginia Zoo (Malayan)- 2011
   
   
10. Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Sumatran/Bengal)- 1999*
    
    
11. Woodland Park Zoo (Malayan)- 2010
    
    
12. Dakota Zoo (Bengal)- 2008
    
    
13. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Amur)- 1996
    
    
14. Hogle Zoo (Amur)- 2006
    
    
15. Philadelphia Zoo (Amur)- 2006
    
    
16. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Amur)- 2016
    
    
17. Phoenix Zoo (Sumatran)- 2015
    
    
18. Bronx Zoo (Malayan)- 1977*
    
    
19. Point Defiance Zoo (Sumatran)- 2004
    
    
20. Indianapolis Zoo (Amur)- 2011
    
    
21. Calgary Zoo (Amur)
    
    
22. Oklahoma City Zoo (Sumatran)- 1997
    
    
23. Oakland Zoo (Bengal)- 2001
    
    
24. Rosamond Gifford Zoo (Amur)- 1999
    
    
25. Saint Louis Zoo (Amur)- 1976
    
    
26. Zoo Atlanta (Sumatran)- 1992* (Renovation in 2009)
    
    
27. Louisville Zoo (Amur)- 2008
    
    
28. Zoo Miami (Sumatran)- 1981*
    
    
29. John Ball Zoo- 2014
    
    
30. Busch Gardens (Bengal)- 2008
    
    
31. Louisville Zoo (Sumatran)- 1995
    
    
32. Fort Worth Zoo (Malayan/Bengal)- 1992*
    
    
33. Memphis Zoo (Sumatran)- 1993*
    
    
34. Great Plains Zoo (Amur)
    
    
35. Lowry Park Zoo (Malayan)- 1988* (Renovation in 2007)
    
    
36. Como Park Zoo (Amur)- 1980
    
    
37. Cincinnati Zoo (Bengal/Malayan)- 2012*
    
    
38. Henry Vilas Zoo (Amur)- 1997
    
    
39. Toronto Zoo (Sumatran)- 1993*
    
    
40. El Paso Zoo (Malayan)- 1995
    
    
41. Baton Rouge (Sumatran/Malayan)- 2010
    
    
42. Zoo Montana (Amur)
    
    
43. National Zoo (Sumatran)- 1976* (Renovation in 1998)
    
    
44. Jackson Zoo (Sumatran)- 2010
    
    
45. Little Rock Zoo- 1982
    
    
46. Detroit Zoo (Amur)- 1928*
    
    
47. Idaho Falls Zoo (Amur)
    
    
48. Houston Zoo (Malayan)- 1988*
    
    
49. Assiniboine Park Zoo (Amur)
    
    
50. Oregon Zoo (Amur)- 1998
    
    
51. Audubon Zoo (Bengal/Malayan)- 1979*
    
    
52. Pittsburgh Zoo (Amur)- 1983*
    
    
53. Erie Zoo (Amur)- 2008
    
    
54. Toledo Zoo (Amur)- 1997*
    
    
55. Reid Park Zoo- 1985
    
    
56. Cameron Park Zoo (Sumatran)- 1993
    
    
57. Fresno Chaffee Zoo (Malayan)- 2001
    
    
58. Los Angeles Zoo (Sumatran)- 1993*
    
    
59. Milwaukee County Zoo (Amur)- 1961* (Indoor Exhibit in 2005)
    
    
60. Zoo Boise (Amur)- 2002
    
    
61. Buffalo Zoo (Amur)- 1988
    
    
62. Brookfield Zoo (Amur)- 1934* (Renovation in 1990)
    
    
63. Franklin Park Zoo (Bengal)- 2006
    
    
64. Sacramento Zoo
    
    
65. Montgomery Zoo (Bengal)- 199
    
    
66. Palm Beach Zoo (Malayan)- 2000
    
    
67. Gladys Porter Zoo (Bengal)
    
    
68. Honolulu Zoo (Sumatran)
    
    
69. San Antonio Zoo (Sumatran)
    
    
70. Lake Superior Zoo (Amur)
    
    
71. Akron Zoo (Sumatran)- 1998
    
    
72. Alexandria Zoo (Bengal)
    
    
73. Granby Zoo
    
    
74. Peoria Zoo (Amur)
    
    
75. Knoxville Zoo (Malayan)- new exhibit opening soon that looks promising
    
    
76. Caldwell Zoo (Bengal)- 2008
    
    
77. Ellen Trout Zoo (Malayan)
    
    
78. Seneca Park Zoo (Amur)
    
    
79. Sunset Zoo (Amur)- 1960s
    
    
80. Kansas City Zoo (Amur)- 1972 (Renovation in 2012)
    
    
81. Denver Zoo (Amur)- new exhibit opening this year
    
    
82. Racine Zoo (Amur)
    
    
83. Abilene Zoo (Bengal)
    
    
84. Greensboro Science Center
    
    
85. Birmingham Zoo- 1985
    
    
86. Riverside Discovery Center (Amur)
    
    
87. Topeka Zoo (Sumatran)- 2005
    
    
88. Cape May County Zoo
    
    
89. Potter Park Zoo
    
    
90. Mesker Park Zoo
    
    
91. Bramble Park Zoo
    
    
92. San Francisco Zoo (Amur/Sumatran)- 1928
    
    
93. Lincoln Park Zoo (Amur)- 1912* (Indoor area is the worst I have seen)
    
    
94. Riverbanks Zoo (Amur)- 1974*
    
    
95. Tulsa Zoo (Malayan)- 1960s (this ranking will go WAY up very soon)
    
    
96. Potawatomi Zoo (Amur)
    
    
97. Roosevelt Park Zoo
    
    
98. Beardsley Zoo (Amur)
    
    
99. Chahinkapa Zoo (Bengal)
    
    
100. Miller Park Zoo
     
     
101. Charles Paddock Zoo (Malayan)

 

[GraysonDP]

Cheetah

1. Kansas City Zoo- 1995
   
   
2. Indianapolis Zoo- 2010
   
   
3. Dallas Zoo- 2010*
   
   
4. Oregon Zoo- 2009
   
   
5. Living Desert- 1995
   
   
6. Saint Louis Zoo- 1999
   
   
7. Fresno Chaffee Zoo- 2015
   
   
8. Phoenix Zoo
   
   
9. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo- 2016
   
   
10. National Zoo- 1992*
    
    
11. San Diego Safari Park- 2007
    
    
12. Fort Worth Zoo- 1994*
    
    
13. Disney’s Animal Kingdom- 1998*
    
    
14. Lowry Park Zoo- 2007*
    
    
15. Honolulu Zoo- 1992
    
    
16. Toronto Zoo- 1998*
    
    
17. Jacksonville Zoo- 1996*
    
    
18. Caldwell Zoo- 1991
    
    
19. Memphis Zoo- 1993*
    
    
20. Cincinnati Zoo- 2013*
    
    
21. Oklahoma City Zoo- 1970
    
    
22. Toledo Zoo- 2004*
    
    
23. Denver Zoo- 1969
    
    
24. Little Rock Zoo- 2012
    
    
25. Great Plains Zoo
    
    
26. Pittsburgh Zoo- 1992*
    
    
27. Maryland Zoo- 1998*
    
    
28. Busch Gardens- 2011*
    
    
29. Binder Park Zoo- 1999
    
    
30. Central Florida Zoo- 1995*
    
    
31. San Antonio Zoo- early 1990s
    
    
32. Virginia Zoo- 2002
    
    
33. Brevard Zoo- 2010*
    
    
34. Rio Grande Zoo- 2004
    
    
35. Philadelphia Zoo*
    
    
36. Baton Rouge Zoo- 1971
    
    
37. Houston Zoo- 2011*
    
    
38. Scovill Zoo
    
    
39. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo- 1978*
    
    
40. Cape May County Zoo

 

[GraysonDP]

For tigers I'll put Omaha at 90

 

[jayjds2]

You missed Fossil Rim Wildlife Park (Texas) for cheetah. The public exhibits don't stand out but a large behind the scenes complex (I remember reading just one pen was 2.5 acres) was amazing to see.

 

[Moebelle]

And Cincinnati's second Cheetah exhibit

 

[GraysonDP]

I'll put Roger Williams Park at 34, Milwaukee at 35, Sunset at 37 and Naples at 41 for cheetahs

 

[GraysonDP]

Cougar

1. Northwest Trek- 1987
   
   
2. Oregon Zoo- 2007
   
   
3. Oklahoma City Zoo- 2007
   
   
4. Nashville Zoo- 1997*
   
   
5. North Carolina Zoo- 1994*
   
   
6. Calgary Zoo- 1990s
   
   
7. Columbus Zoo- 2016*
   
   
8. Minnesota Zoo- 2007
   
   
9. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
   
   
10. Zoo Miami- 2016*
    
    
11. Philadelphia Zoo- 2006
    
    
12. Cincinnati Zoo- 2011*
    
    
13. Naples Zoo- 2015
    
    
14. Memphis Zoo- 1993*
    
    
15. Turtle Back Zoo- 2011
    
    
16. Cameron Park Zoo- 2005
    
    
17. Jackson Zoo- 2006
    
    
18. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo- 2008
    
    
19. Phoenix Zoo- late 1980s
    
    
20. Dickerson Park Zoo- 1989
    
    
21. Saint Louis Zoo- 1976
    
    
22. Stone Zoo
    
    
23. San Diego Zoo- 2010
    
    
24. Houston Zoo- 2011*
    
    
25. Como Park Zoo- 1980
    
    
26. Jacksonville Zoo- 2001*
    
    
27. Queens Zoo- 1992
    
    
28. Fort Worth Zoo- 2001*
    
    
29. Lowry Park Zoo- 1990*
    
    
30. Lee Richardson Zoo- 2012
    
    
31. Sedgwick County Zoo- 1993
    
    
32. Montgomery Zoo- 1992
    
    
33. Toronto Zoo- 1974*
    
    
34. John Ball Zoo
    
    
35. Audubon Zoo- 1984*
    
    
36. Caldwell Zoo- 1983
    
    
37. Abilene Zoo
    
    
38. Zoo America*
    
    
39. Palm Beach Zoo- 2001*
    
    
40. David Traylor Zoo
    
    
41. Topeka Zoo- 2009
    
    
42. Central Florida Zoo- 2003*
    
    
43. Rolling Hills Zoo- 1999
    
    
44. Bergen County Zoo
    
    
45. Dallas Zoo
46. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo- 1977
47. Lincoln Park Zoo- 1912*
    
    
48. Henson Robinson Zoo
    
    
49. Elmwood Park Zoo

 

[pachyderm pro]

How many more cats are you doing? (Leopards, jaguars) and are you doing small cats?

 

[pachyderm pro]

San Diego zoos cougar exhibit opened in 2014.

 

[Moebelle]

I'm surprised Columbus's is so highly ranked for their cougar exhibit.

 

[GraysonDP]

I'm surprised Columbus's is so highly ranked for their cougar exhibit.

The renovation done of it was quite good

 

[GraysonDP]

How many more cats are you doing? (Leopards, jaguars) and are you doing small cats?

Snow Leopards, Leopards and Jaguars are left. Small cats will be a different list.

 

[Moebelle]

The renovation done of it was quite good

Space wise yes but it seems almost empty

 

[GraysonDP]

Leopard

1. Hogle Zoo- 2006
   
   
2. Living Desert
   
   
3. Philadelphia Zoo- 2006
   
   
4. Minnesota Zoo- 2008
   
   
5. Staten Island Zoo- 2013
   
   
6. San Diego Zoo- 2015
   
   
7. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo- 1996
   
   
8. Erie Zoo- 2015
   
   
9. Maryland Zoo- 1995*
   
   
10. Columbus Zoo- 2000*
    
    
11. Memphis Zoo- 1993
    
    
12. Naples Zoo- 2007
    
    
13. Oregon Zoo- 1999
    
    
14. Saint Louis Zoo- 1976
    
    
15. Sedgwick County Zoo- 1973
    
    
16. Brookfield Zoo- 1934* (Renovated in 1990)
    
    
17. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo*
    
    
18. El Paso Zoo- 1995
    
    
19. Bronx Zoo- 1985*
    
    
20. Greenville Zoo
    
    
21. Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo- 2009
    
    
22. Dakota Zoo
    
    
23. Lee Richardson Zoo- 1996
    
    
24. Sunset Zoo- 1960s
    
    
25. Central Florida Zoo- 2002*
    
    
26. Rolling Hills Zoo- 1999
    
    
27. Denver Zoo- 1963
    
    
28. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo- 1977
    
    
29. Beardsley Zoo
    
    
30. Potawatomi Zoo
    
    
31. Jackson Zoo
    
    
32. Capron Park Zoo
    
    
33. Miller Park Zoo
    
    
34. Lincoln Park Zoo- 1912*

 

[Moebelle]

Is this a list for African leopards?

 

[savethelephant]

Considering he mentioned Staten Island (and others but this was the first one that I noticed) I believe this is for all ssp's of leopard

 

[GraysonDP]

Considering he mentioned Staten Island (and others but this was the first one that I noticed) I believe this is for all ssp's of leopard

I thought only Amurs were SSP with others being phased out?