San Diego Zoo and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo are often regarded as two of the very best zoos in North America, if not the world. There is a real sense of continual progress at these two great, world-class zoos, with multi-million-dollar exhibits opening every few years. At this point, I think that one could make the argument (with all due respect to Bronx and Saint Louis), that San Diego and Omaha are clearly the top two zoos on the continent.
The two behemoths are very different from each other. San Diego is on the coast of California, with sunshine year-round and it is a zoo that is almost entirely open to the elements. Meanwhile, in eastern Nebraska, one of Omaha’s zoo maps declares that there are “7 acres of indoor exhibits” which instantly tells the visitor what the weather is like in the winter.
I thought it would be FUN to take a look at these two wonderful zoological establishments and compare them head-to-head in a range of categories. All the opinions are my own, although I would love to read some responses from fellow zoo nerds.
Continents:
African Animals & Exhibits: Omaha wins this category because the 28-acre African Grasslands complex is superb and offers up large modern exhibits. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, bongos, white rhinos, impala, sable antelope, okapis and klipspringers all have terrific exhibits and there is loads of space in every enclosure. This part of the zoo apparently has 25 buildings and structures in it, including a realistic Kopje area, a huge giraffe feeding deck, a spacious cheetah habitat and possibly my favourite lion exhibit of all-time. Omaha also has a delightful representation of the Namib Desert in the Desert Dome, plus many African species throughout Lied Jungle, Kingdoms of the Night, Scott Aquarium and the Wild Kingdom Pavilion. There’s even a big gorilla complex and Expedition Madagascar. San Diego has Africa Rocks, an 8-acre slice of the zoo, that uses a variety of containment styles to offer up a series of new African exhibits. Elephant Odyssey, Urban Jungle and the Reptile House all showcase some African species, along with the amazing bird collection and Lost Forest zone (hippos, gorillas, bonobos, okapis, etc.), but it all falls behind Omaha’s achievements.
Asian Animals & Exhibits: Omaha wins this category, with the loss of giant pandas hurting San Diego because no other species is as popular with visitors. A few years ago, San Diego would probably claim this category because of its extensive collection of Asian birds, plus representations of the continent in the form of reptiles and amphibians. A number of exhibits in San Diego’s Lost Forest zone feature Asian primates, and the zoo also has Asian Passage with sun bears and yet more primates. However, Omaha has recently built an 8-acre Asian Highlands section, with superb new habitats for marquee species such as tigers, snow leopards, red pandas, rhinos and takins. There are only 10 species in Asian Highlands, but everything looks so impressive that it’s been a vital addition to the zoo. Omaha also has orangutans, gibbons and many Asian species in Lied Jungle and even inside Kingdoms of the Night.
Australian Animals & Exhibits: San Diego wins this category on the basis that koalas are quite rare in North American zoos and yet San Diego can have anywhere from a dozen to twenty at any given point in time. There are also Tasmanian devils, wallabies and a designated Outback area with some nice aviaries that hold approximately 20 species. Omaha has wallabies, echidnas and an incredible freshwater crocodile/turtle tank in Kingdoms of the Night. Omaha also has a fantastic collection of Australian snakes and lizards in the Red Center section of the Desert Dome, but the zoo lacks marquee species such as koalas and Tasmanian devils and therefore this category goes to San Diego.
South American Animals & Exhibits: Omaha wins this category, although neither zoo has a designated South American zone. Omaha has quite a variety of South American species in Lied Jungle, plus there is Kingdoms of the Night, Scott Aquarium and Wild Kingdom Pavilion. Both zoos have a few smaller primates from South America, and San Diego has an extensive bird collection and a few South American species scattered here and there, but probably not enough to dethrone Omaha.
North American Animals & Exhibits: Omaha wins this category, although again neither zoo has a designated zone and to be honest both zoos lack an extensive collection from their own continent. Omaha’s recent addition of Owen Sea Lion Shores, a magnificent recreation of a Pacific Northwest setting for pinnipeds, looks to be an amazing exhibit. Omaha also has a quarter-acre area known as The Swamp inside Kingdoms of the Night, along with an extensive Sonoran Desert section in the Desert Dome. By contrast, San Diego has Northern Frontier with polar bears as the anchor species, but the satellite exhibits (foxes, reindeer, cougars) are not memorable. San Diego does have some North American species in its Reptile House, as well as the superb California Condor aviary and rattlesnake exhibit in Elephant Odyssey.
I’m not sure that either zoo warrants a discussion in terms of European animals, as it’s not a well represented continent. Antarctica would be another category that would go the way of Omaha, due to their penguins, but it’s a single exhibit and I’m not sure that I should include it.
Biomes:
Rainforest: Omaha wins this category because the huge tropical rainforest building known as Lied Jungle is still the best of its kind in North America, even though it is almost 30 years old. There’s approximately 100 species inside the structure and the visitor experience is terrific as there is a canopy walk and then a second trail that winds down on the floor of the jungle. As for San Diego, one could make the case that the entire zoo is a rainforest as the lush vegetation is dominant in areas such as the Lost Forest region. A tough category to judge!
Desert: Omaha wins this category due to its Desert Dome. There are recreations of the Namib Desert, Sonoran Desert and Australia’s Red Center, with at least 60 species found throughout the hot building. There are canyon-like walkways and cave settings and the whole thing is an amazing visitor attraction even though some of the mammals have poor exhibits. San Diego’s much-maligned elephant exhibit looks a bit desert-like, with those weird metal trees sticking up out of the parched ground. However, other than some fantastic outdoor reptile enclosures, San Diego lacks a specific desert region. Omaha also has some desert species in Kingdoms of the Night.
Polar: San Diego wins this category, due mainly to Polar Frontier. The exhibit for polar bears is a quarter-century old now and beginning to show its age, and the fox and reindeer enclosures are disappointing, but the diving duck aviary is a delight and Omaha lacks any kind of polar section.
I could also provide examples of Grasslands and Forest biomes, but I feel that there is more subjectivity when determining the biome analysis in comparison to other categories. It would also perhaps favour Omaha and that zoo's style of displaying animals.
Animals:
Elephants: Omaha wins this category as the African elephant exhibit is new, several acres in size, with simulated mudbanks, zebras with the pachyderms, and in truth it is one of the best elephant habitats to be found at any zoo in North America. San Diego has Elephant Odyssey, which has displayed both African and Asian species over the years and is essentially a retirement home for elephants. Aesthetically, the barn and outdoor space is lacking in San Diego, while Omaha has a larger yet still functional barn and a far superior outdoor space. Elephants are usually pretty close to the top of the list as the #1 most popular zoo animal and Omaha has done a great job with its elephant complex.
Ungulates: Omaha wins this category, mainly based on its sprawling African Grasslands and Asian Highlands additions. The giraffe exhibit in Omaha is one of the best in the country, while San Diego has probably the worst giraffe exhibit to be found at any major zoo. Omaha has pygmy hippos, tapirs and peccaries in all-indoor enclosures, but the zoo also has sable antelope, bongos, gorals, rhinos and takins in splendid new outdoor exhibits. At one time, San Diego would have swept this category with aplomb because of the existence of the iconic ‘Horn & Hoof Mesa’, but those days are long gone.
Felines: Omaha wins this category as the zoo has built brand-new exhibits for lions, tigers, snow leopards and cheetahs in the last few years. All are outstanding and the zoo has gone from having one of the worst setups for big cats (the now defunct 1977 Cat Complex) to one of the best. The Ocelot/Bobcat/African Wildcat exhibits inside the Desert Dome are all outdated and so it will be interesting to see what Omaha does in the future with those enclosures. San Diego has also constructed a number of feline exhibits in the past decade or so, with a range of quality that doesn’t equal what Omaha has built. The new leopard complex in San Diego, next to the red pandas, looks to be a decent addition to the zoo. Another leopard exhibit, in Africa Rocks, looks to be okay, much like the new cougar enclosure near Northern Frontier. The lion exhibit in Elephant Odyssey is awful, with the jaguars faring much better next door. Tigers and fishing cats have aging exhibits in Lost Forest, but at times San Diego keeps big cats in the century-old grottoes and those enclosures are disappointing from a modern perspective.
Bears: San Diego wins this category but both zoos are weak here. Omaha has a single bear species, and the sloth bears have a nice new habitat in Asian Highlands. San Diego has polar bears in a decent exhibit in Northern Frontier and then a few other bear species in the old grottoes. Both zoos would do well to build some new bear exhibits, and it would be nice to see giant pandas return to San Diego as that species has been associated with the zoo for decades.
Great Apes: San Diego wins this category as there is an excellent bonobo exhibit, the very good gorilla habitat and the orangutan/siamang enclosure with terrific viewing areas. Omaha has several gorilla exhibits in a maze-like complex that has never really impressed me, although the indoor areas are nice and the mixing with monkeys is neat to watch. Omaha does better with its orangutans and siamangs in very tall outdoor exhibits, but other gibbons are trapped on mock-rock islands in Lied Jungle year-round.
Other Primates: San Diego wins this category, even though both zoos have extensive primate collections. There is great joy in walking through San Diego’s Lost Forest (although it's easy to become disoriented) to observe the numerous primate exhibits in all directions. There are viewing areas for the upper canopy and lower sections of the habitats, with many mesh exhibits and active animals. Asian Passage and Africa Rocks have yet more monkeys, with full access to the outdoors year-round. Omaha has a number of primates in Lied Jungle in decent, climate-controlled habitats, but Expedition Madagascar is a detriment to the zoo. It is a nice collection of lemurs in mainly all-indoor, small enclosures.
Birds: San Diego wins this category and is an astonishing zoo for birds. There is something like 330 species and 2,000 birds at this California zoo, often in wonderful exhibits. The massive pair of aviaries known as Owens and Scripps are up there with the very best of their kind anywhere, plus there is the California condor aviary, the diving bird/marsh aviary, the Parker aviary, a gathering of around 20 aviaries known as ‘Australasia’, the huge bird of prey hillside aviaries that are truly spectacular, the African penguins swimming with leopard sharks in a deep pool, the brand-new Hummingbird Habitat, and loads of other aviaries all across the lush grounds. The big mesh aviary in Africa Rocks has its fans, as does a rather obscure aviary with 15 species right across from the fishing cats in Lost Forest. Omaha has the Simmons Aviary, which opened in 1983 and is advertised as the largest aviary in the United States. However, even with a recent revamp it surely cannot hold a candle to the big aviaries in San Diego. Omaha has a delightful collection of free-flying birds in Lied Jungle and Desert Dome but compared to San Diego this category is no contest.
Reptiles & Amphibians: San Diego wins this category, but it’s a very close call. Omaha has been listed in the past as having 240 reptile/amphibian species, which puts it at #1 in the country. However, there isn’t a designated Reptile House, probably half of that total can be found behind-the-scenes, and almost the entire collection is kept indoors. By contrast, San Diego has its 1930s-era Reptile House with exactly 50 terrariums, and a varied collection spread across the zoo. Both zoos have world-class collections of cold-blooded animals, with approximately 120 species on-show at each zoo, with Omaha concentrating their reptiles and amphibians into the Desert Dome, Kingdoms of the Night, Lied Jungle, Expedition Madagascar and Wild Kingdom Pavilion buildings. San Diego has almost half of its on-show collection in the Reptile House’s traditional terrariums, but the outdoor displays in Discovery Outpost are what gives San Diego the edge. Seeing the large groups of Galapagos tortoises, or crocodilians, turtles and lizards, all basking in the sun is a special experience.
Insects/Arthropods: Omaha wins this category as the zoo has the Butterfly & Insect Pavilion, which is a 14,000 square foot building with a small walk-through butterfly jungle and approximately 35 species of insects and arthropods in a series of terrariums. San Diego has a small Insect House with half the number of species and that probably won’t change much with the addition of the overhauled Children’s Zoo.
Fish: Omaha wins this category with its 350 species of fish, which dwarves whatever San Diego has. Omaha has the Scott Aquarium, with its approximately 30 exhibits and 1.3 million gallons of water. It’s the largest aquarium inside any zoo in North America and it honestly could stand as a separate zoological attraction. Omaha also recently opened Stingray Beach, a far more substantial attraction for stingrays than what most zoos have on offer.
Animal exhibit flaws: Omaha wins this category because the zoo has done a lot to rectify its flaws in the past decade. There are a few exhibits in Kingdoms of the Night and Lied Jungle that could be tweaked, and a number of enclosures in the Desert Dome need to be overhauled, and Expedition Madagascar (only just built in 2010) is already outdated. However, San Diego has the infamous corn crib cages near the century-old grottoes, along with the travesty that is Urban Jungle. San Diego has done a great job updating the zoo, but Urban Jungle (what kind of name is that?) and the surrounding grottoes need to be the next major project to be bulldozed. The flaws in San Diego are far more dominant than the flaws in Omaha.
Intangibles:
History: San Diego wins this category, even though the zoo opened in 1916 and is younger than Omaha’s opening date of 1894. Omaha wasn’t a very notable zoo for many decades, only beginning to show promise in the 1970s and the progression since then has been astonishing. San Diego gained both elephants and the enormous Scripps Flight Cage in 1923 and it wasn’t long after that before the zoo was one of the premier establishments in the world with a dizzying array of species. San Diego has its historic Reptile House and some old grottoes, while Omaha doesn’t really have much of anything historic. In truth, neither zoo is very European in terms of the preservation of older structures.
Publications: San Diego wins this category, as the two books titled The San Diego Zoo: The First Century 1916-2016 could well be the finest zoo history publications of all-time. Not only that, but San Diego Zoo regularly still produces the classic ZOONOOZ magazine (now digital) and has an impressive history filled with various semi-annual guidebooks and biographies of Harry Wegeforth, Charles Schroeder and Belle Benchley. San Diego Zoo Wild Alliance Press has been pumping out all sorts of books in recent years, with many aimed at young readers. Omaha has the autobiography of Lee G. Simmons, plus a short history book, but nothing in the same ballpark as San Diego’s extensive publication history.
Restaurants: San Diego wins this category and is famous for having some excellent dining options. Albert’s Restaurant, high up in the treetops, has full-service dining and an excellent menu. The Sabertooth Grill overlooks part of Elephant Odyssey, Hua Mei Café has Asian cuisine near where there was once giant pandas, Sydney’s Grill is a pleasant eating spot in the Outback section, and from food stands to cafes, San Diego has 20 locations where a visitor can stop to eat. Omaha has around a dozen food sellers, with the highlight being Durham TreeTops Restaurant in Lied Jungle, looking out at gibbons and the rainforest complex. The Tusker Grill, overlooking the elephant herd, is another prime location to have a meal.
Conservation: San Diego wins this category, mainly because of longevity and worldwide recognition. The San Diego Institute for Conservation Research funds a long list of conservation activities around the globe. Also, the creation of the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES), means that San Diego has been responsible for the ‘frozen zoo’. Omaha built the Bill and Berniece Grewcock Center for Conservation and Research in 1996, adding an additional wing a decade later, and the zoo even ended up naming a new lemur species (Lepilemur grewcocki) in 2006. Both zoos have contributed an enormous amount of time and money towards conservation, and by having huge visitor numbers (4 million for San Diego, 2 million for Omaha), that alone does wonders for conservation initiatives.
Family-Friendly: Omaha wins this category. San Diego is not very family-friendly in terms of its terrain, with sloping canyon trails and steep hillside treks. To traverse all of the zoo’s grounds is a taxing, all-day experience (let alone with young kids!) and San Diego is listed as having 100 acres. Omaha has 160 acres, and can also be a long, tiring day, but it doesn’t feel as big and not all of the zoo’s grounds are made up with exhibits. The massive animal buildings are near the entrance, often with only a few steps between each one, and so it’s possible for winter visitors to skip the higher elevations and concentrate on the heated structures at the front of the zoo. San Diego is currently building a brand-new Children’s Zoo, and the Skyfari gondola ride is always very popular, but Omaha has a 5-acre Children’s Zoo, a carousel, its own skyride, a train ride and an Alaskan Adventure Splash Park in its southwest corner. Omaha also has a Giant Screen (IMAX-style) Theater near the entrance, with 45-minute films shown daily.
Overall:
San Diego 11 Omaha 13
Which zoo is ‘best’? It’s difficult to say! San Diego and Omaha are great zoos and without a doubt two ‘bucket list’ attractions for any zoo nerd. They aren’t perfect and there are flaws with each, but there is a clear sense of progress at both establishments. As the years roll by, the flaws become less and less. The eye-watering amounts of money that has been spent in both locations is staggering, with no other zoo in North America keeping pace. Perhaps Pairi Daiza and Beauval would be the European counterparts in terms of recent expenses.
Omaha certainly has the ‘wow’ factor, with the world’s largest Nocturnal House, the world’s largest indoor swamp, North America’s largest rainforest building, the largest Aquarium inside any zoo on the continent, the world’s largest geodesic dome, the largest aviary in North America, and a long list of impressive structures. San Diego has an incredible history of an outstanding animal collection in above-average exhibits. Both zoos have excelled at self-promotion, whether it is Omaha proclaiming their latest exhibit as the largest of its kind, to San Diego adding the words “world-famous” to all its slogans and advertisements. While undoubtedly the geographic location of San Diego has made the zoo a spectacular attraction every day of the year, Omaha has a more European feel with big animal houses that are open year-round.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for these zoos, but my guess is that they will continue to prosper and reinvent themselves. Perhaps San Diego will take a look at the gorgeous giraffe habitat in Omaha and do something about its own giraffes in the infamous Urban Jungle. Maybe Omaha will build some kind of bear habitat near the Alaskan Waterpark/Owen Sea Lion Shores zone. I can picture grizzlies, sea otters and even a pack of wolves as nice complements to the nearby pinnipeds, but this is all speculation on my part.
I find it nearly impossible to choose which of the two zoos is my favourite. It's always been San Diego for me, thanks to a half-dozen visits in the California sunshine over the past 15 years. However, each of my three visits to Omaha has shown an ever-improving zoo, with an astonishing set of exhibits that are in many ways a whole class above what San Diego has on offer. Just in the past 5 years, Omaha has overhauled approximately 45 acres of land into fantastic new exhibits and that zoo is probably one big project away from being my clear #1. If I had to choose, I'd still go with San Diego...just barely San Diego...but the margin is thin. Omaha's next project will likely bump it up.
The two behemoths are very different from each other. San Diego is on the coast of California, with sunshine year-round and it is a zoo that is almost entirely open to the elements. Meanwhile, in eastern Nebraska, one of Omaha’s zoo maps declares that there are “7 acres of indoor exhibits” which instantly tells the visitor what the weather is like in the winter.
I thought it would be FUN to take a look at these two wonderful zoological establishments and compare them head-to-head in a range of categories. All the opinions are my own, although I would love to read some responses from fellow zoo nerds.
Continents:
African Animals & Exhibits: Omaha wins this category because the 28-acre African Grasslands complex is superb and offers up large modern exhibits. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, bongos, white rhinos, impala, sable antelope, okapis and klipspringers all have terrific exhibits and there is loads of space in every enclosure. This part of the zoo apparently has 25 buildings and structures in it, including a realistic Kopje area, a huge giraffe feeding deck, a spacious cheetah habitat and possibly my favourite lion exhibit of all-time. Omaha also has a delightful representation of the Namib Desert in the Desert Dome, plus many African species throughout Lied Jungle, Kingdoms of the Night, Scott Aquarium and the Wild Kingdom Pavilion. There’s even a big gorilla complex and Expedition Madagascar. San Diego has Africa Rocks, an 8-acre slice of the zoo, that uses a variety of containment styles to offer up a series of new African exhibits. Elephant Odyssey, Urban Jungle and the Reptile House all showcase some African species, along with the amazing bird collection and Lost Forest zone (hippos, gorillas, bonobos, okapis, etc.), but it all falls behind Omaha’s achievements.
Asian Animals & Exhibits: Omaha wins this category, with the loss of giant pandas hurting San Diego because no other species is as popular with visitors. A few years ago, San Diego would probably claim this category because of its extensive collection of Asian birds, plus representations of the continent in the form of reptiles and amphibians. A number of exhibits in San Diego’s Lost Forest zone feature Asian primates, and the zoo also has Asian Passage with sun bears and yet more primates. However, Omaha has recently built an 8-acre Asian Highlands section, with superb new habitats for marquee species such as tigers, snow leopards, red pandas, rhinos and takins. There are only 10 species in Asian Highlands, but everything looks so impressive that it’s been a vital addition to the zoo. Omaha also has orangutans, gibbons and many Asian species in Lied Jungle and even inside Kingdoms of the Night.
Australian Animals & Exhibits: San Diego wins this category on the basis that koalas are quite rare in North American zoos and yet San Diego can have anywhere from a dozen to twenty at any given point in time. There are also Tasmanian devils, wallabies and a designated Outback area with some nice aviaries that hold approximately 20 species. Omaha has wallabies, echidnas and an incredible freshwater crocodile/turtle tank in Kingdoms of the Night. Omaha also has a fantastic collection of Australian snakes and lizards in the Red Center section of the Desert Dome, but the zoo lacks marquee species such as koalas and Tasmanian devils and therefore this category goes to San Diego.
South American Animals & Exhibits: Omaha wins this category, although neither zoo has a designated South American zone. Omaha has quite a variety of South American species in Lied Jungle, plus there is Kingdoms of the Night, Scott Aquarium and Wild Kingdom Pavilion. Both zoos have a few smaller primates from South America, and San Diego has an extensive bird collection and a few South American species scattered here and there, but probably not enough to dethrone Omaha.
North American Animals & Exhibits: Omaha wins this category, although again neither zoo has a designated zone and to be honest both zoos lack an extensive collection from their own continent. Omaha’s recent addition of Owen Sea Lion Shores, a magnificent recreation of a Pacific Northwest setting for pinnipeds, looks to be an amazing exhibit. Omaha also has a quarter-acre area known as The Swamp inside Kingdoms of the Night, along with an extensive Sonoran Desert section in the Desert Dome. By contrast, San Diego has Northern Frontier with polar bears as the anchor species, but the satellite exhibits (foxes, reindeer, cougars) are not memorable. San Diego does have some North American species in its Reptile House, as well as the superb California Condor aviary and rattlesnake exhibit in Elephant Odyssey.
I’m not sure that either zoo warrants a discussion in terms of European animals, as it’s not a well represented continent. Antarctica would be another category that would go the way of Omaha, due to their penguins, but it’s a single exhibit and I’m not sure that I should include it.
Biomes:
Rainforest: Omaha wins this category because the huge tropical rainforest building known as Lied Jungle is still the best of its kind in North America, even though it is almost 30 years old. There’s approximately 100 species inside the structure and the visitor experience is terrific as there is a canopy walk and then a second trail that winds down on the floor of the jungle. As for San Diego, one could make the case that the entire zoo is a rainforest as the lush vegetation is dominant in areas such as the Lost Forest region. A tough category to judge!
Desert: Omaha wins this category due to its Desert Dome. There are recreations of the Namib Desert, Sonoran Desert and Australia’s Red Center, with at least 60 species found throughout the hot building. There are canyon-like walkways and cave settings and the whole thing is an amazing visitor attraction even though some of the mammals have poor exhibits. San Diego’s much-maligned elephant exhibit looks a bit desert-like, with those weird metal trees sticking up out of the parched ground. However, other than some fantastic outdoor reptile enclosures, San Diego lacks a specific desert region. Omaha also has some desert species in Kingdoms of the Night.
Polar: San Diego wins this category, due mainly to Polar Frontier. The exhibit for polar bears is a quarter-century old now and beginning to show its age, and the fox and reindeer enclosures are disappointing, but the diving duck aviary is a delight and Omaha lacks any kind of polar section.
I could also provide examples of Grasslands and Forest biomes, but I feel that there is more subjectivity when determining the biome analysis in comparison to other categories. It would also perhaps favour Omaha and that zoo's style of displaying animals.
Animals:
Elephants: Omaha wins this category as the African elephant exhibit is new, several acres in size, with simulated mudbanks, zebras with the pachyderms, and in truth it is one of the best elephant habitats to be found at any zoo in North America. San Diego has Elephant Odyssey, which has displayed both African and Asian species over the years and is essentially a retirement home for elephants. Aesthetically, the barn and outdoor space is lacking in San Diego, while Omaha has a larger yet still functional barn and a far superior outdoor space. Elephants are usually pretty close to the top of the list as the #1 most popular zoo animal and Omaha has done a great job with its elephant complex.
Ungulates: Omaha wins this category, mainly based on its sprawling African Grasslands and Asian Highlands additions. The giraffe exhibit in Omaha is one of the best in the country, while San Diego has probably the worst giraffe exhibit to be found at any major zoo. Omaha has pygmy hippos, tapirs and peccaries in all-indoor enclosures, but the zoo also has sable antelope, bongos, gorals, rhinos and takins in splendid new outdoor exhibits. At one time, San Diego would have swept this category with aplomb because of the existence of the iconic ‘Horn & Hoof Mesa’, but those days are long gone.
Felines: Omaha wins this category as the zoo has built brand-new exhibits for lions, tigers, snow leopards and cheetahs in the last few years. All are outstanding and the zoo has gone from having one of the worst setups for big cats (the now defunct 1977 Cat Complex) to one of the best. The Ocelot/Bobcat/African Wildcat exhibits inside the Desert Dome are all outdated and so it will be interesting to see what Omaha does in the future with those enclosures. San Diego has also constructed a number of feline exhibits in the past decade or so, with a range of quality that doesn’t equal what Omaha has built. The new leopard complex in San Diego, next to the red pandas, looks to be a decent addition to the zoo. Another leopard exhibit, in Africa Rocks, looks to be okay, much like the new cougar enclosure near Northern Frontier. The lion exhibit in Elephant Odyssey is awful, with the jaguars faring much better next door. Tigers and fishing cats have aging exhibits in Lost Forest, but at times San Diego keeps big cats in the century-old grottoes and those enclosures are disappointing from a modern perspective.
Bears: San Diego wins this category but both zoos are weak here. Omaha has a single bear species, and the sloth bears have a nice new habitat in Asian Highlands. San Diego has polar bears in a decent exhibit in Northern Frontier and then a few other bear species in the old grottoes. Both zoos would do well to build some new bear exhibits, and it would be nice to see giant pandas return to San Diego as that species has been associated with the zoo for decades.
Great Apes: San Diego wins this category as there is an excellent bonobo exhibit, the very good gorilla habitat and the orangutan/siamang enclosure with terrific viewing areas. Omaha has several gorilla exhibits in a maze-like complex that has never really impressed me, although the indoor areas are nice and the mixing with monkeys is neat to watch. Omaha does better with its orangutans and siamangs in very tall outdoor exhibits, but other gibbons are trapped on mock-rock islands in Lied Jungle year-round.
Other Primates: San Diego wins this category, even though both zoos have extensive primate collections. There is great joy in walking through San Diego’s Lost Forest (although it's easy to become disoriented) to observe the numerous primate exhibits in all directions. There are viewing areas for the upper canopy and lower sections of the habitats, with many mesh exhibits and active animals. Asian Passage and Africa Rocks have yet more monkeys, with full access to the outdoors year-round. Omaha has a number of primates in Lied Jungle in decent, climate-controlled habitats, but Expedition Madagascar is a detriment to the zoo. It is a nice collection of lemurs in mainly all-indoor, small enclosures.
Birds: San Diego wins this category and is an astonishing zoo for birds. There is something like 330 species and 2,000 birds at this California zoo, often in wonderful exhibits. The massive pair of aviaries known as Owens and Scripps are up there with the very best of their kind anywhere, plus there is the California condor aviary, the diving bird/marsh aviary, the Parker aviary, a gathering of around 20 aviaries known as ‘Australasia’, the huge bird of prey hillside aviaries that are truly spectacular, the African penguins swimming with leopard sharks in a deep pool, the brand-new Hummingbird Habitat, and loads of other aviaries all across the lush grounds. The big mesh aviary in Africa Rocks has its fans, as does a rather obscure aviary with 15 species right across from the fishing cats in Lost Forest. Omaha has the Simmons Aviary, which opened in 1983 and is advertised as the largest aviary in the United States. However, even with a recent revamp it surely cannot hold a candle to the big aviaries in San Diego. Omaha has a delightful collection of free-flying birds in Lied Jungle and Desert Dome but compared to San Diego this category is no contest.
Reptiles & Amphibians: San Diego wins this category, but it’s a very close call. Omaha has been listed in the past as having 240 reptile/amphibian species, which puts it at #1 in the country. However, there isn’t a designated Reptile House, probably half of that total can be found behind-the-scenes, and almost the entire collection is kept indoors. By contrast, San Diego has its 1930s-era Reptile House with exactly 50 terrariums, and a varied collection spread across the zoo. Both zoos have world-class collections of cold-blooded animals, with approximately 120 species on-show at each zoo, with Omaha concentrating their reptiles and amphibians into the Desert Dome, Kingdoms of the Night, Lied Jungle, Expedition Madagascar and Wild Kingdom Pavilion buildings. San Diego has almost half of its on-show collection in the Reptile House’s traditional terrariums, but the outdoor displays in Discovery Outpost are what gives San Diego the edge. Seeing the large groups of Galapagos tortoises, or crocodilians, turtles and lizards, all basking in the sun is a special experience.
Insects/Arthropods: Omaha wins this category as the zoo has the Butterfly & Insect Pavilion, which is a 14,000 square foot building with a small walk-through butterfly jungle and approximately 35 species of insects and arthropods in a series of terrariums. San Diego has a small Insect House with half the number of species and that probably won’t change much with the addition of the overhauled Children’s Zoo.
Fish: Omaha wins this category with its 350 species of fish, which dwarves whatever San Diego has. Omaha has the Scott Aquarium, with its approximately 30 exhibits and 1.3 million gallons of water. It’s the largest aquarium inside any zoo in North America and it honestly could stand as a separate zoological attraction. Omaha also recently opened Stingray Beach, a far more substantial attraction for stingrays than what most zoos have on offer.
Animal exhibit flaws: Omaha wins this category because the zoo has done a lot to rectify its flaws in the past decade. There are a few exhibits in Kingdoms of the Night and Lied Jungle that could be tweaked, and a number of enclosures in the Desert Dome need to be overhauled, and Expedition Madagascar (only just built in 2010) is already outdated. However, San Diego has the infamous corn crib cages near the century-old grottoes, along with the travesty that is Urban Jungle. San Diego has done a great job updating the zoo, but Urban Jungle (what kind of name is that?) and the surrounding grottoes need to be the next major project to be bulldozed. The flaws in San Diego are far more dominant than the flaws in Omaha.
Intangibles:
History: San Diego wins this category, even though the zoo opened in 1916 and is younger than Omaha’s opening date of 1894. Omaha wasn’t a very notable zoo for many decades, only beginning to show promise in the 1970s and the progression since then has been astonishing. San Diego gained both elephants and the enormous Scripps Flight Cage in 1923 and it wasn’t long after that before the zoo was one of the premier establishments in the world with a dizzying array of species. San Diego has its historic Reptile House and some old grottoes, while Omaha doesn’t really have much of anything historic. In truth, neither zoo is very European in terms of the preservation of older structures.
Publications: San Diego wins this category, as the two books titled The San Diego Zoo: The First Century 1916-2016 could well be the finest zoo history publications of all-time. Not only that, but San Diego Zoo regularly still produces the classic ZOONOOZ magazine (now digital) and has an impressive history filled with various semi-annual guidebooks and biographies of Harry Wegeforth, Charles Schroeder and Belle Benchley. San Diego Zoo Wild Alliance Press has been pumping out all sorts of books in recent years, with many aimed at young readers. Omaha has the autobiography of Lee G. Simmons, plus a short history book, but nothing in the same ballpark as San Diego’s extensive publication history.
Restaurants: San Diego wins this category and is famous for having some excellent dining options. Albert’s Restaurant, high up in the treetops, has full-service dining and an excellent menu. The Sabertooth Grill overlooks part of Elephant Odyssey, Hua Mei Café has Asian cuisine near where there was once giant pandas, Sydney’s Grill is a pleasant eating spot in the Outback section, and from food stands to cafes, San Diego has 20 locations where a visitor can stop to eat. Omaha has around a dozen food sellers, with the highlight being Durham TreeTops Restaurant in Lied Jungle, looking out at gibbons and the rainforest complex. The Tusker Grill, overlooking the elephant herd, is another prime location to have a meal.
Conservation: San Diego wins this category, mainly because of longevity and worldwide recognition. The San Diego Institute for Conservation Research funds a long list of conservation activities around the globe. Also, the creation of the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES), means that San Diego has been responsible for the ‘frozen zoo’. Omaha built the Bill and Berniece Grewcock Center for Conservation and Research in 1996, adding an additional wing a decade later, and the zoo even ended up naming a new lemur species (Lepilemur grewcocki) in 2006. Both zoos have contributed an enormous amount of time and money towards conservation, and by having huge visitor numbers (4 million for San Diego, 2 million for Omaha), that alone does wonders for conservation initiatives.
Family-Friendly: Omaha wins this category. San Diego is not very family-friendly in terms of its terrain, with sloping canyon trails and steep hillside treks. To traverse all of the zoo’s grounds is a taxing, all-day experience (let alone with young kids!) and San Diego is listed as having 100 acres. Omaha has 160 acres, and can also be a long, tiring day, but it doesn’t feel as big and not all of the zoo’s grounds are made up with exhibits. The massive animal buildings are near the entrance, often with only a few steps between each one, and so it’s possible for winter visitors to skip the higher elevations and concentrate on the heated structures at the front of the zoo. San Diego is currently building a brand-new Children’s Zoo, and the Skyfari gondola ride is always very popular, but Omaha has a 5-acre Children’s Zoo, a carousel, its own skyride, a train ride and an Alaskan Adventure Splash Park in its southwest corner. Omaha also has a Giant Screen (IMAX-style) Theater near the entrance, with 45-minute films shown daily.
Overall:
San Diego 11 Omaha 13
Which zoo is ‘best’? It’s difficult to say! San Diego and Omaha are great zoos and without a doubt two ‘bucket list’ attractions for any zoo nerd. They aren’t perfect and there are flaws with each, but there is a clear sense of progress at both establishments. As the years roll by, the flaws become less and less. The eye-watering amounts of money that has been spent in both locations is staggering, with no other zoo in North America keeping pace. Perhaps Pairi Daiza and Beauval would be the European counterparts in terms of recent expenses.
Omaha certainly has the ‘wow’ factor, with the world’s largest Nocturnal House, the world’s largest indoor swamp, North America’s largest rainforest building, the largest Aquarium inside any zoo on the continent, the world’s largest geodesic dome, the largest aviary in North America, and a long list of impressive structures. San Diego has an incredible history of an outstanding animal collection in above-average exhibits. Both zoos have excelled at self-promotion, whether it is Omaha proclaiming their latest exhibit as the largest of its kind, to San Diego adding the words “world-famous” to all its slogans and advertisements. While undoubtedly the geographic location of San Diego has made the zoo a spectacular attraction every day of the year, Omaha has a more European feel with big animal houses that are open year-round.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for these zoos, but my guess is that they will continue to prosper and reinvent themselves. Perhaps San Diego will take a look at the gorgeous giraffe habitat in Omaha and do something about its own giraffes in the infamous Urban Jungle. Maybe Omaha will build some kind of bear habitat near the Alaskan Waterpark/Owen Sea Lion Shores zone. I can picture grizzlies, sea otters and even a pack of wolves as nice complements to the nearby pinnipeds, but this is all speculation on my part.
I find it nearly impossible to choose which of the two zoos is my favourite. It's always been San Diego for me, thanks to a half-dozen visits in the California sunshine over the past 15 years. However, each of my three visits to Omaha has shown an ever-improving zoo, with an astonishing set of exhibits that are in many ways a whole class above what San Diego has on offer. Just in the past 5 years, Omaha has overhauled approximately 45 acres of land into fantastic new exhibits and that zoo is probably one big project away from being my clear #1. If I had to choose, I'd still go with San Diego...just barely San Diego...but the margin is thin. Omaha's next project will likely bump it up.
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haha Although I imagine that it’s still a great park and perhaps it’s focus of North American fauna is an amazing asset for North American species conservation!
