Blackduiker
Well-Known Member
Snowleopard, I am visiting zoos I've never seen before through your reviews. And Cleveland's species list sounds very impressive.
Snowleopard's 2010 Road Trip
- Thread starter snowleopard
- Start date
kbaker116
Well-Known Member
Snowleopard are these the only pair in all of North America? Or are they the only pair on ISIS?
ANyhuis
Well-Known Member
They are the only dingoes in any North American zoo that I know of! They used to have dingoes at the Kansas City Zoo, but they replaced them with New Guinea singing dogs. I think the same happened at Zoo Miami.
DAY 18: Thursday, July 29th.
I type this from Warwick, Rhode Island, as tomorrow we are loading up the minivan for a visit to the Roger Williams Park Zoo. That mid-sized zoo is regarded as the best zoo in all of New England, but that part of the United States is not exactly thriving with an abundance of zoos. Saturday will be the historic Philadelphia Zoo, and I’ll be able to hopefully see rare species such as giant otters, Bornean bearded pigs, Galapagos tortoises, okapis and echidnas.
Today was a driving day, including a couple of loads of laundry at the Motel 6 at night, brunch at Denny’s and Domino’s pizza for dinner. We didn’t exactly eat very healthy today, and with a young baby it is difficult to go into a restaurant and order a meal and still control an active child, and thus whipping through a Subway or Taco Bell drive-thru is much easier. We eat on the run! My wife was actually quite happy that today was a non-zoo day, as to give her full credit we saw 14 zoos in 17 days and she admits that all of them are beginning to blend together into one large mirage of African Savannas, African Villages, Primate Houses, Indoor Rainforests and other grandiose exhibit complexes. The only reason that I have such a great memory when it comes to zoos (and why I take zero notes on all of my visits) is that I study the zoo map a thousand times, take hundreds of photos, upload the photos later that same day, and then type up a comprehensive review. By the time all of that is completed I know the zoo like the back of my own hand. Madness to most people that I know back home in southwestern Canada, but not altogether strange for fellow ZooChatters.
With no zoo review today instead I’ll answer a few questions and comments that I received on my last few reviews. I need to post something to keep my fan club happy.
@Blondie: I know all about the Buffalo Zoo’s master-plan, but I also am aware that many zoos publish master-plans that never come to fruition. There is no guarantee of any financial backing for all the zoo’s plans, and so we’ll all just have to cross our fingers that money becomes available in the future for badly needed improvements.
@Blospz: It is really too bad that we couldn’t meet up at the zoo, as we probably missed each other by about 30 minutes. I like the fact that you are realistic about your local zoo, and you aren’t afraid to acknowledge its deficiencies. I did not see the ocelot or tamandua but as you know I still loved the new rainforest building; I saw the male giraffe in the paddock; I saw the mother and baby Indian rhinos and not the male at all; I liked the “Bone Zone” and thought that the farm was quite tiny in comparison to many other zoo farms.
One last comment: the gorilla exhibit in Buffalo is simply atrocious, and if you ever visit San Diego, Woodland Park, Dallas, Louisville, Sedgwick County, Saint Louis, Atlanta, Lincoln Park and many other zoos you will top-class gorilla habitats that make Buffalo’s look like a joke. Of all the poor exhibits at your local zoo the gorilla cement bunker is the worst of the lot.
@Zooplantman: My wife and I discussed the fact that the tiny Akron Zoo should actually be renamed the Akron Children’s Zoo, as there are indeed many close-up animal encounters geared towards children. I said in my review that there was nothing especially noteworthy at the zoo but also nothing terrible either, and I’m sure that Akron has its place in the community. It was certainly jam-packed to the rafters for a Monday morning, and thus containing the large crowds is what I perceive as a failure on the part of the zoo. Too many narrow corners and walkways!
@BlackRhino: I counted “Wolf Wilderness” as part of “Northern Trek” as on the Cleveland Zoo map the areas are combined, and on the signage leading up to that zone of the zoo many of the well-designed signs (with antlers on them!) say “Northern Trek” and actually have images of wolves on them. In the book “America’s Best Zoos” I’m guessing that because the wolf/beaver exhibit is slightly off to the side, and much newer and better than the rest of the area, that it deserved a place of its own.
The agree that the orangutan exhibit in Cleveland is far superior to the junkyard fish tanks that are orang enclosures at both the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne zoos. However, having arboreal apes indoors 24/7 with zero outdoor access and zero natural substrate rates an “F” in my book. A brutal exhibit, no matter how much enrichment there is or how tall the ugly fake tree is.
@kbaker116: I was told by Fort Wayne’s senior Australian mammal keeper that I was looking at the only dingoes in North America. I have visited 18 Australian zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks and it is quite remarkable to see the diversity of animals that are found in that gorgeous country. When I was there I was almost sick and tired of seeing Tasmanian devils, dingoes, koalas, quokkas and almost 30 species of possum at every single little wildlife park. Now I would love to see some Aussie variety in American zoos other than the usual bare yard of emus and various macropods.
I type this from Warwick, Rhode Island, as tomorrow we are loading up the minivan for a visit to the Roger Williams Park Zoo. That mid-sized zoo is regarded as the best zoo in all of New England, but that part of the United States is not exactly thriving with an abundance of zoos. Saturday will be the historic Philadelphia Zoo, and I’ll be able to hopefully see rare species such as giant otters, Bornean bearded pigs, Galapagos tortoises, okapis and echidnas.
Today was a driving day, including a couple of loads of laundry at the Motel 6 at night, brunch at Denny’s and Domino’s pizza for dinner. We didn’t exactly eat very healthy today, and with a young baby it is difficult to go into a restaurant and order a meal and still control an active child, and thus whipping through a Subway or Taco Bell drive-thru is much easier. We eat on the run! My wife was actually quite happy that today was a non-zoo day, as to give her full credit we saw 14 zoos in 17 days and she admits that all of them are beginning to blend together into one large mirage of African Savannas, African Villages, Primate Houses, Indoor Rainforests and other grandiose exhibit complexes. The only reason that I have such a great memory when it comes to zoos (and why I take zero notes on all of my visits) is that I study the zoo map a thousand times, take hundreds of photos, upload the photos later that same day, and then type up a comprehensive review. By the time all of that is completed I know the zoo like the back of my own hand. Madness to most people that I know back home in southwestern Canada, but not altogether strange for fellow ZooChatters.
With no zoo review today instead I’ll answer a few questions and comments that I received on my last few reviews. I need to post something to keep my fan club happy.
@Blondie: I know all about the Buffalo Zoo’s master-plan, but I also am aware that many zoos publish master-plans that never come to fruition. There is no guarantee of any financial backing for all the zoo’s plans, and so we’ll all just have to cross our fingers that money becomes available in the future for badly needed improvements.
@Blospz: It is really too bad that we couldn’t meet up at the zoo, as we probably missed each other by about 30 minutes. I like the fact that you are realistic about your local zoo, and you aren’t afraid to acknowledge its deficiencies. I did not see the ocelot or tamandua but as you know I still loved the new rainforest building; I saw the male giraffe in the paddock; I saw the mother and baby Indian rhinos and not the male at all; I liked the “Bone Zone” and thought that the farm was quite tiny in comparison to many other zoo farms.
One last comment: the gorilla exhibit in Buffalo is simply atrocious, and if you ever visit San Diego, Woodland Park, Dallas, Louisville, Sedgwick County, Saint Louis, Atlanta, Lincoln Park and many other zoos you will top-class gorilla habitats that make Buffalo’s look like a joke. Of all the poor exhibits at your local zoo the gorilla cement bunker is the worst of the lot.
@Zooplantman: My wife and I discussed the fact that the tiny Akron Zoo should actually be renamed the Akron Children’s Zoo, as there are indeed many close-up animal encounters geared towards children. I said in my review that there was nothing especially noteworthy at the zoo but also nothing terrible either, and I’m sure that Akron has its place in the community. It was certainly jam-packed to the rafters for a Monday morning, and thus containing the large crowds is what I perceive as a failure on the part of the zoo. Too many narrow corners and walkways!
@BlackRhino: I counted “Wolf Wilderness” as part of “Northern Trek” as on the Cleveland Zoo map the areas are combined, and on the signage leading up to that zone of the zoo many of the well-designed signs (with antlers on them!) say “Northern Trek” and actually have images of wolves on them. In the book “America’s Best Zoos” I’m guessing that because the wolf/beaver exhibit is slightly off to the side, and much newer and better than the rest of the area, that it deserved a place of its own.
The agree that the orangutan exhibit in Cleveland is far superior to the junkyard fish tanks that are orang enclosures at both the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne zoos. However, having arboreal apes indoors 24/7 with zero outdoor access and zero natural substrate rates an “F” in my book. A brutal exhibit, no matter how much enrichment there is or how tall the ugly fake tree is.
@kbaker116: I was told by Fort Wayne’s senior Australian mammal keeper that I was looking at the only dingoes in North America. I have visited 18 Australian zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks and it is quite remarkable to see the diversity of animals that are found in that gorgeous country. When I was there I was almost sick and tired of seeing Tasmanian devils, dingoes, koalas, quokkas and almost 30 species of possum at every single little wildlife park. Now I would love to see some Aussie variety in American zoos other than the usual bare yard of emus and various macropods.
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't think the gorilla exhibit is the worst exhibit at the zoo. I'm not saying that I think it's great, but I've seen exhibits that equal in comparison to it. Both Erie and Pittsburgh Zoo have similar, if not worst, in my opinion, gorilla indoor exhibits. Granted I know that both have outdoor exhibits which give them an advantage. One thing I also found interesting was I reread America's Best Zoos Buffalo section last night and one of their featured exhibits was the gorillas. I'm sure there are a TON of better gorilla exhibits out there and I look forward to seeing them. I will admit that they don't have any climbing opportunities which is a major flaw! And I know you have very high standards for big ape exhibits so I knew you weren't going to like this exhibit. And as I pointed out before, despite the exhibit, the gorillas have thrived in breeding. Reading an old zoo magazine, the female gorillas are on birth control currently because their genetics are so well represented in other zoos across the country. I did find out the female gorilla who left us went to the Memphis Zoo, and although her keepers miss her, they did say they do enjoy the fact she now has an outdoor exhibit to enjoy. I'm sure most of the keepers would love if they had an outdoor exhibit as well, but unfortunately it's not in the zoo's future master plan.
It is too bad we just missed each other. I was at the zoo until 11:30, but we must have been in different parts of the zoo at the time. I am glad that you at least enjoyed the Rainforest exhibit, despite not seeing some of their animals.
I look forward to your future zoo reviews!
It is too bad we just missed each other. I was at the zoo until 11:30, but we must have been in different parts of the zoo at the time. I am glad that you at least enjoyed the Rainforest exhibit, despite not seeing some of their animals.
I look forward to your future zoo reviews!
Well if you notice, that book does not say one negative word about any exhibit anywhere. I challenged the authors on this after I visited the disgusting feline house at Denver, wondering why they didn't comment on how it needs to be improved, and one of them emailed me back and said they wanted to keep everything positive.
I have not been to Buffalo so I cannot comment on the gorilla exhibit, but I would not consider a mention of any exhibit in that book as a guarantee of its quality. (Not saying I don't like the book, because I do, just pointing out one aspect).
mstickmanp
Well-Known Member
Snowleopard, thank you for all the great reviews, as well as all the great photos!
Rookeyper
Well-Known Member
Snowleopard--I should have said that our dingoes are the only ones in a North American zoo. I know Kentucky Down Under used to have an elderly male dingo--I wasn't aware that they had others. I haven't been down that way for some time. There is also a pair in Texas, siblings to ours, that are owned by a private sanctuary. There may be some others coming to the US in the next few years but nothing is finalized yet.
Arizona Docent - Well, you are right about that. Perhaps it was a featured exhibit because it's one of the more popular ones at the zoo (at least the gorillas themselves). I don't think it's one of the best exhibits at the zoo, but I don't think it's one of the worst.
ANyhuis
Well-Known Member
AZ Docent, I don't think those were my exact words. Our book is a travel guidebook -- not a overly critical review, so yes, we did try to stay on the positive side most of the time. But it's not true that we never said anything negative about any zoo exhibits. We usually tried to use more guarded terms, saying a zoo's section was "outdated" or "unattractive". Our goal was (and still is) to persuade the public to get out and visit the leading zoos in America, including those that are less than perfect, like Buffalo.
Most of the time, however, when looking at a zoo exhibit like Buffalo's gorilla habitat, our view was that there are different viewpoints. Of course we knew there are folks like SnowLeopard, who look at great ape exhibits with Woodland Park's wonderful gorilla exhibit as his gold standard. My friend SnowLeopard clearly believes that any exhibit where the apes are kept permanently indoors is a bad exhibit. That is clear from his review of Buffalo, Cleveland, Fort Wayne, and from his past scathing review of Brookfield's Tropic World. I certainly have a lot of sympathy for this opinion, as I too really enjoy seeing gorillas outside on a rolling grassy plain, such as in Zoo Atlanta's Ford African Rain Forest. But, on the other hand, this is not the only way of looking at things. Even on this site, Blospz has repeatedly defended Buffalo's gorilla habitat, saying "I don't think it's horrible". I would agree, and point out that both the Buffalo Zoo itself and a national television show ("Animal Exploration" with Jarod Miller) are not at all embarrassed by this habitat. The show recently (just a couple months ago) did an extended clip spotlighting Buffalo's gorillas, with all footage shot within this exhibit. Honestly, it didn't look bad on TV. They also did scenes from the elephant habitat (with SnowLeopard also panned harshly), the Reptile building, and of course the new rain forest building.
My point is NOT to put down SnowLeopard or his amazing reviews. He knows that I regard him (and his family) as real friends! Like everyone else here, I love following their adventures. (Everyday I check the weather reports for the next few days of their trip.) I'm merely saying that we all have our own personal views and biases. In SnowLeopard's view, he hates indoor ape exhibits and rocky grottoes. In my view, I dislike exhibits where they build in so many "hiding places" for the animals that most of the time visitors can not see them. We slightly disagree in some of our views. But that doesn't make either of us "right" or "wrong".
So I strongly stand by the listing the gorilla habitat in our "Do Not Miss" list for the Buffalo Zoo. If you are going to this zoo, you clearly should not miss the gorillas -- simply because of the playful and entertaining nature of these animals. As Blospz pointed out, there's a good chance that you'll see a baby gorilla in this exhibit -- a sign that the apes are not "suffering". Whether or not you find the exhibit attractive, one good thing is that it offers very close views of the gorillas -- probably the reason that it is so popular with zoo visitors.
polar bear
Well-Known Member
There were Dingos at the Ft Wayne Children's zoo the last time I was there a few years ago, and they are still on the zoo map on their website
From the zoo's website on their current Dingos:
Dingoes
Born November 4 and November 11, 2009
Australian Adventure
Our two dingo puppies arrived in January from the Dingo Discovery Centre in Victoria, Australia, which is dedicated to the conservation of pure dingoes. The male pup is named Mattie, and the female pup is named Naya.
Dingoes are the top predator in Australia, but they are viewed with controversy. Some regard dingoes as a treasured part of Australia’s unique natural history. Others view them as pests. In some parts of Australia, dingoes are trapped, poisoned, and shot.
The zoo looks overseas for pure dingoes because they are not being bred in United States zoos, according to Zoo Animal Curator Mark Weldon. The Dingo Discovery Centre estimates that there are only 75 breeding pairs of pure dingoes in the world. Although they look like domestic dogs, the latest research shows that dingoes are a subspecies of the wolf. Unlike domestic dogs, female dingoes come into heat only once a year. While domestic dogs bark, dingoes howl.
team tapir
Well-Known Member
Wow I spent the afternoon catching up on Snowleopards trip and I must admit I am going crazy in here.I have been stuck on the couch the whole summer with a broken leg.I need to get to some zoos.We have gotten to Cleveland our home zoo about once a week,Bonnie hates having to push me around by the way.I got my cast off yesterday and start physical therapy next week so I cant wait to get to some of our favorite zoos.We are going to Dallas in october very excited for that too.Well Snowleopard sounds like a great trip so far I love reading your reviews and got a question which primate facility do you think is worse Cleveland PCA or Milwaukee
Marty from Team Tapir
Marty from Team Tapir
kbaker116
Well-Known Member
I feel your pain Marty, I had foot surgery on June 23rd. and get to start walking in 3 weeks. Look into a roll-about they are great if you are able to use them.
And I thought my annual road trips to the Bay Area were adventurous. ;-)
Snowleopard, you're amazing! I do have one request. If you happen to have the Minnesota Zoo in your 'to be visited' queue, please check on the status of one of their dolphins, specifically April. Granted, I'll be there in October, but she is getting up in years (she's got to be in her late 40's/early 50's), and I don't have any steady contacts at the marine mammal department.
Thanks much, and happy travels!
Snowleopard, you're amazing! I do have one request. If you happen to have the Minnesota Zoo in your 'to be visited' queue, please check on the status of one of their dolphins, specifically April. Granted, I'll be there in October, but she is getting up in years (she's got to be in her late 40's/early 50's), and I don't have any steady contacts at the marine mammal department.
Thanks much, and happy travels!
I have read bits and pieces of Allen and Jon's book since I bought it a few months ago and have just started reading it from first page to the last in order to prepare myself for my own USA tour in September.
Allen and Jon wrote it in a way that I like. Their aim was to encourage Americans to visit zoos as they travel their country and enter a zoo with an open mind which can then be made up after the visit is over. If they had knocked down Denver Zoo's cat building with a verbal bulldozer, it could have cost Denver Zoo a lot of money through loss of visitors; money that could eventually have been used to upgrade the zoo, including that very cat house. They are building a new Asia section and I'm sure the cats will receive outstanding new facilities upon its completion. Not all can be done at the same time. No zoo is perfect, they all have one or more outdated exhibits. If they get visitors, they also get money to upgrade those exhibits.
Quick answers:
@kc7gr: I am not visiting Minnesota Zoo this time around, which is a pity as it is one of my all-time favourite zoos with some terrific outdoor exhibits. "Russia's Grizzly Coast" is outstanding, and I toured that zoo shortly after it opened in 2008.
@team tapir: As many on this site are aware both Cleveland and Milwaukee have absolutely brutal, badly outdated primate houses. You asked me to decide which is worse, and I'm going to have to choose Cleveland PCA. Not only do you have to hike the "stairway to heaven" just to arrive at the rusty gates, but indoors there is a mish-mash of primates, a few cats and some old fish tanks. Nothing stands out as remarkable except for the sad-sack animals that have to live in those conditions. They are most definitely suffering mentally, with almost zero substrate, enrichment or space. That was the zoo where my wife was embarrassed because I told 2 different employees that the building should be bulldozed, and both of them agreed with me!
@ANyhuis: You and I have discussed zoo exhibits nonstop for a couple of years now, so there is not much left for me to say about bear pits and indoor ape enclosures as you are well aware of my stance in regards to such exhibitry. What I can add is that taking zoos one at a time and analyzing them is different from seeing a number of zoos within a short time frame. I think that if an average individual dragged in off of the street were to see the Buffalo Zoo's gorilla enclosure then they would say "a few apes inside an exhibit at a zoo...ho hum." But then if you were to take that very same person to Sedgwick County, Saint Louis, Cheyenne Mountain and Louisville, all zoos that I've seen for the first time on this road trip and all zoos with massive, lush, naturalistic, close to one-acre outdoor areas for gorillas plus indoor areas approximately the same size of the one in Buffalo...THEN show that same person the Buffalo Zoo's entire gorilla exhibit and they would say "holy smokes Batman, I just saw loads of gorillas in fantastic, natural-looking habitats and now I'm looking at them indoors with steel climbing frames, a concrete floor and what resembles a 1970's bomb shelter." That individual would have seen the best and absolute worst of the zoo world.
@kc7gr: I am not visiting Minnesota Zoo this time around, which is a pity as it is one of my all-time favourite zoos with some terrific outdoor exhibits. "Russia's Grizzly Coast" is outstanding, and I toured that zoo shortly after it opened in 2008.
@team tapir: As many on this site are aware both Cleveland and Milwaukee have absolutely brutal, badly outdated primate houses. You asked me to decide which is worse, and I'm going to have to choose Cleveland PCA. Not only do you have to hike the "stairway to heaven" just to arrive at the rusty gates, but indoors there is a mish-mash of primates, a few cats and some old fish tanks. Nothing stands out as remarkable except for the sad-sack animals that have to live in those conditions. They are most definitely suffering mentally, with almost zero substrate, enrichment or space. That was the zoo where my wife was embarrassed because I told 2 different employees that the building should be bulldozed, and both of them agreed with me!
@ANyhuis: You and I have discussed zoo exhibits nonstop for a couple of years now, so there is not much left for me to say about bear pits and indoor ape enclosures as you are well aware of my stance in regards to such exhibitry. What I can add is that taking zoos one at a time and analyzing them is different from seeing a number of zoos within a short time frame. I think that if an average individual dragged in off of the street were to see the Buffalo Zoo's gorilla enclosure then they would say "a few apes inside an exhibit at a zoo...ho hum." But then if you were to take that very same person to Sedgwick County, Saint Louis, Cheyenne Mountain and Louisville, all zoos that I've seen for the first time on this road trip and all zoos with massive, lush, naturalistic, close to one-acre outdoor areas for gorillas plus indoor areas approximately the same size of the one in Buffalo...THEN show that same person the Buffalo Zoo's entire gorilla exhibit and they would say "holy smokes Batman, I just saw loads of gorillas in fantastic, natural-looking habitats and now I'm looking at them indoors with steel climbing frames, a concrete floor and what resembles a 1970's bomb shelter." That individual would have seen the best and absolute worst of the zoo world.
In 1992 Anthony D. Marshall wrote 'Zoo: Profiles of 102 Zoos, Aquariums and Wildlife Parks in the United States' but it was way too subjective and critical. A guidebook should be as neutral or objective as possible.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Profiles-Aquariums-Wildlife-United/dp/0679746870/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280544285&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Zoo: Profiles of 102 Zoos, Aquariums, and Wildlife Parks in the United States (9780679746874): Anthony D. Marshall: Books[/ame]
Allen and Jon have done an excellent job with their book and I'm sure it will be the best non-human friend that I could wish for when I go to the USA for my zoo marathon in September.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Profiles-Aquariums-Wildlife-United/dp/0679746870/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280544285&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Zoo: Profiles of 102 Zoos, Aquariums, and Wildlife Parks in the United States (9780679746874): Anthony D. Marshall: Books[/ame]
Allen and Jon have done an excellent job with their book and I'm sure it will be the best non-human friend that I could wish for when I go to the USA for my zoo marathon in September.
My signed copy of "America's Best Zoos" has pages falling out of both the front and back sections, a tattered cover, and loads of pen marks as I circle all of the zoos and highly-rated exhibits that I see. It is a FANTASTIC book that my wife jokes has consumed my life, and since I read chapters of it over and over again I wouldn't mind wagering that at this point I know the contents better than even the co-authors! I used to wish that Allen and Jon were more critical, as I know that each of them has strong opinions about certain zoos and the quality that they contain...but I realize that the purpose of the book is to urge travellers to attend zoos and not to be negative about any particular zoological establishments.
My own reviews are different and brutally honest, as I trash the many horrible enclosures that still abound in American zoos and also highly praise the truly world-class habitats. Then there is "geomorph" on this website, who ranks every single zoo and every single zoo exhibit that he sees with intricately written reviews. So between myself, "geomorph" and "America's Best Zoos" every single major zoo in the United States has been analyzed to death. I think that anyone visiting one of those zoos might well have a good idea of what to expect, and then they can form their own opinion as reviewing zoos will always be subjective to the whims and desires of the individual. I for one tend to be very critical and often see the best and worst of each zoo that I visit. I love brilliantly designed exhibits and I am not afraid to announce them as amongst my all-time favourites, while at the same time some of the outdated monkey houses, bear pits and elephant paddocks I've seen are so completely awful that I'm quite shocked that anyone would ever defend them. Pacing bears, head-bobbing elephants and monkeys with missing patches of fur is something that no zoo visitor enjoys seeing.
My own reviews are different and brutally honest, as I trash the many horrible enclosures that still abound in American zoos and also highly praise the truly world-class habitats. Then there is "geomorph" on this website, who ranks every single zoo and every single zoo exhibit that he sees with intricately written reviews. So between myself, "geomorph" and "America's Best Zoos" every single major zoo in the United States has been analyzed to death. I think that anyone visiting one of those zoos might well have a good idea of what to expect, and then they can form their own opinion as reviewing zoos will always be subjective to the whims and desires of the individual. I for one tend to be very critical and often see the best and worst of each zoo that I visit. I love brilliantly designed exhibits and I am not afraid to announce them as amongst my all-time favourites, while at the same time some of the outdated monkey houses, bear pits and elephant paddocks I've seen are so completely awful that I'm quite shocked that anyone would ever defend them. Pacing bears, head-bobbing elephants and monkeys with missing patches of fur is something that no zoo visitor enjoys seeing.
My copy will probably be the same after the tour in September!
Usually I treat books well; the condition of the spine for instance is important so it looks good on the bookshelves. In college I could not bring myself to write or highlight in my text books, even if it would help me to remember the contents. However, 'America's Best Zoos' only costs $15 so I think I'll just buy a new copy for the bookshelves and allow myself to subject the present copy to the harsh treatment that follows travel! 