Well, all zoos you've been to have had a snowleopard when you visitI've seen Snow Leopards in 74 zoos, continuing the trend with Felidae in that all the larger species are the most popular. Other than Bobcats (128 zoos), all of the felines so far are bulky in size, and Snow Leopards are similar to Cheetahs in that I've not seen them at roadside zoos. In truth, there are many mediocre Snow Leopard exhibits, with loads of the cats at AZA accredited zoos in enclosures that are 'meh', to use a common slang term. Perhaps many zoos do not want to invest the money and infrastructure to build mountain-themed habitats for these cats, as they require much more than a simple grassy yard like Cheetahs.
There are THREE years where I saw a heck of a lot of Snow Leopards:
2008 = 12 new zoos with Snow Leopards
2010 = 15 new zoos with Snow Leopards
2014 = 12 new zoos with Snow Leopards
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 1975
2- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 1994
3- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2001
4- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Snow Leopard – 2003
5- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
6- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
7- Denver Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
8- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2006
9- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Snow Leopard – 2007
10- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Snow Leopard – 2007
11- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
12- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
13- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
14- Toronto Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2008
15- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
16- Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
17- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
18- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
19- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
20- Knoxville Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
21- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
22- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
23- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
24- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
25- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
26- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
27- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
28- Binder Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
29- Akron Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
30- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
31- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
32- Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
33- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
34- Chattanooga Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
35- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
36- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
37- Zoo Boise (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
38- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2011
39- Sacramento Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2011
40- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
41- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
42- John Ball Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
43- Potter Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
44- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
45- Sunset Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
46- Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
47- Tautphaus Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
48- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
49- Dakota Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
50- Roosevelt Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
51- Chahinkapa Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
52- Lake Superior Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
53- Como Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
54- Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
55- Lincoln Park Zoo - Wisconsin (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
56- Niabi Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
57- Miller Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
58- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
59- Lee Richardson Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
60- Great Cats World Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2015
61- Micke Grove Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
62- Project Survival’s Cat Haven (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
63- Feline Conservation Center (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
64- Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2018
65- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Snow Leopard – 2019
66- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Snow Leopard – 2019
67- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
68- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
69- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
70- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
71- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2022
72- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – Snow Leopard – 2022
73- Nordens Ark (Sweden) – Snow Leopard – 2022
74- Big Bear Alpine Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2023
I used to visit Woodland Park Zoo (USA) on a regular basis, and the Snow Leopard exhibit there is a decent one. However, it was built more than 40 years ago and the viewing area is extremely awkward as it is tiny and quickly becomes congested.
Arguably one of the best Snow Leopard exhibits in the world is found at Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) and I was lucky enough to see it in 2003. A cliff face is a perfect environment for these beautiful cats.
@Gil
@antonmuster
The Snow Leopard exhibits at the Bronx Zoo (USA) are equally legendary, ever since they opened in the mid-1980s. There's three on-show enclosures for the big cats, each of them a slice of wilderness.
@Dhole dude
I saw Snow Leopards inside the old-fashioned (and now demolished) Feline House at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) in 2008. Now the zoo showcases its Himalayan cats in this exhibit:
@Echobeast
Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) has a lot of textured, human-made rockwork in its Snow Leopard exhibit. All of that adds significant costs to a new build.
Many Snow Leopard exhibits are heavily themed, including Tibetan prayer flags like this example at Binder Park Zoo (USA):
Most Snow Leopard exhibits combine extensive rockwork and netting to cover the enclosure, adding a lot of money to the project. Here's an example at Utah's Hogle Zoo (USA) in the Asian Highlands section of the zoo:
There are a few other USA zoos with some rockwork in their Snow Leopard exhibits, such as Roger Williams Park and Louisville, but other zoos choose the cheaper route and build spacious, yet relatively flat, Snow Leopard exhibits. Here's an example at Dakota Zoo (USA) with an extensive netted roof:
This enclosure, at Niabi Zoo (USA), could be home to anything but it held Snow Leopards when I was there in 2014. Functional yet dull.
I went behind the scenes at Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) in 2014 and at that time the zoo had 15 Snow Leopards there. Here's the on-show accommodation:
Many U.S. zoos have fairly basic Snow Leopard exhibits, such as this one at the Feline Conservation Center (USA):
At least Pairi Daiza (Belgium) attempts to replicate a more natural environment, which is different from the dozens of zoos where I've seen Snow Leopards in boring, basic cages. This Belgian zoo has three Snow Leopard exhibits, allowing for rotational opportunities. A cat can be seen in this photo, giving an idea of the dimension of the enclosure.
@twilighter
For me, personally, there's also something thrilling about an open-topped Snow Leopard exhibit. Taking away all of the metal or netting from the many covered enclosures, it's nice to have a better view of the felines. Having an open-topped exhibit also adds to the diet of any big cat, as there are birds landing every day and risking their lives! Here's an impressive looking Snow Leopard exhibit at Cologne Zoo (Germany):
@twilighter
Berlin Tierpark (USA) had Snow Leopards when I was there in 2019, but since then the zoo has opened a terrific new habitat for the cats in the new Himalayan zone.
@twilighter
For my last two selections, I'd like to highlight a pair of Swedish zoos. Scandinavia is a must-visit location for zoo nerds who like mammals, with many of the zoos having next to zero reptiles, amphibians, fish or birds. The bonus is that many of the mammal exhibits are amongst the best of their kind in the zoo world. Kolmarden Wildlife Park (USA) has a steep, rocky habitat for Snow Leopards that used to house Polar Bears. It's arguably better than the similar exhibit in Zurich.
I saw two Snow Leopards there (and they are in the above photo if you zoom in) and it's a massive area for the big cats. From this angle, it's possible to see where there was once a Polar Bear pool:
Kolmarden is a supporter of the Snow Leopard Trust conservation organization:
Lastly, Nordens Ark (Sweden) easily has the world's steepest Snow Leopard exhibit, a truly world-class pair of enclosures where one can see the cats if they have patience. It's not as large an exhibit as the one at Kolmarden, but there's more tree cover.
This is where visiting hundreds of zoos skews my way of thinking. In the past, I'd see Snow Leopards at Woodland Park or Roger Williams Park or even Milwaukee County Zoo, and I'd think to myself that those Snow Leopard exhibits were decent but unspectacular. Solid, dependable zoo exhibits. But then I see some amazing, world-class Snow Leopard exhibits and suddenly those other ones appear to be mediocre and drab. Visiting more zoos truly puts things in perspective for me, showing how zoos can always do much better with their exhibits.
Felidae:
Tigers - 195 zoos
Lions - 179 zoos
Bobcats - 128 zoos
Cougars - 118 zoos
Leopards - 98 zoos
Cheetahs - 76 zoos
Snow Leopards - 74 zoos
Has every zoo you have been to has had an aardvark when you visit then?Well, all zoos you've been to have had a snowleopard when you visit
Not just an aardvark but 250 of them, I’ll bet.
I've seen Snow Leopards in 74 zoos, continuing the trend with Felidae in that all the larger species are the most popular. Other than Bobcats (128 zoos), all of the felines so far are bulky in size, and Snow Leopards are similar to Cheetahs in that I've not seen them at roadside zoos. In truth, there are many mediocre Snow Leopard exhibits, with loads of the cats at AZA accredited zoos in enclosures that are 'meh', to use a common slang term. Perhaps many zoos do not want to invest the money and infrastructure to build mountain-themed habitats for these cats, as they require much more than a simple grassy yard like Cheetahs.
There are THREE years where I saw a heck of a lot of Snow Leopards:
2008 = 12 new zoos with Snow Leopards
2010 = 15 new zoos with Snow Leopards
2014 = 12 new zoos with Snow Leopards
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 1975
2- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 1994
3- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2001
4- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Snow Leopard – 2003
5- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
6- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
7- Denver Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
8- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2006
9- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Snow Leopard – 2007
10- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Snow Leopard – 2007
11- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
12- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
13- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
14- Toronto Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2008
15- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
16- Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
17- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
18- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
19- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
20- Knoxville Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
21- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
22- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
23- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
24- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
25- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
26- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
27- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
28- Binder Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
29- Akron Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
30- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
31- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
32- Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
33- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
34- Chattanooga Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
35- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
36- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
37- Zoo Boise (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
38- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2011
39- Sacramento Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2011
40- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
41- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
42- John Ball Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
43- Potter Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
44- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
45- Sunset Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
46- Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
47- Tautphaus Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
48- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
49- Dakota Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
50- Roosevelt Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
51- Chahinkapa Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
52- Lake Superior Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
53- Como Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
54- Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
55- Lincoln Park Zoo - Wisconsin (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
56- Niabi Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
57- Miller Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
58- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
59- Lee Richardson Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
60- Great Cats World Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2015
61- Micke Grove Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
62- Project Survival’s Cat Haven (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
63- Feline Conservation Center (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
64- Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2018
65- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Snow Leopard – 2019
66- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Snow Leopard – 2019
67- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
68- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
69- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
70- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
71- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2022
72- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – Snow Leopard – 2022
73- Nordens Ark (Sweden) – Snow Leopard – 2022
74- Big Bear Alpine Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2023
I used to visit Woodland Park Zoo (USA) on a regular basis, and the Snow Leopard exhibit there is a decent one. However, it was built more than 40 years ago and the viewing area is extremely awkward as it is tiny and quickly becomes congested.
Arguably one of the best Snow Leopard exhibits in the world is found at Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) and I was lucky enough to see it in 2003. A cliff face is a perfect environment for these beautiful cats.
@Gil
@antonmuster
The Snow Leopard exhibits at the Bronx Zoo (USA) are equally legendary, ever since they opened in the mid-1980s. There's three on-show enclosures for the big cats, each of them a slice of wilderness.
@Dhole dude
I saw Snow Leopards inside the old-fashioned (and now demolished) Feline House at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) in 2008. Now the zoo showcases its Himalayan cats in this exhibit:
@Echobeast
Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) has a lot of textured, human-made rockwork in its Snow Leopard exhibit. All of that adds significant costs to a new build.
Many Snow Leopard exhibits are heavily themed, including Tibetan prayer flags like this example at Binder Park Zoo (USA):
Most Snow Leopard exhibits combine extensive rockwork and netting to cover the enclosure, adding a lot of money to the project. Here's an example at Utah's Hogle Zoo (USA) in the Asian Highlands section of the zoo:
There are a few other USA zoos with some rockwork in their Snow Leopard exhibits, such as Roger Williams Park and Louisville, but other zoos choose the cheaper route and build spacious, yet relatively flat, Snow Leopard exhibits. Here's an example at Dakota Zoo (USA) with an extensive netted roof:
This enclosure, at Niabi Zoo (USA), could be home to anything but it held Snow Leopards when I was there in 2014. Functional yet dull.
I went behind the scenes at Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) in 2014 and at that time the zoo had 15 Snow Leopards there. Here's the on-show accommodation:
Many U.S. zoos have fairly basic Snow Leopard exhibits, such as this one at the Feline Conservation Center (USA):
At least Pairi Daiza (Belgium) attempts to replicate a more natural environment, which is different from the dozens of zoos where I've seen Snow Leopards in boring, basic cages. This Belgian zoo has three Snow Leopard exhibits, allowing for rotational opportunities. A cat can be seen in this photo, giving an idea of the dimension of the enclosure.
@twilighter
For me, personally, there's also something thrilling about an open-topped Snow Leopard exhibit. Taking away all of the metal or netting from the many covered enclosures, it's nice to have a better view of the felines. Having an open-topped exhibit also adds to the diet of any big cat, as there are birds landing every day and risking their lives! Here's an impressive looking Snow Leopard exhibit at Cologne Zoo (Germany):
@twilighter
Berlin Tierpark (USA) had Snow Leopards when I was there in 2019, but since then the zoo has opened a terrific new habitat for the cats in the new Himalayan zone.
@twilighter
For my last two selections, I'd like to highlight a pair of Swedish zoos. Scandinavia is a must-visit location for zoo nerds who like mammals, with many of the zoos having next to zero reptiles, amphibians, fish or birds. The bonus is that many of the mammal exhibits are amongst the best of their kind in the zoo world. Kolmarden Wildlife Park (USA) has a steep, rocky habitat for Snow Leopards that used to house Polar Bears. It's arguably better than the similar exhibit in Zurich.
I saw two Snow Leopards there (and they are in the above photo if you zoom in) and it's a massive area for the big cats. From this angle, it's possible to see where there was once a Polar Bear pool:
Kolmarden is a supporter of the Snow Leopard Trust conservation organization:
Lastly, Nordens Ark (Sweden) easily has the world's steepest Snow Leopard exhibit, a truly world-class pair of enclosures where one can see the cats if they have patience. It's not as large an exhibit as the one at Kolmarden, but there's more tree cover.
This is where visiting hundreds of zoos skews my way of thinking. In the past, I'd see Snow Leopards at Woodland Park or Roger Williams Park or even Milwaukee County Zoo, and I'd think to myself that those Snow Leopard exhibits were decent but unspectacular. Solid, dependable zoo exhibits. But then I see some amazing, world-class Snow Leopard exhibits and suddenly those other ones appear to be mediocre and drab. Visiting more zoos truly puts things in perspective for me, showing how zoos can always do much better with their exhibits.
Felidae:
Tigers - 195 zoos
Lions - 179 zoos
Bobcats - 128 zoos
Cougars - 118 zoos
Leopards - 98 zoos
Cheetahs - 76 zoos
Snow Leopards - 74 zoos
I've seen Snow Leopards in 74 zoos, continuing the trend with Felidae in that all the larger species are the most popular. Other than Bobcats (128 zoos), all of the felines so far are bulky in size, and Snow Leopards are similar to Cheetahs in that I've not seen them at roadside zoos. In truth, there are many mediocre Snow Leopard exhibits, with loads of the cats at AZA accredited zoos in enclosures that are 'meh', to use a common slang term. Perhaps many zoos do not want to invest the money and infrastructure to build mountain-themed habitats for these cats, as they require much more than a simple grassy yard like Cheetahs.
There are THREE years where I saw a heck of a lot of Snow Leopards:
2008 = 12 new zoos with Snow Leopards
2010 = 15 new zoos with Snow Leopards
2014 = 12 new zoos with Snow Leopards
1- Alberta Game Farm/Polar Park (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 1975
2- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 1994
3- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2001
4- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Snow Leopard – 2003
5- San Francisco Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
6- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
7- Denver Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2006
8- Calgary Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2006
9- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Snow Leopard – 2007
10- Melbourne Zoo (Australia) – Snow Leopard – 2007
11- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
12- Brookfield Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
13- Toledo Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
14- Toronto Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2008
15- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
16- Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
17- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
18- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
19- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
20- Knoxville Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
21- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
22- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2008
23- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
24- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
25- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
26- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
27- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
28- Binder Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
29- Akron Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
30- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
31- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
32- Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
33- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
34- Chattanooga Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
35- ABQ BioPark Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
36- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
37- Zoo Boise (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2010
38- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2011
39- Sacramento Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2011
40- Great Plains Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
41- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
42- John Ball Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
43- Potter Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
44- Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
45- Sunset Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
46- Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
47- Tautphaus Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2012
48- Bramble Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
49- Dakota Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
50- Roosevelt Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
51- Chahinkapa Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
52- Lake Superior Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
53- Como Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
54- Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
55- Lincoln Park Zoo - Wisconsin (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
56- Niabi Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
57- Miller Park Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
58- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
59- Lee Richardson Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2014
60- Great Cats World Park (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2015
61- Micke Grove Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
62- Project Survival’s Cat Haven (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
63- Feline Conservation Center (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2017
64- Assiniboine Park Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2018
65- Planckendael Zoo (Belgium) – Snow Leopard – 2019
66- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Snow Leopard – 2019
67- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
68- Wuppertal Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
69- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
70- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Snow Leopard – 2019
71- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Snow Leopard – 2022
72- Kolmarden Wildlife Park (Sweden) – Snow Leopard – 2022
73- Nordens Ark (Sweden) – Snow Leopard – 2022
74- Big Bear Alpine Zoo (USA) – Snow Leopard – 2023
I used to visit Woodland Park Zoo (USA) on a regular basis, and the Snow Leopard exhibit there is a decent one. However, it was built more than 40 years ago and the viewing area is extremely awkward as it is tiny and quickly becomes congested.
Arguably one of the best Snow Leopard exhibits in the world is found at Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) and I was lucky enough to see it in 2003. A cliff face is a perfect environment for these beautiful cats.
@Gil
@antonmuster
The Snow Leopard exhibits at the Bronx Zoo (USA) are equally legendary, ever since they opened in the mid-1980s. There's three on-show enclosures for the big cats, each of them a slice of wilderness.
@Dhole dude
I saw Snow Leopards inside the old-fashioned (and now demolished) Feline House at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) in 2008. Now the zoo showcases its Himalayan cats in this exhibit:
@Echobeast
Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) has a lot of textured, human-made rockwork in its Snow Leopard exhibit. All of that adds significant costs to a new build.
Many Snow Leopard exhibits are heavily themed, including Tibetan prayer flags like this example at Binder Park Zoo (USA):
Most Snow Leopard exhibits combine extensive rockwork and netting to cover the enclosure, adding a lot of money to the project. Here's an example at Utah's Hogle Zoo (USA) in the Asian Highlands section of the zoo:
There are a few other USA zoos with some rockwork in their Snow Leopard exhibits, such as Roger Williams Park and Louisville, but other zoos choose the cheaper route and build spacious, yet relatively flat, Snow Leopard exhibits. Here's an example at Dakota Zoo (USA) with an extensive netted roof:
This enclosure, at Niabi Zoo (USA), could be home to anything but it held Snow Leopards when I was there in 2014. Functional yet dull.
I went behind the scenes at Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) in 2014 and at that time the zoo had 15 Snow Leopards there. Here's the on-show accommodation:
Many U.S. zoos have fairly basic Snow Leopard exhibits, such as this one at the Feline Conservation Center (USA):
At least Pairi Daiza (Belgium) attempts to replicate a more natural environment, which is different from the dozens of zoos where I've seen Snow Leopards in boring, basic cages. This Belgian zoo has three Snow Leopard exhibits, allowing for rotational opportunities. A cat can be seen in this photo, giving an idea of the dimension of the enclosure.
@twilighter
For me, personally, there's also something thrilling about an open-topped Snow Leopard exhibit. Taking away all of the metal or netting from the many covered enclosures, it's nice to have a better view of the felines. Having an open-topped exhibit also adds to the diet of any big cat, as there are birds landing every day and risking their lives! Here's an impressive looking Snow Leopard exhibit at Cologne Zoo (Germany):
@twilighter
Berlin Tierpark (USA) had Snow Leopards when I was there in 2019, but since then the zoo has opened a terrific new habitat for the cats in the new Himalayan zone.
@twilighter
For my last two selections, I'd like to highlight a pair of Swedish zoos. Scandinavia is a must-visit location for zoo nerds who like mammals, with many of the zoos having next to zero reptiles, amphibians, fish or birds. The bonus is that many of the mammal exhibits are amongst the best of their kind in the zoo world. Kolmarden Wildlife Park (USA) has a steep, rocky habitat for Snow Leopards that used to house Polar Bears. It's arguably better than the similar exhibit in Zurich.
I saw two Snow Leopards there (and they are in the above photo if you zoom in) and it's a massive area for the big cats. From this angle, it's possible to see where there was once a Polar Bear pool:
Kolmarden is a supporter of the Snow Leopard Trust conservation organization:
Lastly, Nordens Ark (Sweden) easily has the world's steepest Snow Leopard exhibit, a truly world-class pair of enclosures where one can see the cats if they have patience. It's not as large an exhibit as the one at Kolmarden, but there's more tree cover.
This is where visiting hundreds of zoos skews my way of thinking. In the past, I'd see Snow Leopards at Woodland Park or Roger Williams Park or even Milwaukee County Zoo, and I'd think to myself that those Snow Leopard exhibits were decent but unspectacular. Solid, dependable zoo exhibits. But then I see some amazing, world-class Snow Leopard exhibits and suddenly those other ones appear to be mediocre and drab. Visiting more zoos truly puts things in perspective for me, showing how zoos can always do much better with their exhibits.
Felidae:
Tigers - 195 zoos
Lions - 179 zoos
Bobcats - 128 zoos
Cougars - 118 zoos
Leopards - 98 zoos
Cheetahs - 76 zoos
Snow Leopards - 74 zoos
Maybe you should change it to say that you have seen a snow leopard at 551 zoos rather than just 74!Well, all zoos you've been to have had a snowleopard when you visit
Only if each of those zoos had a mirror!
While I know you've never been, Animal Adventures Family Zoo, quite possibly a contender for worst zoo in the country, has a rather *interesting* serval exhibit. This facility completely lacks big cats, but does keep servals and lynx, and the serval exhibit looks more like someone's living room than an animal exhibit. This is the only time I can recall seeing a sofa inside a zoo exhibit, and there's a nice-looking chair that's out of place in there too. Top photo is mine, bottom photo is by @TinoPup :The 8th most common feline species is up next. I've seen Servals at 73 zoos. Being a 'small cat', it should come as no surprise that plenty of zoos have maintained this species in rather shoddy enclosures. Servals have long legs and are really a medium-sized feline, requiring space to roam and that's not always been given to them in captivity. A few years ago, there was a commotion in the local news here in British Columbia, Canada, as several individuals had been keeping Servals as pets. Even today, there are a number of Serval breeders on Vancouver Island and the species is not included under the Controlled Alien Species legislation. That means, if you are willing to part with up to $10,000 for a baby, it's possible to buy a purebred Serval and keep it as a pet in my neck of the woods without any kind of permit.
1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 1996
2- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) – Serval – 2001
3- Denver Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2006
4- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Serval – 2007
5- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Serval – 2008
6- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Serval – 2008
7- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
8- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
9- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) –Serval – 2008
11- Mountain View Conservation Centre (Canada) – Serval – 2008
12- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
13- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Serval – 2010
14- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
15- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Serval, Ocelot – 2010
16- Chattanooga Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
17- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
18- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
19- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
20- Zoo Boise (USA) – Serval – 2010
21- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Serval – 2011
22- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2011
23- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
24- Palm Beach Zoo (USA) –Serval – 2012
25- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Serval – 2012
26- Hattiesburg Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
27- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
28- Tautphaus Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
29- Dakota Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2014
30- Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) – Serval – 2014
31- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Serval – 2014
32- Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2014
33- Tiger Safari (USA) – Serval – 2015
34- Amarillo Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
35- In Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue & Educational Center (USA) – Serval – 2015
36- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
37- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
38- Austin Zoo (USA) – Serval, Bobcat – 2015
39- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
40- Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary (USA) – Serval – 2015
41- Out of Africa (USA) – Serval – 2015
42- Sierra Safari Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
43- Great Cats World Park (USA) – Serval – 2015
44- West Coast Game Park Safari (USA) – Serval – 2015
45- Discovery Wildlife Park (Canada) – Serval – 2016
46- Safari West Wildlife Preserve (USA) – Serval – 2017
47- Project Survival’s Cat Haven (USA) – Serval – 2017
48- Feline Conservation Center (USA) – Serval – 2017
49- Orange County Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2017
50- Wildlife Learning Center (USA) – Serval – 2017
51- Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary (USA) – Serval – 2017
52- Roscommon Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
53- Summerfield Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
54- Jo-Don Farms (USA) – Serval – 2018
55- Bear Den Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
56- Animal Haven Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
57- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
58- Faunapark Flakkee (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
59- Pakawi Park (Belgium) – Serval – 2019
60- Aachener Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
61- Solinger Vogel-und Tierpark (Bird and Animal Park) (Germany) – Serval – 2019
62- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
63- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Serval – 2019
64- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
65- BestZOO (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
66- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
67- Dierenpark de Oliemeulen (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
68- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Serval – 2019
69- Tierpark Strohen (Germany) – Serval – 2019
70- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Serval– 2019
71- Munkholm Zoo (Denmark) – Serval – 2022
72- Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) – Serval – 2022
73- Monterey Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2023
Tiger Safari (USA) is a privately-run zoo in Oklahoma with a lot of inferior exhibits, just like this tiny cage for a Serval:
This enclosure at Amarillo Zoo (USA), in Texas, offers up a lot of height but the actual ground space is pitiful for a Serval:
I saw a Serval and a Bobcat together (!!) in this cage at Austin Zoo (USA) in 2015:
Sierra Safari Zoo (USA), in the Nevada desert, had two small, chain-link Serval exhibits when I was there in 2015. Both were junky.
An African savanna mural and a blue kiddie pool are in this one at Feline Conservation Center (USA) (called Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in the gallery):
You can see a Serval under a wooden platform at Wisconsin's Jo-Don Farms (USA):
This Serval exhibit must be the worst of all. A slab of cement, a metal roof that would echo noisily if it rains, and a small wooden platform is all there is at Roscommon Zoo (USA) in Michigan.
Or perhaps this one is worse? Special Memories Zoo (USA) in Wisconsin:
And we have one final contender for America's "worst Serval exhibit". Once again from the great state of Wisconsin, here's Bear Den Zoo (USA):
I've seen Servals in many AZA accredited zoos and the exhibits there are better than the roadside menageries, but still quite poor overall. Most of the zoos where I've seen this species have not given sufficient space to Servals, often keeping them in cramped conditions. Even my native Canada does poorly for Servals. Discovery Wildlife Park (Canada) has this tiny cage in an area that regularly sees below freezing temperatures for 5 months of the year. The cat has to be brought in for the winter somewhere off-show, or else it would freeze to death.
Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) solves that issue by keeping its Serval indoors 24/7, with no outdoor yard. Visitors peer down on the exhibit and I wouldn't be surprised if the animal was an ex-pet.
Let's head to Europe now!
Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) bucks this trend by having a Serval exhibit that's larger than many Leopard enclosures I've seen in my lifetime. Most of the entire African zone at Blijdorp is of a very high standard.
@felis silvestris
A candidate for the best Serval exhibit I've ever seen is at Aachener Zoo (Germany), where I saw 4 Servals in this spacious, well-shaded enclosure. It might not look like an African savanna, but it's a terrific habitat that appears to be a Tiger exhibit in my photo from 2019 and yet it's home to Servals! Notice that it's an open-topped enclosure.
Germany doesn't seem to know the meaning of the term 'roadside zoo', but if there was such an example then it might be somewhere like the privately-owned, obscure Solinger Vogel-und Tierpark (Bird and Animal Park) (Germany). When I was there in 2019 I obviously wasn't expecting much, but their Serval exhibit is FAR superior to 90% of the ones in American zoos. Legislation for maintaining captive animals is stricter in many Western European nations, resulting in this Serval exhibit which is actually pretty decent.
Another obscure zoo, Tierpark Strohen (Germany), and another very good Serval exhibit. Although it's another open-topped enclosure, which is interesting.
I see a hanging tire, but otherwise this is another lush Serval exhibit. Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) is the facility. That loudspeaker hooked up on top looks out of place.
Felidae:
Tigers - 195 zoos
Lions - 179 zoos
Bobcats - 128 zoos
Cougars - 118 zoos
Leopards - 98 zoos
Cheetahs - 76 zoos
Snow Leopards - 74 zoos
Servals - 73 zoos
What struck me as the most surprising from your serval exhibit post are the two photos from Tiger Safari in Oklahoma and Discovery Wildlife Park in Canada. Both of the small serval cages are surrounded by huge expanses of grass! I wonder why those facilities wouldn't want their animals to benefit from more space when the area isn't being used for anything. You would think there would be an outcry from disappointed visitors resulting in a drop in attendance. I'm used to city zoos being cramped for space and trying to squeeze in exhibits, but to have all that room and still force animals to be kept in little cages is inexcusable!The 8th most common feline species is up next. I've seen Servals at 73 zoos. Being a 'small cat', it should come as no surprise that plenty of zoos have maintained this species in rather shoddy enclosures. Servals have long legs and are really a medium-sized feline, requiring space to roam and that's not always been given to them in captivity. A few years ago, there was a commotion in the local news here in British Columbia, Canada, as several individuals had been keeping Servals as pets. Even today, there are a number of Serval breeders on Vancouver Island and the species is not included under the Controlled Alien Species legislation. That means, if you are willing to part with up to $10,000 for a baby, it's possible to buy a purebred Serval and keep it as a pet in my neck of the woods without any kind of permit.
1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 1996
2- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) – Serval – 2001
3- Denver Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2006
4- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Serval – 2007
5- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Serval – 2008
6- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Serval – 2008
7- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
8- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
9- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) –Serval – 2008
11- Mountain View Conservation Centre (Canada) – Serval – 2008
12- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
13- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Serval – 2010
14- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
15- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Serval, Ocelot – 2010
16- Chattanooga Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
17- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
18- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
19- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
20- Zoo Boise (USA) – Serval – 2010
21- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Serval – 2011
22- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2011
23- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
24- Palm Beach Zoo (USA) –Serval – 2012
25- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Serval – 2012
26- Hattiesburg Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
27- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
28- Tautphaus Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
29- Dakota Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2014
30- Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) – Serval – 2014
31- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Serval – 2014
32- Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2014
33- Tiger Safari (USA) – Serval – 2015
34- Amarillo Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
35- In Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue & Educational Center (USA) – Serval – 2015
36- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
37- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
38- Austin Zoo (USA) – Serval, Bobcat – 2015
39- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
40- Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary (USA) – Serval – 2015
41- Out of Africa (USA) – Serval – 2015
42- Sierra Safari Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
43- Great Cats World Park (USA) – Serval – 2015
44- West Coast Game Park Safari (USA) – Serval – 2015
45- Discovery Wildlife Park (Canada) – Serval – 2016
46- Safari West Wildlife Preserve (USA) – Serval – 2017
47- Project Survival’s Cat Haven (USA) – Serval – 2017
48- Feline Conservation Center (USA) – Serval – 2017
49- Orange County Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2017
50- Wildlife Learning Center (USA) – Serval – 2017
51- Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary (USA) – Serval – 2017
52- Roscommon Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
53- Summerfield Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
54- Jo-Don Farms (USA) – Serval – 2018
55- Bear Den Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
56- Animal Haven Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
57- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
58- Faunapark Flakkee (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
59- Pakawi Park (Belgium) – Serval – 2019
60- Aachener Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
61- Solinger Vogel-und Tierpark (Bird and Animal Park) (Germany) – Serval – 2019
62- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
63- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Serval – 2019
64- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
65- BestZOO (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
66- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
67- Dierenpark de Oliemeulen (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
68- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Serval – 2019
69- Tierpark Strohen (Germany) – Serval – 2019
70- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Serval– 2019
71- Munkholm Zoo (Denmark) – Serval – 2022
72- Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) – Serval – 2022
73- Monterey Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2023
Tiger Safari (USA) is a privately-run zoo in Oklahoma with a lot of inferior exhibits, just like this tiny cage for a Serval:
This enclosure at Amarillo Zoo (USA), in Texas, offers up a lot of height but the actual ground space is pitiful for a Serval:
I saw a Serval and a Bobcat together (!!) in this cage at Austin Zoo (USA) in 2015:
Sierra Safari Zoo (USA), in the Nevada desert, had two small, chain-link Serval exhibits when I was there in 2015. Both were junky.
An African savanna mural and a blue kiddie pool are in this one at Feline Conservation Center (USA) (called Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in the gallery):
You can see a Serval under a wooden platform at Wisconsin's Jo-Don Farms (USA):
This Serval exhibit must be the worst of all. A slab of cement, a metal roof that would echo noisily if it rains, and a small wooden platform is all there is at Roscommon Zoo (USA) in Michigan.
Or perhaps this one is worse? Special Memories Zoo (USA) in Wisconsin:
And we have one final contender for America's "worst Serval exhibit". Once again from the great state of Wisconsin, here's Bear Den Zoo (USA):
I've seen Servals in many AZA accredited zoos and the exhibits there are better than the roadside menageries, but still quite poor overall. Most of the zoos where I've seen this species have not given sufficient space to Servals, often keeping them in cramped conditions. Even my native Canada does poorly for Servals. Discovery Wildlife Park (Canada) has this tiny cage in an area that regularly sees below freezing temperatures for 5 months of the year. The cat has to be brought in for the winter somewhere off-show, or else it would freeze to death.
Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) solves that issue by keeping its Serval indoors 24/7, with no outdoor yard. Visitors peer down on the exhibit and I wouldn't be surprised if the animal was an ex-pet.
Let's head to Europe now!
Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) bucks this trend by having a Serval exhibit that's larger than many Leopard enclosures I've seen in my lifetime. Most of the entire African zone at Blijdorp is of a very high standard.
@felis silvestris
A candidate for the best Serval exhibit I've ever seen is at Aachener Zoo (Germany), where I saw 4 Servals in this spacious, well-shaded enclosure. It might not look like an African savanna, but it's a terrific habitat that appears to be a Tiger exhibit in my photo from 2019 and yet it's home to Servals! Notice that it's an open-topped enclosure.
Germany doesn't seem to know the meaning of the term 'roadside zoo', but if there was such an example then it might be somewhere like the privately-owned, obscure Solinger Vogel-und Tierpark (Bird and Animal Park) (Germany). When I was there in 2019 I obviously wasn't expecting much, but their Serval exhibit is FAR superior to 90% of the ones in American zoos. Legislation for maintaining captive animals is stricter in many Western European nations, resulting in this Serval exhibit which is actually pretty decent.
Another obscure zoo, Tierpark Strohen (Germany), and another very good Serval exhibit. Although it's another open-topped enclosure, which is interesting.
I see a hanging tire, but otherwise this is another lush Serval exhibit. Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) is the facility. That loudspeaker hooked up on top looks out of place.
Felidae:
Tigers - 195 zoos
Lions - 179 zoos
Bobcats - 128 zoos
Cougars - 118 zoos
Leopards - 98 zoos
Cheetahs - 76 zoos
Snow Leopards - 74 zoos
Servals - 73 zoos
When I saw servals on my visit to Wilhelma yesterday I had this sudden feeling that seeing servals in big or major zoos feels awkward. The only other major zoo I remember seeing them was in Tama. Otherwise I only remember seeing servals in small collections. Even with the major collections on your list I can only fathom seeing servals in growing “mom and pop” zoos of varying qualities.The 8th most common feline species is up next. I've seen Servals at 73 zoos. Being a 'small cat', it should come as no surprise that plenty of zoos have maintained this species in rather shoddy enclosures. Servals have long legs and are really a medium-sized feline, requiring space to roam and that's not always been given to them in captivity. A few years ago, there was a commotion in the local news here in British Columbia, Canada, as several individuals had been keeping Servals as pets. Even today, there are a number of Serval breeders on Vancouver Island and the species is not included under the Controlled Alien Species legislation. That means, if you are willing to part with up to $10,000 for a baby, it's possible to buy a purebred Serval and keep it as a pet in my neck of the woods without any kind of permit.
1- Woodland Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 1996
2- Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) – Serval – 2001
3- Denver Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2006
4- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Serval – 2007
5- Lincoln Park Zoo - Illinois (USA) – Serval – 2008
6- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Serval – 2008
7- Memphis Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
8- Oklahoma City Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
9- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2008
10- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) –Serval – 2008
11- Mountain View Conservation Centre (Canada) – Serval – 2008
12- Kansas City Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
13- Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden (USA) – Serval – 2010
14- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
15- Buffalo Zoo (USA) – Serval, Ocelot – 2010
16- Chattanooga Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
17- Baton Rouge Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
18- Caldwell Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
19- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2010
20- Zoo Boise (USA) – Serval – 2010
21- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Serval – 2011
22- Fresno Chaffee Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2011
23- Blank Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
24- Palm Beach Zoo (USA) –Serval – 2012
25- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Serval – 2012
26- Hattiesburg Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
27- Little Rock Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
28- Tautphaus Park Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2012
29- Dakota Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2014
30- Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) – Serval – 2014
31- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (USA) – Serval – 2014
32- Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2014
33- Tiger Safari (USA) – Serval – 2015
34- Amarillo Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
35- In Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue & Educational Center (USA) – Serval – 2015
36- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
37- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
38- Austin Zoo (USA) – Serval, Bobcat – 2015
39- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
40- Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary (USA) – Serval – 2015
41- Out of Africa (USA) – Serval – 2015
42- Sierra Safari Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2015
43- Great Cats World Park (USA) – Serval – 2015
44- West Coast Game Park Safari (USA) – Serval – 2015
45- Discovery Wildlife Park (Canada) – Serval – 2016
46- Safari West Wildlife Preserve (USA) – Serval – 2017
47- Project Survival’s Cat Haven (USA) – Serval – 2017
48- Feline Conservation Center (USA) – Serval – 2017
49- Orange County Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2017
50- Wildlife Learning Center (USA) – Serval – 2017
51- Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary (USA) – Serval – 2017
52- Roscommon Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
53- Summerfield Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
54- Jo-Don Farms (USA) – Serval – 2018
55- Bear Den Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
56- Animal Haven Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2018
57- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
58- Faunapark Flakkee (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
59- Pakawi Park (Belgium) – Serval – 2019
60- Aachener Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
61- Solinger Vogel-und Tierpark (Bird and Animal Park) (Germany) – Serval – 2019
62- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
63- ZOOM Erlebniswelt (Germany) – Serval – 2019
64- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Serval – 2019
65- BestZOO (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
66- Dierenpark Zie-ZOO (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
67- Dierenpark de Oliemeulen (Netherlands) – Serval – 2019
68- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Serval – 2019
69- Tierpark Strohen (Germany) – Serval – 2019
70- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Serval– 2019
71- Munkholm Zoo (Denmark) – Serval – 2022
72- Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) – Serval – 2022
73- Monterey Zoo (USA) – Serval – 2023
Tiger Safari (USA) is a privately-run zoo in Oklahoma with a lot of inferior exhibits, just like this tiny cage for a Serval:
This enclosure at Amarillo Zoo (USA), in Texas, offers up a lot of height but the actual ground space is pitiful for a Serval:
I saw a Serval and a Bobcat together (!!) in this cage at Austin Zoo (USA) in 2015:
Sierra Safari Zoo (USA), in the Nevada desert, had two small, chain-link Serval exhibits when I was there in 2015. Both were junky.
An African savanna mural and a blue kiddie pool are in this one at Feline Conservation Center (USA) (called Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in the gallery):
You can see a Serval under a wooden platform at Wisconsin's Jo-Don Farms (USA):
This Serval exhibit must be the worst of all. A slab of cement, a metal roof that would echo noisily if it rains, and a small wooden platform is all there is at Roscommon Zoo (USA) in Michigan.
Or perhaps this one is worse? Special Memories Zoo (USA) in Wisconsin:
And we have one final contender for America's "worst Serval exhibit". Once again from the great state of Wisconsin, here's Bear Den Zoo (USA):
I've seen Servals in many AZA accredited zoos and the exhibits there are better than the roadside menageries, but still quite poor overall. Most of the zoos where I've seen this species have not given sufficient space to Servals, often keeping them in cramped conditions. Even my native Canada does poorly for Servals. Discovery Wildlife Park (Canada) has this tiny cage in an area that regularly sees below freezing temperatures for 5 months of the year. The cat has to be brought in for the winter somewhere off-show, or else it would freeze to death.
Edmonton Valley Zoo (Canada) solves that issue by keeping its Serval indoors 24/7, with no outdoor yard. Visitors peer down on the exhibit and I wouldn't be surprised if the animal was an ex-pet.
Let's head to Europe now!
Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) bucks this trend by having a Serval exhibit that's larger than many Leopard enclosures I've seen in my lifetime. Most of the entire African zone at Blijdorp is of a very high standard.
@felis silvestris
A candidate for the best Serval exhibit I've ever seen is at Aachener Zoo (Germany), where I saw 4 Servals in this spacious, well-shaded enclosure. It might not look like an African savanna, but it's a terrific habitat that appears to be a Tiger exhibit in my photo from 2019 and yet it's home to Servals! Notice that it's an open-topped enclosure.
Germany doesn't seem to know the meaning of the term 'roadside zoo', but if there was such an example then it might be somewhere like the privately-owned, obscure Solinger Vogel-und Tierpark (Bird and Animal Park) (Germany). When I was there in 2019 I obviously wasn't expecting much, but their Serval exhibit is FAR superior to 90% of the ones in American zoos. Legislation for maintaining captive animals is stricter in many Western European nations, resulting in this Serval exhibit which is actually pretty decent.
Another obscure zoo, Tierpark Strohen (Germany), and another very good Serval exhibit. Although it's another open-topped enclosure, which is interesting.
I see a hanging tire, but otherwise this is another lush Serval exhibit. Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) is the facility. That loudspeaker hooked up on top looks out of place.
Felidae:
Tigers - 195 zoos
Lions - 179 zoos
Bobcats - 128 zoos
Cougars - 118 zoos
Leopards - 98 zoos
Cheetahs - 76 zoos
Snow Leopards - 74 zoos
Servals - 73 zoos
While I know you've never been, Animal Adventures Family Zoo, quite possibly a contender for worst zoo in the country, has a rather *interesting* serval exhibit. This facility completely lacks big cats, but does keep servals and lynx, and the serval exhibit looks more like someone's living room than an animal exhibit. This is the only time I can recall seeing a sofa inside a zoo exhibit, and there's a nice-looking chair that's out of place in there too. Top photo is mine, bottom photo is by @TinoPup :
I don't remember any messaging like that specifically (however I also don't remember much "educational" about this pathetic excuse of a "zoo"), but seeing as they advertise themselves as a "Rescue Center", there is the overall anti-exotic pet vibe in the title that is hypocritical and out-of-place at a zoo which is essentially just a modified house/private collection. I want to say someone on here mentioned finding them selling animals on exoticanimalsforsale.net before too, so that's certainly something.
I don't remember any messaging like that specifically (however I also don't remember much "educational" about this pathetic excuse of a "zoo"), but seeing as they advertise themselves as a "Rescue Center", there is the overall anti-exotic pet vibe in the title that is hypocritical and out-of-place at a zoo which is essentially just a modified house/private collection. I want to say someone on here mentioned finding them selling animals on exoticanimalsforsale.net before too, so that's certainly something.
