The most beautiful zoos

Ursus said:
I honestly don't really think all these older historical sites are the most beautiful... I think something more along the lines of a Burgers' Zoo or a Zürich to be more beautiful, with their incredible indoor halls and facilities. Whilst ofcourse not perfect I think these zoos do it more for me then the old historical facilities.
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Good point there, it does depend on what "beauty" means to the visitor, as the saying goes "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and so it is a totally subjective judgement whether a visitor prefers modernity or historical architecture.

Personally I sort of prefer a mix of both (not in the terrible ZSL way though) it is just the historical zoos which manage that merging of the two like Vienna and Jardin des Plantes which came first to mind.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Good point there, it does depend on what "beauty" means to the visitor, as the saying goes "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and so it is a totally subjective judgement whether a visitor prefers modernity or historical architecture.
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I think it will also vary per member of the forum itself as well. Since beauty is something you define by your own personal opinions, standards and ideals.
 
Another zoo I would like to name is the smaller Dutch zoo Zooparc Overloon.
It's got a very nice tight yet very forested vibe to the park with a nice collection of mammals to it. Whilst the tiger exhibit is not the most pretty one to look at the rest of the zoo does look really good.
 
Already mentioned this with the Jardin des Plantes comment but I think the inclusion of art and sculptures (when tastefully done) can add a sense of beauty and aesthetics to a zoo.

Pelican sculpture, Prague zoo.
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Lion / panther sculpture, Tierpark Hellabrun.
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Gorilla sculpture, Point Defiance zoo.
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Elk sculpture, Mephis zoo.
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Snake sculpture, North Carolina zoo.
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Old vintage zoo posters on display at Budapest zoo.
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Leipzig zoo display of beautiful old vintage posters.
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Photo credits @snowleopard, @geomorph, @kpd_86, @HungarianBison, @Shirokuma, @Dianamonkey and @Goura.
 
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Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Already mentioned this with the Jardin des Plantes comment but I think the inclusion of art and sculptures (when tastefully done) can add a sense of beauty and aesthetics to a zoo.
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Very much agreed; my love of statues and other such artwork in zoos has been recorded in many of my trip reports :p I shall root out some of the relevant photos on the forum.
 
In shock that the likes of Zoo Chleby haven't been mentioned...

Livingstone's skeleton:

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Angkor Wat in the gibbon exhibit:

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Coypu exhibit

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The illustrious entrance (scrap Vienna's ugly Palmenhaus and Baroque pavilions):

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The Mauritius area (not actually containing any living animals):

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As you can see, the tasteful decoration is unrivaled and the views are spectacular over the nearby bicycle rack.
No idea how Vienna was mentioned before Chleby on this thread, and forget Stuttgart, we have a new winner!
 
Exmoor Zoo is beautiful - especially in the summer months (But also on a crisp winter morning).
 
TeaLovingDave said:
To start with, these are all from my trip to Alpenzoo:

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....whilst these are from Tierpark Hellabrunn:

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The ibex sculpture at Alpenzoo is the best of the ones of the photos in my opinion, a very beautiful sculpture indeed.

The two animal sculptures (one portrays ibex too doesn't it ?) at Tierpark Hellabrunn are also impressive and dignified too.
 
Among those I've visited I found that Antwerp and especially Tierpark Hagenbeck (with its Japanese garden) have some lovely park surroundings. If I lived near Hagenbeck and had a membership, I think I would regularly visit just to go for a pleasant walk and not necessarily to watch animals.
 
Hvedekorn said:
Among those I've visited I found that Antwerp and especially Tierpark Hagenbeck (with its Japanese garden) have some lovely park surroundings. If I lived near Hagenbeck and had a membership, I think I would regularly visit just to go for a pleasant walk and not necessarily to watch animals.
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There is just something aesthetically beautiful about a well landscaped and done Japanese garden whether it be in a zoo or elsewhere.

I'll have to have a look at what Hagenbeck's Japanese garden looks like as it sounds amazing.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
There is just something aesthetically beautiful about a well landscaped and done Japanese garden whether it be in a zoo or elsewhere.

I'll have to have a look at what Hagenbeck's Japanese garden looks like as it sounds amazing.
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It's not that flashy compared to so many other Japanese gardens out there (hell, even Hamburg itself has a much nicer Japanese garden in the park Planten un Blomen), but it's just that the fact that a zoo takes the time to make such a garden that delights me. It's quite rare to see a zoo with such manicured gardens (most zoos just go for more generic and less trimmed "forest" or "farmland" surroundings).
 
Hvedekorn said:
It's not that flashy compared to so many other Japanese gardens out there (hell, even Hamburg itself has a much nicer Japanese garden in the park Planten un Blomen), but it's just that the fact that a zoo takes the time to make such a garden that delights me. It's quite rare to see a zoo with such manicured gardens (most zoos just go for more generic and less trimmed "forest" or "farmland" surroundings).
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Yes, I see what you mean, it is the thought that counts in providing this green space I suppose.
 
Hvedekorn said:
Doesn't seem like it. I think I have some from 2016 I could upload if you would like to see them. (I'm not sure if I should request a gallery since it's just a tiny part of a non-zoological institution)
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Its just I have a thread on live animals displayed in Botanical gardens and I thought it would be good to add to it.
 
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