There you go! When it comes down to it, people who go on zoocations don't put Philly on the list for a reasons. Ask snowleopard
.
I think the entire city suffers from the same under-rating that the Zoo does. Even lifelong residents often don't seem to appreciate what's here.
I'm willing to bet she hasn't been to many other zoos.
You are right. She has only visited one zoo as an adult - that was last year, and it was a small zoo in Arizona. She did visit a few zoos as a child.
I think that's the thing about Philly Zoo and others like it: when I was a kid, I loved the Queens Zoo and it's 12 animal exhibits. Up until my teens, I'd tell you it was the best zoo ever and fight it to the death if you thought otherwise. I hadn't been to many other zoos ...
As a child and young adult, I visited almost every zoo in the eastern U.S. After visiting the Philadelphia Zoo for the first time in 1967, I focused mostly on it because of that something special I can't seem to convince many people on this forum it has.
In the past few years I have visited small zoos in the area, and the Bronx Zoo, and the National Zoo a few times a year.
But, with the Zoo's recent changes back toward focusing more on animals and less on entertainment, and with the financial crisis and gas prices, etc. I have found that the Philadelphia Zoo has, overall, all I need to keep me happy.
and wasn't aware at that point that there are zoos where you can spend more than an hour or two at--that there are zoos you can spend the WHOLE day at and never see everything.
I usually spend four or five hours at the Zoo on Saturdays or Sundays, and at least two hours on a weekday afternoon. There are more than 1300 animals, and they all have their daily routines which occur at specific times so I go back and forth and visit each exhibit area at least twice.
The Philadelphia Zoo is only 45 sq. acres, but the space is used much more efficiently and it has more animals per sq. acre than many larger zoos - while still remaining well within the AZA guidelines for space requirements for the animals.
Yes, Philly Zoo is a step above Queens as far as collection goes ...
Oh, my, I think it is far more than a step above!
I would like to ask though, (answer in the Philly thread I suppose lol), what you're such a fan about THIS new aviary. Have you been to other aviaries? All the videos and photos I've seen of this one look just like every other aviary I've been to, I'm curious if there actually IS something different about it.
Yes, I've been to other aviaries (Bronx, St. Louis, etc.), and they are very nice. But this is more than an aviary - it is an avian center. It is bright, cheerful, inviting, peaceful, and the exhibits are designed to be educational as well as attractive ... the birds are calm and friendly (sometimes too friendly, according to the keepers, although I love having a bird perch on my arm or head)
The building is also designed in a way that conserves energy and saves the Zoo a lot of money in maintenance costs.
I know there are other wonderful zoos, and I am always happy when someone loves a zoo - ANY zoo - as much as I love the Philadelphia Zoo. But for me, there is no better zoo, when you take everything into account.
There are others who agree with me - they just don't broadcast it as much as I do. And the Zoo does draw 1.2 million visitors per year. Its membership numbers are rising, and, under the direction of its new President, who took over in 2006, it is doing very well.
I guess that's all I can say - please let me know what zoo is your favorite zoo and why - I am sorry if you've already said that - I have trouble navigating through posts to find specific answers.
