Occassionally, Bavaria appears to be its own nation...I'll correct myself. Munich is part of Germany, and I counted it as it was outside of Germany. Sorry for any confusions.
The Top 10 Best Zoos in the World Debate
- Thread starter AmazonianHippo
- Start date
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
Thats why we are doing it in the form of a tier list, you see. Also, do you have an opinion on Miami?Maybe it's just me, but I feel like 10 zoos is too little of a number for the best zoos out there. Like, if you did a well based argument, five collections at Germany alone could enter in this list (Frankfurt, Cologne, Berlin zoo and Tierpark, Leipzig). Then you have the great institutions at Singapore and the US also has a great selection of institutions (St. Louis, Omaha, SDZ and SDZSP, Bronx and Colombus). And then you have all the great institutions at Europe (Chester, Beauval, Plzen, Prague, Pairi Daza, Burgers, Antwerpen, Vienna, Munich, Zurich, Rotterdam, Burgers, Wroclaw). I'm no way trying to criticize this thread, but there's more than just 10 zoos that could easly be in a top of the world list. And then you also have to consider personal preferences, wich make this even higger. This topic alone is very divisive among teh zoochat community.
Do note that the zoos listed are just some examples, but that doesn't mean that other zoos aren'ts as good.
Have a good day.
Matthew Typpo
Well-Known Member
I can see North Carolina being a contender for A tier
Panda_Fan
Well-Known Member
Miami is a good zoo, but I think that the word that describes it prefectly is monotonous. I've personally haven't been to the zoo, but most of the exhibits are the same, with some tweaks added fro each species. Don't get me wrong, the exhibits are perfectly fine, but a bit plain. That's why the amazon, wings of Asia and the everglades exhibits realy stand out. Also, I'm my opinion, I do think that the exhibits of Australia and great apes are a bit bad. Not a bad zoo, but there's better.
It's definitely not a top-world zoo, but it can easly enter the top 10 of the nation.
AnActualFan
Well-Known Member
From what I've seen, NC seems like an A-tier zoo for sure, which is top 10 material for America.
I hold the North Carolina Zoo close to my heart (it is my home zoo, after all), but I'm going to be real honest; I'm not sure if it's really Top-10 (in the USA) material, at least at this time. It's fantastic in a lot of aspects, but I feel like it's fallen off a bit in the last few years (I currently have it ranked 14th), and I can easily think of at least 10 zoos that do, or potentially can, outclass it in various areas. That being said, it does have a major new exhibit on the way, plus potentially other projects behind it, that will definitely boost it up.
Top 10 in the world? Absolutely not.
Top 10 in the world? Absolutely not.
Matthew Typpo
Well-Known Member
Agreed it’s definitely not a top 10 in the world but it’s one of the better ones in the US
B tier would then perhaps be suitable for North Carolina since the tier ranking basis is based on the best zoos worldwide. But then again, that tier relates to zoos that could be in discussion for being a top 10 zoo worldwide. I'm not sure North Carolina would necessarily fit there imo.
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
Okay, moving on, how about Blijdorp?
I'm a big fan of Amazonica and I like the collection. I personally haven't been, but from what I can gather on the web, they have a great Asian area and a fantastic aquarium. I expect this discussion to be short but I'd like to know what people think.
I'm a big fan of Amazonica and I like the collection. I personally haven't been, but from what I can gather on the web, they have a great Asian area and a fantastic aquarium. I expect this discussion to be short but I'd like to know what people think.
Randomname0183
Well-Known Member
Never been to Bjildorp, so unfortunately can't comment.
Considering marking a top 10, would it not be more reasonable to try debate top 10s per country/region and with that then try and figure out which are the best among those? It would be an easier way to categorise zoos, and could be done via polls?
Then again, I might be missing the point of the thread, and the goal is just to debate instead of making a definitive list
Considering marking a top 10, would it not be more reasonable to try debate top 10s per country/region and with that then try and figure out which are the best among those? It would be an easier way to categorise zoos, and could be done via polls?
Then again, I might be missing the point of the thread, and the goal is just to debate instead of making a definitive list
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
Okay good idea, another change in format it is!
Since you came up with an idea would you like to pick a country/ region of big countries like the US. Also I think perhaps top 5 per area would do the trick
Since you came up with an idea would you like to pick a country/ region of big countries like the US. Also I think perhaps top 5 per area would do the trick
Perhaps Top 10 would be more effective for the likes of Europe and North America where there are a good amount of 'world class' level facilities.
However for the others, like Asia, South America and Australasia, top 5's would be work better.
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
It really does depend though, because if we do countries like the UK or Spain which both have zoos that should be considered in this debate, then we would run out of 'world class' zoos relatively quick. So I propose we simply pick the country and then decide whether we should do top 5 or top 10.
Well considering the topic is 'world class zoos' - I don't think there's a need to go through each and every country. Realistically, you'd be lucky if you get a few countries that have multiple zoos that are candidates for the 'Top 10' (USA, Germany, UK come to mind).
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
Okay, not every country. With that said shall we start on a group of countries? How about 'Central Europe' Top 10 (Czech Rep, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Switzerland)
Randomname0183
Well-Known Member
Perhaps we could look at the UK first, as it has a large variety of facilities to look at?
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
Okay sure!
For me a Top 5 would look something like this:
1:Chester Zoo
2:Yorkshire Wildlife Park
3: Colchester Zoo
4: Whipsnade Zoo
5: London Zoo
Personally, I think that only Chester is Top 10 worthy but if there is anything you would like add, then take it away.
For me a Top 5 would look something like this:
1:Chester Zoo
2:Yorkshire Wildlife Park
3: Colchester Zoo
4: Whipsnade Zoo
5: London Zoo
Personally, I think that only Chester is Top 10 worthy but if there is anything you would like add, then take it away.
Randomname0183
Well-Known Member
Chester seems like a reasonable selection for entering a broader top 10, I would have thought Edinburgh could also be considered for a top 5? At least from the visit I did it seemed like a really nice zoo overall.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Personally, I have always been of the opinion that Whipsnade is a clear second place, and a cut above every other zoo in the country barring Chester. I feel as though the enclosures for large mammals there are second to none, the scenery with the Downs and mature woodland adds a more dramatic visual element which few in the country can claim, and with the excellent endangered species-focused Aquarium and Butterfly House, any criticisms about mammal-centricsm are no longer applicable. For me, in terms of overall animal-visitor experience, Whipsnade is clearly second, and the only other UK zoo that can hold its own against the best that I have seen on the continent. That said, I haven't actually visited Yorkshire myself. From what I can tell, the best of its enclosures are comparable to the best of Whipsnade, and the collection of large mammals is similarly impressive, but there is overall a lot less of it, and in particular there is next to nothing beyond mammals.
My top five with some attempt of objectivity, but then again the acknowledgement that there are too many different criteria to consider, and how much the individual values each one is too personal, for one to compile a truly objective list, would be as follows:
1. Chester
2. Whipsnade
3. Cotswold
4. Colchester
5. London
With Paignton and Edinburgh near misses. But then you come to an issue when you consider smaller zoos like Exmoor, which are incomparable to the others in terms of scale and the focus of their collection, but for what they are trying to be are truly excellent. Can Exmoor be considered for a top ten or even five? It would certainly make mine.
Randomname0183
Well-Known Member
That does
This does bring up a valid point for the debate: what even would our criteria for the "best" zoo be? Species kept, facility standards, appeal to the average visitor, appeal for a Zoo enthusiast, husbandry record, facility history... There are a lot of criteria to consider, and if we want to make a definitive-ish list perhaps we should lay down some?