USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
What do you see in Brookfield and Cincinnati that you don’t see in Minnesota, National or North Carolina? I do like Cincinnati but I don’t feel like it’s better than the three I listed.
The Top 10 Best Zoos in the World Debate
- Thread starter AmazonianHippo
- Start date
I think the two main things we assess zoos on is their collection (ie. what animals they hold, and how many) and the way that they are displayed.
Both Brookfield and Cincinnati have far bigger and much more diverse collections in my opinion.
Cincinnati also has some great exhibits - Gorilla World, Africa, Night Hunters and the new Elephant Trek just to name a few. Whilst Brookfield doesn't at the moment, they still have great promise going forward. The extension of Tropic World is just the beginning, and it looks amazing thus far.
Whilst North Carolina has some absolutely phenomenal exhibits, I think they are let down by the lack of species diversity they have - no Asian section (although I know ones on the way), no Australasian section and no South American section. Once the Asian section opens, things may change.
The same can be said for Minnesota, to a greater degree. A zoo focusing on North American species (with a sprinkle of North Asian species) is great. But not a zoo I would view in the top 10 despite again, having some world class exhibits such as Grizzly Coast.
I can see why you and others would have a strong argument for the National Zoo. Great sized zoo, great collection, and all round great displays. However I'd rather visit a zoo like Brookfield, when considering the animals they have.
Still, all three zoos are very very close. Just not top ten for me.
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have a Top 10 list for NA yet? I have a draft but I’m not really experienced on this matter so tell me if you have any objections:
1:San Diego
2:Omaha
3:Bronx
4:SDZSP
5:Colombus
6:Houston
7:Memphis
8:St Louis
9:Miami
10:Toronto
1:San Diego
2:Omaha
3:Bronx
4:SDZSP
5:Colombus
6:Houston
7:Memphis
8:St Louis
9:Miami
10:Toronto
I agree with most of the list. However I do think Cincinnati should at least be included. I would have it in there over Memphis tbh. The rest I would certainly have in my top 10:
Probably in the order of;
- San Diego
- Omaha
- Bronx
- Columbus
- San Diego Safari Park
- Zoo Miami
- Houston
- St Louis
- Toronto
- Cincinnati
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
I'd remove SDZSP and Memphis, here's what I think the list should appear:
1. Omaha
2. San Diego
3. Bronx
4. Columbus
5. Saint Louis
6. Miami
7. Houston
8. North Carolina
9. National
10. Woodland Park
Toronto is not as good as any of these zoos imao, it is still a phenomenal zoo. Memphis is dated and a little rough.
BigTusker15
Active Member
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I enjoyed the Columbus Zoo more than I did the San Diego Zoo. Maybe it's because I have more memories in Columbus, but everything about it was phenomenal.
I've been to zoos in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Korea, the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Kenya and Japan. I thought the collection at Seoul Grand Park was pretty impressive. The two German Zoos I visited most often were Frankfurt and Gangelt Wildpark. Koln and Burgers Zoo were really nice, as were Antwerp, Planckendael, and Beekse Bergen. There are a few of the grand American Zoos that people are ranking that I have never been too. Here is how I would rank the 10 best zoos in the world based on my experience (taken the zoo's history and aesthetics and use of space into account along with exhibitory and collection):
1. Bronx Zoo
2. Burger's Zoo
3. Gangelt Wildpark (for what it is it is the best)/Northwest Trek for the American Version (including it's associated sister facility, the Point Defiance Zoo)
4. Henry Doorly Zoo (including the collection at its sister facility, Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park)
5. Koln Zoo
6. Antwerp Zoo
7. Beekse Bergen
8. Frankfurt Zoo
9. Planckendael Zoo
10. San Antonio Zoo
Here are a few zoos I haven't visited that I think would likely qualify for consideration (in no particular order):
1. Fossil Rim
2. Houston Zoo
3 St. Louis Zoo
4 and 5. The San Diego Zoos
6 & 7. The Berlin Zoos
8. Columbus Zoo and it's sister facility, The Wilds
9. Highland Wildlife Park
10. Prague Zoo
I guess (by my count) that's 24 zoos in my list of the "10 Best". ;-)
I'd stand by it....although Point Defiance without Northwest Trek would not come close to making the list...considering the two as one collection however...yep.
1. Bronx Zoo
2. Burger's Zoo
3. Gangelt Wildpark (for what it is it is the best)/Northwest Trek for the American Version (including it's associated sister facility, the Point Defiance Zoo)
4. Henry Doorly Zoo (including the collection at its sister facility, Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park)
5. Koln Zoo
6. Antwerp Zoo
7. Beekse Bergen
8. Frankfurt Zoo
9. Planckendael Zoo
10. San Antonio Zoo
Here are a few zoos I haven't visited that I think would likely qualify for consideration (in no particular order):
1. Fossil Rim
2. Houston Zoo
3 St. Louis Zoo
4 and 5. The San Diego Zoos
6 & 7. The Berlin Zoos
8. Columbus Zoo and it's sister facility, The Wilds
9. Highland Wildlife Park
10. Prague Zoo
I guess (by my count) that's 24 zoos in my list of the "10 Best". ;-)
I'd stand by it....although Point Defiance without Northwest Trek would not come close to making the list...considering the two as one collection however...yep.
SeaOtterHQ
Well-Known Member
The consensus seems to be that both Fort Worth and Houston are well ahead of Dallas among the major Texan zoos. FW and Houston have more interesting and distinctive exhibits, such as the MOLA and South America's Pantanal, whereas Giants of the Savanna at Dallas doesn't stand out as much when many zoos have excellent African savanna exhibits these days.
I also think the Kansas City Zoo belongs in the discussion of the top 10 American zoos, though I'd place it closer to the 5-10 range than in the top 5. Kansas City's Sobela aquarium can easily compete with Omaha's Scott Aquarium.
BigTusker15
Active Member
I'm fairly new to ZooChat (I only recently became active again) so I figured I would y zoo count is still pretty vague, since I've never traveled outside the country (Except for cruise excursions), and I have only been to 20 states, including New York, where I live. At the moment, I've visited exactly 40 accredited Zoos & Aquariums. (I won't count the "roadside" zoos for simplicity.) Right now, these are my contenders for the top 10 Zoos I have been to:
1. Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
2. San Diego Zoo + Safari Park (enjoyed them both equally)
3. Cincinnati Zoo
4. Bronx Zoo
5. Fort Worth Zoo
6. Zoo Atlanta
7. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
8. Dallas Zoo
9. Busch Gardens Tampa
10. Cameron Park Zoo
I will also include a map I'm creating, which will include all of the accredited zoos, safari parks, aquariums for the fun of it, and preserves from around the world, using each accreditation association from around the world. This will be sort of a checklist, which I will check off each visit to as many of the Zoos & Aquariums on the map, as well as some notes from each visit. I'll link the map here. Feel free to leave suggestions, ideas, and comments as well, as it is far from finished. (If there is a better thread to post this part to, let me know. I'm still figuring my way around ZooChat)
1. Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
2. San Diego Zoo + Safari Park (enjoyed them both equally)
3. Cincinnati Zoo
4. Bronx Zoo
5. Fort Worth Zoo
6. Zoo Atlanta
7. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
8. Dallas Zoo
9. Busch Gardens Tampa
10. Cameron Park Zoo
I will also include a map I'm creating, which will include all of the accredited zoos, safari parks, aquariums for the fun of it, and preserves from around the world, using each accreditation association from around the world. This will be sort of a checklist, which I will check off each visit to as many of the Zoos & Aquariums on the map, as well as some notes from each visit. I'll link the map here. Feel free to leave suggestions, ideas, and comments as well, as it is far from finished. (If there is a better thread to post this part to, let me know. I'm still figuring my way around ZooChat)
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AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
I mean it is your opinion, but I find it interesting that you prefer/ think that Colombus is better than the San Diegos and, Cincinnati is better than the Bronx. What is your reason for that?
BigTusker15
Active Member
For Columbus and San Diego, I put Columbus first for a few reasons. Firstly, I just have more recollection of Columbus than San Diego, mainly because I was much younger when I visited San Diego. Second thing, Columbus was a bit easier to navigate. San Diego wasn't so much "hard to navigate," but once I left, I figured out there were certain areas I passed right up. Throughout my visit as well, that was really my only problem with San Diego, but if I had studied the map more, I would have probably been able to navigate it much easier. Columbus, on the other hand, basically felt like multiple "loops." You didn't really miss out on any exhibit, and everything was much easier to navigate. The last thing was the theming. Both zoos have phenomenal theming, the best I've ever seen in zoos, but I do prefer the Columbus Zoo's theming. It made you feel you almost were in the animal's native lands, and the exhibits seemed to be a bit more informative. San Diego, by the way, though, has incredible theming as well, and like Columbus, it almost feels you were in their native habitat. The main difference is from what I remember from San Diego, as well as the exhibits were themed, they seemed to all be similar somehow, and it felt a little repetitive. . I feel that once I visit San Diego again, it may be my favorite, but for now, I put Columbus, but San Diego is very close.
Now, to the Cincinnati Zoo & The Bronx Zoo. The Bronx Zoo is my home zoo, and has always been my whole life. My family and I went every year from when I was just a baby until I was 8. After that, I probably had 3 other visits until now. I'm going to be heading back next Friday, and I'll post a detailed review on the zoos forum. But for now, I have Cincinnati at my #3 spot. One reason for this is the layout. I love large zoos, and I'm sure everyone does, but with the Bronx Zoo, the exhibits are too spaced apart. Sometimes it can take more than 5 minutes to walk from one exhibit to another, whereas at Cincinnati, the exhibits are spaced, but to a point where they are still only a minute walk. The other thing is the Bengali Express Monorail. A monorail ride is always fun, and I love the Bronx Zoos, except for one big thing, and my main reason for putting Cincinnati first. The monorail closes, and the animals are not on exhibit for 6 months of the year. I'm putting that in bold because that has always been something that has annoyed me since I was still a child. There is absolutely no way to see any of the Wild Asia animals, including their Asian Elephants (which is my favorite animal, along with their African counterparts, and what I enjoy studying the most), Sumatran Rhinos, and Przewalski's Horses. I'm not sure what the reason is, maybe it's the animal extremists going after Happy still, or maybe it's something else. It's still a shame for only half the year, you can see those exhibits, and even then, you only get a limited time at each exhibit, and you would have to re-ride the monorail again. But Cincinnati and Bronx seem kind of similar. They both keep their theme from the time they first opened, with both of them having former exhibits and buildings as relics, or revamped into new, really well-designed enclosures. Both of them are also very natural, with a bunch of trees, bushes, and flowers, making them both like a botanical garden as well. (Even though Cincinnati Zoo is a botanical garden as well.)
Every zoo on this list, though, I truly did enjoy, and these top 4 will always be very close, and may change in order through the years as well. I plan to visit a good number of zoos this year too, and once I get to more places, I'll definitely update my rankings.
What is the key to your map? Red versus Green? Elephant versus Giraffe? It’s a pretty cool project.
BigTusker15
Active Member
I thought I put it in the description lol. So I use each icon based on the accreditation organizations. So far, since it is only a day or two old, I have an Elephant for the AZA zoos, Dolphins for AZA/AMMPA aquariums and marine parks, and I have a Giraffe for the ZAA. The other ones so far are placeholders for now, until I figure out how to organize all the accreditation organizations, since I noticed that one, there is only a 12 layer limit on MyMaps, and two, some countries and continents both have accreditation organizations and that conflicts with the 12 layer limit, since there are more than 12 organizations for zoos and aquariums. I think I have to combine multiple related organizations from each region of the world. I do update it as much as I can, and I'll probably create a thread for updates on the map soon once I find a good place for one.
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
I’m getting the feeling we’re done with NA, if so do we wanna move on to Germany perhaps? If so I think a shortlist of zoos we should consider would be (in no particular order):
Berlin Zoo
Tierpark Berlin
Zoo Leipzig
Zoo Hannover
Zoo Koln
Nuremberg Zoo
Tierpark Hellabrun
Zoo Stuttgart
Berlin Zoo
Tierpark Berlin
Zoo Leipzig
Zoo Hannover
Zoo Koln
Nuremberg Zoo
Tierpark Hellabrun
Zoo Stuttgart
I would personally place Frankfurt above Stuttgart.
Randomname0183
Well-Known Member
No mention of hagenbeck? The top 3 would be very close too.
Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
I would place both Frankfurt and Stuttgart over Hellabrunn, while the latter is probably overall higher quality, it also doesn’t have anything as outstanding as the Grzimekhaus in Frankfurt or Terra Australis and the botanical gardens in Stuttgart
I enjoyed Hellabrunn for the megafuana (especially the Wood Bison) and I had an interesting experience with a Patagonian Sea Lion.
Surely you meant Indian rhinos… Bronx’s last Sumatran passed away 20 years ago.