BigTusker15
Active Member
Yes lol, that's what I meant. I just realised my mistake.
The Top 10 Best Zoos in the World Debate
- Thread starter AmazonianHippo
- Start date
Yes lol, that's what I meant. I just realised my mistake.
In search for inspiration for my next zoo trip, I came across this thread. and although it's been while, I would like to share my view of contenders for tier S (best of the world), tier A (world class zoos) and tier B (very good zoos); only of zoos I've visited:
Tier B (in random order):
Memphis Zoo
Seaworld San Diego
Copenhagen Zoo
Cologne Zoo
Zoo Nurnberg
Tierpark Hellabrunn (Munnich)
Wilhelma Zoo (Stuttgart)
Bioparc Doué
Blijdorp (Rotterdam)
l'Oceanographic (Valencia)
Tier A (in random order):
Saint Louis Zoo
San Diego Safaripark
Smithsonian Zoo
Burgers Zoo
Tierpark Berlin
Antwerpen Zoo
Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Vienna)
(Pairi Daiza (depends heavily on choice of focus))
Zoo Leipzig
Chester Zoo
Tier S (in random order also):
San Diego Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Bronx Zoo
Georgia Aquarium
Columbus Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Prague Zoo
Berlin Zoo
Zoo de Beauval
Zurich Zoo
Tier B (in random order):
Memphis Zoo
Seaworld San Diego
Copenhagen Zoo
Cologne Zoo
Zoo Nurnberg
Tierpark Hellabrunn (Munnich)
Wilhelma Zoo (Stuttgart)
Bioparc Doué
Blijdorp (Rotterdam)
l'Oceanographic (Valencia)
Tier A (in random order):
Saint Louis Zoo
San Diego Safaripark
Smithsonian Zoo
Burgers Zoo
Tierpark Berlin
Antwerpen Zoo
Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Vienna)
(Pairi Daiza (depends heavily on choice of focus))
Zoo Leipzig
Chester Zoo
Tier S (in random order also):
San Diego Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Bronx Zoo
Georgia Aquarium
Columbus Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Prague Zoo
Berlin Zoo
Zoo de Beauval
Zurich Zoo
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
I’ve never been to Cincinnati but surely it doesn’t belong in the tier above Chester, Tierpark Berlin or Burgers’?
This list I've put together is what I personally consider to be the "Elite Eight" of both America and Europe. If one is to attempt an objective ranking of the 10 greatest zoological attractions in the world, however impossible the task may be, it'll likely be composed of 10/16 places mentioned below for one reason or another (a mix of exhibitry, collection, history, or unique elements). Just to be fun, I also included a handful of candidates that I think come quite close to make these proper top 10 lists.
U.S.
1. Bronx Zoo
2. Georgia Aquarium
3. Monterey Bay Aquarium
4. Henry Doorly Zoo (Omaha)
5. Saint Louis Zoo
6. San Diego Zoo
7. San Diego Zoo Safari Park
8. Shedd Aquarium
Candidates for the 9/10 Slots: Columbus, Houston, Miami, North Carolina, Woodland Park
Europe
1. Berlin Zoo
2. Berlin Tierpark
3. Burger's Zoo (Arnhem)
4. Chester Zoo
5. Pairi Daiza
6. Prague Zoo
7. Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Vienna)
8. Zurich Zoo
Candidates for the 9/10 Slots: Beauval, Doué-la-Fontaine, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Zlin
U.S.
1. Bronx Zoo
2. Georgia Aquarium
3. Monterey Bay Aquarium
4. Henry Doorly Zoo (Omaha)
5. Saint Louis Zoo
6. San Diego Zoo
7. San Diego Zoo Safari Park
8. Shedd Aquarium
Candidates for the 9/10 Slots: Columbus, Houston, Miami, North Carolina, Woodland Park
Europe
1. Berlin Zoo
2. Berlin Tierpark
3. Burger's Zoo (Arnhem)
4. Chester Zoo
5. Pairi Daiza
6. Prague Zoo
7. Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Vienna)
8. Zurich Zoo
Candidates for the 9/10 Slots: Beauval, Doué-la-Fontaine, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Zlin
SeaOtterHQ
Well-Known Member
Now that we know you've visited most of the top zoos in Central and Eastern Europe, I'm extra curious to see if you'll be able to squeeze in a trip to Wroclaw or Sosto (the two most acclaimed zoos from that region not on your list, along with Cologne Zoo) during your remaining time there.
I'm also glad to see all those aquaria on your American list. It's a shame that many of Europe's top aquaria (Lisbon, Copenhagen, Valencia) are quite a distance from your current location, since it would be cool to know how they compare in your eyes. In any case, I'm looking forward to the reviews in your trip thread!
Don't be so sure. I have a flight booked one week from now.
Tierpark is big with an amazing large mammal collection and spacious exhinits, but nothing special and it lacks ecothermic animals. Chester for sure has its highlights and an excellent diverse collection, but is has also this typical english messy grim zoo style. Burgers has its ecosystem which are beautiful, but not much besides them.
That's why I would rank Cincinnati higher then these three.
