There & Back Again: Brooks to Key Largo to Kachemak Bay

[ZooElephantMan]

I’ve posted the last of my Denver Zoo pictures. It is kind of cool seeing so many of Denver’s Tropical and Subtropical species out enjoying the low 50’s weather and lingering piles of snow last November. Three takeaways from Denver:

1: Surprisingly few native Colorado species - Brown Bear (regionally extinct), Northern Raccoon, Bald Eagle, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat (Note the Holocene Population was introduced by Humans), North American Porcupine, a couple species of reptile and that is about it. Theoretically you could argue the Pzewalski’s Horse is part of an extirpated population and like the Brown Bear and Mountain Goat (directly reintroduced) is native. Argued less convincingly for the Lion. Notable absences in my mind: Prairie Dogs, Elk, Bison, Black Bears, Wolves, and Cougars. Maybe Jaguars (at least one record from the 1800’s), Pronghorn, and Beavers. Mustangs (domestic horse) too maybe. Although I would not be surprised if the hoofstock focus changes due to phase-out planning or just “extinction” within the zoo population…a lot of those North American species will likely fill the gaps. That said, locals and visitors, can just as easily visit (for free) the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR a few miles away and see Whitetail and Mule Deer, Prairie Dogs and Bison.

2. Pretty notable hoofstock collection. Regarding carnivores: Cheetahs are a pretty glaring omission.

3. Very closely resembles a “classic” city zoo…reminds me very much of European Zoos.

What would you say are the major similarities between Denver Zoo and classic city zoos / European zoos?

 

[Pleistohorse]

@ZooElephantsMan the ambiance and layout of the zoo primarily. That the Denver Zoo occupies the part the city’s grand park adds to it. The paddocks for the hoofstock and the interior stalls visitors have access to. The effective use of space and the Denver downtown skyline in view at many points. The central entrance plaza, although the penguins were the off exhibit. The single large tropical house. The zoo most reminded me of the Frankfurt Zoo. With a touch of Koln. Ultimately (and I may be wrong) but Denver is a very good zoo actually located very near to a city center and incorporates that into zoo experience. Most city center zoos I have visited in the USA are smallish. Calgary, Woodland Park, and the Bronx standout of course. Maybe Lowry Park and Atlanta. But I think the climate, the exhibitory, the collection…it felt…classic. It reminded me of Frankfurt more than anything else. The Brookfield Zoo felt like the love child of the Bronx and Antwerp. Not in a bad way!