What are the best developing world zoos?

C

CGSwans

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Just a thought - we have all debated, at various times, what the best zoos in the world are. The discussion inevitably revolves around the best zoos in the most developed nations (and I aim to visit many of them in my planned year of world travel in a couple of years). But I also want to go to quite a few less wealthy, less industrialised countries. What are the best zoos outside Western Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Singapore? I realise that list of 'rich' countries is a bit arbitrary but it excludes most of the usual suspect zoos, which is what I want to do.

Criteria for selection is entirely up to you, but should be explained. If you've been to the zoos you nominate that's great, but if not still feel free to make suggestions. Over to you.
 
I have visited 4 zoos in the developing world (in Namibia, South Africa & Madagascar). Tzimbazaza zoo in Antananarivo is really good for Malagasy standards, see my review and pictures of others in the gallery. But I do not think it would make one of the best zoos in the developing world.

However the 2 Oceans aquarium in Cape Town, deserves to be among them (though you can argue whether South Africa is a 3rd world country). It is far better than the sea lifes I have visited and has some very nice exhibits. It has the largest tank with living kelp after Monterrey Bay, filled with species native to the waters around the Cape. But they also have a nice penguin exhibit, shark tank (with HUGE sand tiger sharks). They even have a small but very nice invertebrate section
 
In S. Korea, Seoul zoo is the best zoo and it represents many Korean zoos. The zoo has a long history and has many experiences, which makes the zoo to own the well-equipped animal care system. Also they're one of the great zoos in Asia. Everland zoo is also a good zoo in Korea, but since it was made by Samsung and the zoo itself is more focusing on commercial success by using their animals rather than animals' welfare, so it is hard to say that it is not that good zoo for zoo animals to live in.
 
^^ I'm not sure that South Korea would be considered a developing country.

Likewise South Africa is also debatable as a "developing" country, but let's assume for the sake of this discussion that it is.

The Johannesburg zoo is fantastic, with a particularly interesting and diverse array of hoofstock, a great gorilla exhibit, fantastic facilities for Lions (including White Lions) and Nile Crocodiles, a brand new Tropical America house, a surprisingly interactive desert North America section with Mountain Lions and overall just a really large and diverse zoo. It is also gorgeous with huge trees and massive gardens. It's also a BARGAIN by western zoo standards.

The Johannesburg Zoo is also home to the only Polar Bears on the continent (although I heard recently from a friend that one of them died, leaving the male alone without a mate). However a newsblast that I received from the city said that they are bringing another Polar Bear to join him. The Polar Bear exhibit is rather typical.

I was particularly fond of the hoofstock because I'm an ungulate nerd, with special attachment to Mountain Zebras, PLains Zebras and Grevy's Zebras all being displayed in seperate but adjacent paddocks and huge, impressive specimens of Water Buffalo.

Also I have been to Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town which is truly world class and uShaka Marine World in Durban which is also world class. These are top notch facilities.

Finally I have been to the Zoo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I loved it because I love zoos, and the grounds are fantastically landscaped. The zoo is quite large and diverse with many specimens and species. That being said, some of the exhibits need to be renovated and it definitely looks shabby and low-budget (which is not surprising considering the state of Argentina's economy). You can feed the animals throughout the zoo pellets though, and even though I was not supposed to, I fed them all by hand (including the zebras lol).

I am worried about the state of Argentine facilities. The media is making a big stink of the saddest Polar bear in the world in Mendoza zoo, and then of course the orca in a really small tank at Mundo Marina. I hope Argentine facilities get a much needed injection of cash and assistance!! It is a beautiful country with fantastic cities, people and wildlife!
 
Mexico city cannot really be considered underdeveloped so its zoos do not qualify. But the southern state of Chiapas in Mexico is rather underdeveloped by national standards. All the more amazing that an outstanding zoological collection is there. ZOOMAT or zoologico miguel alvarez del toro in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas exhibits only regional fauna and is unrivaled in conservation, reproduction and reintroduction of the native animals in that region.Zoomat has bred everything from quetzals to tayras. As i wrote in a review, if paradise exists in Mexico for a zoofan it is ZOOMAT.
 
Ugandan Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe, Uganda. Not a brilliant zoo, but large enclosures and well looked after animals, local species.

:p

Hix
 
Having just returned from holiday I can safely say that the Belize Zoo should be short-listed.
 
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