What Are the Most Likely Reasons Australians (& N.Zs.) Would Have Visited Zoos in Europe

Most likely reason(s) or attraction(s) for Australian or New Zealander to visit a zoo(s) in Europe?

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To be honest, for your average Aussie, the only reason most would visit a zoo on a trip to Europe would be to give the kids a break from the museums and cathedrals. Probably many plan to visit a "Famous" zoo, but I think the only zoos in this category today for Australians would be Singapore (all of them) and San Diego, none of which are in Europe. London Zoo would have been once but I don't think any more. Of course many will visit zoos they happen across on their travels which attract them through their advertising or some feature, but most would not set out planning to visit a zoo.

Of course zoochatters are a different matter as can be seen above. For myself a good collection of birds is always a plus, but mostly I am looking for smaller zoos that have done something in an interesting way.
 
CGSwans said:
(indeed, I lean towards arguing that all the species should be maintained as a single population of 'zoo giraffes')
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I''d be rather interested to hear your reasoning on this point, given the fact that at least two of the pure populations in European collections are - last I heard - deemed to be more or less self-sustaining now.
 
MRJ said:
To be honest, for your average Aussie, the only reason most would visit a zoo on a trip to Europe would be to give the kids a break from the museums and cathedrals.
Of course zoochatters are a different matter as can be seen above. For myself a good collection of birds is always a plus, but mostly I am looking for smaller zoos that have done something in an interesting way.
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Мy fault is that I should note that the poll is regarding on zoochatters, not on general citizens of Australia and New Zealand. Or that I am not asking for opinion of a zoochatter, for an average non-zoochatter citizen (AU, N.Z.) in regards to visiting zoos in Europe.
 
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Nikola Chavkosk said:
Мy fault is that I should note that the poll is regarding on zoochatters, not on general citizens of Australia and New Zealand. Or that I am not asking for opinion of a zoochatter, for an average non-zoochatter citizen (AU, N.Z.) in regards to visiting zoos in Europe.
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:)
 
Nikola Chavkosk said:
Whether Christmas Islands is closer to (Western) Europe or to California? Or even Australia I think it is almost the same distance to America as it is to Europe?
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Depends on where in Australia you are. From Sydney the USA is several thousand kilometres closer, even more so if you're traveling to Hawaii.

Nikola Chavkosk said:
Also I don't think that America or Singapore would have greater diversity of zoo birds than Weltvogelpark Walsrode (650+ species of birds) (San Diego Zoo - around 270 species of birds?)?
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But I never said I was looking for the greatest diversity record holder. I only said a greater diversity of birds. And Jurong Bird Park has more diversity in their birds than all the zoos in Australia combined.

:p

Hix
 
CGSwans said:
Tell me about it. During the mating season I have to wear armour to go to my mail box.
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Geez, yes, the mating season. If you don't have tile roof, the sounds of their claws on the Colourbond send shivers up your spine.

:p

Hix
 
Hix said:
As an Aussie who went to Europe just to visit zoos - and no other reason - in 1984, and saw 20 facilities I can tell you the reason I went was not to see any animal in particular.

I went to visit zoos.

And I chose the zoos because they were well-known/famous.

If I particularly wanted to see bonobos or giraffes, or a greater diversity of birds etc - in captivity - then it would be quicker and cheaper to fly to Singapore or California. And the bonus is they speak English in those country's too (well, in Singapore at least).

Even today, when travelling I will visit a zoo or wild animal park just because I like visiting them. Even if they turn out to be crap.

The only time I travelled anywhere to see a particular species in captivity was when I flew to Wellington to see a kakapo.

And these days I'm travelling to places to see things in the wild.

:p

Hix
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Returning to this for a moment, Hix, I'm curious to hear which 20 you visited?
 
I never travel for the specific reasons of seeing a species, however if I'm ever overseas, I always take the opportunity to visit the local zoos and wildlife parks. Visiting the main zoos in the region are the priority for me, over smaller zoos or wildlife parks but I've always been excited to see animals that I've either never seen (okapi, gorillas and komodo dragon at London Zoo; polar bears at Singapore Zoo; Malayan tapir at the Singapore Night Safari; Ghost bats at Perth Zoo) before or are no longer in the Australasian region (Temminck's golden cat at the Singapore Night Safari).
 
CGSwans said:
Returning to this for a moment, Hix, I'm curious to hear which 20 you visited?
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UK: London, Whipsnade, Bristol, Jersey.
Belgium: Antwerp, Planckendael, and some disgusting little menagerie in the basement of a department store.
Netherlands: Blijdorp (Rotterdam), Artis (Amsterdam)
Germany: Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremburg
Switzerland: Zolli Basle, Zurich, Dahlholzli (Berne), Berne Bear Pits.

:p

Hix
 
Hix said:
Geez, yes, the mating season. If you don't have tile roof, the sounds of their claws on the Colourbond send shivers up your spine.

:p

Hix
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Especially when the baustards are having a feeding frenzy on the neighbours dog on top of your roof.
 
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