What is a zoo?

[zooboy28]

We can easily define some types of specialist collections, such as aquaria, falconry centres, bird gardens, but it gets tougher when we try and differentiate between zoos and wildlife parks. Wildlife parks are a specific genre of zoos, but whether they can be regarded as more respectable I am not so sure. In the 1970's there was a proliferation of wildlife parks and many were run on a shoe string, were poorly run and failed to thrive. The same can be said about many small zoos. There are some wonderful wildlife parks and zoos, and it is the larger zoological institutions, with their research and conservation programmes that are the more prestigious.

These are just my views, it would be good to hear how others feel.

At least in Australasia, zoos are generally urban animal attractions, while wildlife parks are more typically rural, and often smaller, with a greater focus on domestic and/or native species, with fewer exotics. But there are many exceptions, so I don't think here there is any reason you would expect a "zoo" to differ from a "wildlife park" or even a "sanctuary". The definitions are essentially identical, and quite different to how you describe the UK situation.

 

[Talli]

I wrestle with this for two reasons - 1) creating my "life list" of zoos, and 2) deciding what patches to put in my zoo patch collection. I actually have a few patches that wouldn't technically fit my quite broad definition (any place displaying live animals other than just domestic), such as Sea Lion Caves in Oregon and Penguin Parade on Phillip Island, but it's my collection, so I can put what I want in it, lol.
When I visited Brownsea Island on a scout trip, I was excited to read that it also had an aquarium, but since said aquarium is smaller than the ones in many homes, it would be a pretty big stretch to call it a zoo. Also - did anyone bring up the Rainforest Cafes? They all have several large aquariums with signage. I haven't counted them, but...
You might find the patches fun to look at, even though none of you seem to collect them! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zoo-and-Aquarium-Patches/104765746256605