Your five favourite UK Zoos and Why?

Pertinax said:
Interesting omission, and may reflect something about the current situation there perhaps.
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As noted by myself in the quote below, if we were talking the best zoo in the UK rather than the favorite, I would have likely included Marwell.

TeaLovingDave said:
were we talking "best" I think I would swap out London and Hamerton and replace them with Marwell/Whipsnade for London, and Living Coasts for Hamerton.
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The main reason I did not include Marwell or Whipsnade is the fact I have only visited each collection once.
 
Since I don't get around too many collections these days I'm going to cheat by using a time machine :)

In no special order:

1. Howletts/Port Lympne early 80s. Innovative, spectacular variety, spectacular breeding. Chosen as one selection as they were effectively one entity on two sites.
2. Marwell. Similar period, similar reasons.
3. London. Late 1960s - astonishing collection of things you wouldn't see elsewhere, and what's wrong with a "postage stamp collection" collection?
4. Chester - pretty well anytime in my lifetime. My 'home' zoo, lots of variety; difficult to choose a time - I liked the days of the Small Mammal House (kinkajou, fennec fox, BINTURONG!), but breeding okapi and Indian rhino takes some beating ....

And, after a lot of thought, and by a short head from Paradise Park (Hayle), Paignton and Edinburgh ...

5. Twycross. Early 80s. Primate variety. Uakari!
 
I have chosen Marwell old times sake if you like been going since it was open yes its not what is was,Chester liked the old cat house,with so many species,Paignton was down not long ago full of animals,London again because of its history,and one I dont think has been posted.Kilverstone long closed a South American Zoo,saw my first Pampas cat and a great collection of Tamarin and Marmosets.
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
Since I don't get around too many collections these days I'm going to cheat by using a time machine :)

In no special order:

1. Howletts/Port Lympne early 80s. Innovative, spectacular variety, spectacular breeding. Chosen as one selection as they were effectively one entity on two sites.
2. Marwell. Similar period, similar reasons.
3. London. Late 1960s - astonishing collection of things you wouldn't see elsewhere, and what's wrong with a "postage stamp collection" collection?
4. Chester - pretty well anytime in my lifetime. My 'home' zoo, lots of variety; difficult to choose a time - I liked the days of the Small Mammal House (kinkajou, fennec fox, BINTURONG!), but breeding okapi and Indian rhino takes some beating ....

And, after a lot of thought, and by a short head from Paradise Park (Hayle), Paignton and Edinburgh ...

5. Twycross. Early 80s. Primate variety. Uakari!
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Interesting, I think we could probably start a whole new time machine thread!
I don't think snowleopard can count any of these bar Chester towards his totals though!
London prior to 1984/85 or Marwell in the 80s May have got my votes! The Sumatran Rhino alone at Port Lympne in the 90s would put that in my list( but didn't visit until 2008!).
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Funny enough, none of the first three collections I visited (HWP, Flamingoland, Edinburgh) are in my top 5 as cited above..... though Edinburgh might have been were it not for the significant losses to the collection of late.
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QED, provided you believe that an exception proves the rule :)

Alan
 
If we had a time machine thread Flamingo Park in the 1960s would be way out in front for me. Dudley in the early 1970s and again in the late 1990s would be in there, and Rode would be a definite inclusion.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Just the one male now, who is on the surplus list so may depart any time.

The other 1,1 went to Exmoor, which has a pretty damn good array of cats - I suggest you visit next time you hit the UK. If memory serves the current list is as follows:

Tibetan Golden Cat
Sand Cat
Caracal
Puma
Leopard
Ocelot
Rusty-spotted Cat
Palawan Leopard Cat.
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You missed the Fishing Cats and the Cheetahs. The Ocelot is off show at the moment as well, the Golden cats are in his enclosure. Also worth mentioning the Leopards are both melanistic.

Top five wise I've only been to four collections but one, Dartmoor Zoo would be on my worst rather than best list!

1) Exmoor - Nice variety of animals that I like. (Carnivores). Lots of talks, encounters, feeds etc, increasing collection steadily.

2) Paignton - First Zoo I went to. Like the site and animals, though wish they had more canine species. They only have Maned Wolves which are my favourite canine species anyway.

3) Axe Valley Wildlife Park - Small collection that despite being only six years old has many interesting small species - Common Genets, Asian Palm Civets, common Cusimanse... And it is improving almost constantly.

Again these are the only collections I've been to so can't include a 4 & 5.

Though collection I really want to visit would be Hamerton for it has quite a few species I like/want to see - Aardwolf especially.
 
I was intrigued by Exmoor for the Palawan leopard cats. Now you have all convinced me I need to go there if I ever make it back to UK. Also RSCC is high on my list of course. Just not sure when or if I will make it back (if I can swing a trip next year for my 50th birthday I may focus on France - Switzerland - Austria).
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Funny enough, none of the first three collections I visited (HWP, Flamingoland, Edinburgh) are in my top 5 as cited above..... though Edinburgh might have been were it not for the significant losses to the collection of late.
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In previous years, people I know (not zoo enthusiasts) after visiting Edinburgh have commented to me that they did not see animals that they expected to see or animals that they had seen in the past, also in the past the zoo enthusiasts have praised this zoo for having rarer and not so commonly seen animals in the collection, this perhaps compensated for a great reduction in the traditional A.B.C. animals which enthusiasts have seen many times on visiting other collections, I can understand and appreciate both sides of to this. It would now appear that the enthusiasts who previously praised this zoo are now starting to criticise it for a now reduced number of rarer species, and quite right too, it appears to me that this has happened since the arrival of the giant pandas, coincidence?, it is also apparent that this zoo only scores 3 on our list of favourite zoos at the present time, when ideally in reality it should be up there near the top.
 
As the title is favourite zoos I have based mine on the overall experience of a good day out, good memories and not purely on the animals in the collection.
1. Colchester - I have been visiting since a child, my own children grew up as regular visitors and now my grandson goes every week. So many memories, always evolving and a joy to see through the eyes of a 3 year old again. I was informed by my grandson that he was not a monkey for eating a banana but a chimpanzee who are apes!
2. Whipsnade - never had a bad day there whatever the weather (and we have experienced them all) This year we have really noticed the increase in visitors but it is so vast it is possible to totally escape in the breath taking scenery. Looking forward to doing the keeper experience in a few weeks :)
3. Highland wildlife park - such a shame we only manage 2 visits a year in our now regular fortnight in Scotland. Again breath taking scenery and love the whole feel of the park.
4/5 cannot decide between these 3
Marwell had some lovely times staying at the hotel opposite and strolling over to the zoo after a full breakfast, we spent 4 days there last year for my partners 50th birthday. Again its the overall experience I remember.
Bristol - lovely compact zoo, which is a nice change for the poor feet! Gorillas always active and spent many an hour sitting on the bench (usually in the rain) with a coffee just watching them.
Paignton - lovely setting, bit confusing layout at first but all adds to the mystery of what to see next. Love the Orangutan islands and happy times.

I am sure others could be included but I stopped at 5 (well 6) but went with the first ones that sprang to mind. Looking back reminds me of all the zoos we have visited over the years and some we will return to when my grandson is a bit older for him to experience.
More happy, memorable times to come!
 
1) Dudley - I have been visiting since I was a small child and never tire of going back. I've been really pleased to see the changes over the last few years and, whilst it doesn't have the range of species of some other collections and is constrained by the topography of the site and the limitations of the tectons, I think it does what it does very well.

2) Yorkshire Wildlife Park - visited for the first time this year (before the polar bears - drat!) but was very impressed with what I saw. I thought they had incorporated the natural features into the enclosures very intelligently and was delighted to see a giant anteater for the first time.

3) Chester - for the sheer range of species - particular favourites being elephants, rhinos, okapi and aardvark.

Cannot decide on 4th and 5th as other collections I've visited (London, Paignton, HWP, Southport) were all over 10 years ago.

Note to self - visit more zoos.:D
 
I am somewhat late in responding to this thread so, not surprisingly, others have already made comments similar to some of mine.

I had no difficulty whatsoever in deciding the first three entries on my list; they had to be:-

1. London

I first visited London Zoo when a very small child in the 1950s and have been a frequent visitor all my life; my childhood visits to London Zoo, back in the days when it held one of greatest collections of animals in the world, inspired my fascination with zoology and my obsession with zoos. Although, sadly, the collection lacks the diversity of species it once had, I still love the place and it really had no competition for being my number one choice. And, in addition to the zoo, there is one of world’s greatest zoological libraries and regular very interesting scientific meetings.

2. Whipsnade

London Zoo’s country branch has some of my favourites: both species of hippos, breeding group of Asiatic elephant, Indian rhinos, onager, gaur, a recently enriched antelope collection.....There is the attraction of the free-ranging mara, Bennett’s wallabies, muntjak and Chinese water deer together with beautiful views across the downs. On a nice sunny day there is nowhere in the UK that I would rather be.

3. Chester

Chester probably has the most comprehensive collection in the UK and the animals are extremely well exhibited. Although I never visited Chester Zoo as a child, so I don’t have the same emotional feelings for it that I have for London and Whipsnade, Chester just had to rank high on my list. I regret that it is too far from London for me to visit as often as I would like (although I have been many times over the last thirty-odd years and try to have a long weekend in Chester most years).

The remaining two entries on my list were much harder to select but I eventually chose:-

4. Marwell

I first went to Marwell back in the 1970s and was immediately impressed by its ungulate collection. I know it has received a lot of criticism on ZooChat recently (much of it unfair in my opinion) but I have been visiting Marwell regularly for many years, still like it very much and always enjoy my visits there.

5. RSCC

Generally speaking I much prefer zoos with large comprehensive collections to smaller specialised places (which is why the two Berlin zoos are, without doubt, my all time favourites) but I find the RSCC, with its many rarities, a very exciting place to visit. I couldn’t leave it out of my top five and am eagerly looking forward to the future developments. (I hope it will not be too long before the tarsiers go on exhibit.)

I should add that Bristol, Colchester and Cotswold Wildlife Park all came very close making either fourth or fifth position in my list.

Finally, some contributors have mentioned “using a time machine”. I didn’t think that was fair but, if I had, consideration would have had to be given to including Kilverstone, which is the closed zoo that I miss the most.

Also, Port Lympne (in the days Sumatran rhino were in the collection) and Twycross (when the collection included proboscis monkey, red uakari, Kloss’s gibbon and spotted cuscus) would have been seriously considered too.
 
Updated List of 40 Zoos (the "time machine" zoos were not included:))

Chester - 19
London - 12
Whipsnade - 10
Bristol - 9
Cotswold - 9
Paignton - 9
Colchester - 8
Dudley - 7
Blackpool - 4
Twycross - 4
Yorkshire Wildlife Park - 4
Durrell - 3 (although technically not in the U.K.)
Edinburgh - 3
Highland Wildlife Park - 3
Knowsley - 3
Marwell - 3
Welsh Mountain - 3
Africa Alive! - 2
Birdland - 2
Exmoor - 2
Howletts - 2
Monkey World - 2
Paradise Park - 2
Port Lympne - 2
RSCC - 2
Axe Valley - 1
Banham - 1
Birmingham Nature Centre - 1
Broxbourne - 1
Curraghs - 1 (although technically not in the U.K.)
Flamingo Land - 1
Hagley Falconry Centre - 1
Hamerton - 1
Kilverstone (now closed)
Living Coasts - 1
Newquay - 1
Sewerby - 1
Southport - 1 (now closed)
Wildlife Heritage Foundation - 1
Wild Wood - 1
 
1. whipsnade- I just love walking around the zoo and spotting not only the paddock animals but also the free ranging animals. It's so large that even on a busy day it doesn't feel packed to the brim !

2. Chester- only didn't get the top spot as I have only visited once before! However It has wonderful enclosures and a great variety.

3. Colchester- I have been visiting this zoo almost annually since my parents used to take us at the age of about 2! I love the enclosures (even with the mod rock!) and have memories of the bears in the old enclosures from a very young age.

4. Howletts/Portlymphe- I couldn't choose! Both have great variety and could watch the gorillas all day!

5. Hamerton- when I first visited this zoo I was ticking off new species I had never seen left right and center! It feels like a private collection that I have just stumbled into. I think of it in terms of the unusual as a mini RSCC.


Special commendation goes to..
Yorkshire wildlife park- this zoo will be a major one in everyone's top 5 in the future I'm sure! Imagine who it will look in 10 years time!

RSCC- zoo nerds paradise making me feel like a child on Christmas Day! but it would need to enlarge the enclosures more to be within my top 5.
 
My Top 5:

1.Colchester: Been going since a kid, got annual pass these days, love visiting this place, great memorys of the animals from a child and some are still there now. Great number of species, loads of talks and feeds and the place is always changing.


2. Whipsinade, Love walking around this place, massive enclosures lots of different hoofed species. And one of only few places which have common Hippos and Indian rhino's. What I also like about this place is its setting and all the free roaming animals. I remember visiting this place one winter in the fog and seemed so massive!!

3. London. Was never a big fan of this place when growing up, always thought was a bit tacky with small enclosures and to busy. However been a few times recently and def has improved. The new tiger exhibit is very impressive , penguin beach too. And of course decent reptile houses.

4. Edinburgh. Visited last Easter and even though some of its enclosures r quite dated, the penguins and pandas more than made up for it!! Good to see a few different species to such as koala and the King penguins.

5. Howletts. The elephant herd is very impressive and the sheer number of gorillas make this a worthwhile visit. weird setting with the house

Still need to visit Chester and Cotswolds which both look nice.
 
My top 5, like many others, changes depending on the last visits, but here goes mine:-
1. YWP has come so far so quick, with excellent paddocks and constant improvements.
2. Colchester. just love the place, always seem to find something new.
3. Cotswold Wildlife park. something for everyone.
4. South Lakes. can't wait to re-visit once the current expansion is complete.
5. Whipsnade. Plenty of room to escape the crowds.

very close contenders for my pick were, Bristol, Paradise and Edinburgh.
 
Arizona Docent said:
I have been to seven UK zoos, so here are my top five. The two that did not make the cut are London Zoo (substandard exhibits, no matter how historic it is) and Howlett's (lack of variety).

1. Wildlife Heritage Foundation (cats, cats, cats :))
2. Highland Wildlife Park (beautiful scenery and exhibits)
3. Port Lympne (tons of small cats)
4. Chester Zoo (consistent exhibit quality)
5. Edinburgh Zoo (three different golden cat exhibits)
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I am in a similar position to AD in terms of number of British zoos visited, although not the same ones, and so my top five is rather different:

1. London Zoo
2. Chester Zoo
3. Cotswold Wildlife Park
4. Bristol Zoo
5. Edinburgh Zoo

While Chester has the better collection, London's oozing history made it spectacular, although I did find my visit somewhat bleak (it was December...). Cotswold's completely charming Olde Englighness made it stand out above 4 and 5, while Edinburgh lacked a bird collection so could hardly compete with Bristol.

Of course, if I visited more zoos in the UK, my list would certainly change, the last two I expect would drop off to be replaced by Durrell and possibly Whipsnade or RSCC.
 
bongorob said:
In no particular order

London, Bristol, Living Coasts, Colchester, Whipsnade
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I was reminded on Saturday that I missed chester off the list

So a revised list

London - a good comprehensive collection with an excellent reptile house

Bristol - small but full of nice stuff

Living coasts - exhibits a lot of rarely seen seabirds, standing at the top of the hill in torrential rain and helping a keeper feed the waders is something I will always rememeber.

Chester - my favourite zoo, so much so that I am so familiar with the place that I tend to forget to add it to lists, which is why it was missed off last time.

Whipsnade - large paddocks for large ungulates, my idea of paradise.
 
Updated List of 42 Zoos (including all changes and additions during the past week)

Chester - 23
London - 14
Whipsnade - 14
Cotswold - 11
Bristol - 10
Colchester - 10
Paignton - 10
Dudley - 7
Edinburgh - 5
Yorkshire Wildlife Park - 5
Blackpool - 4
Howletts - 4
Marwell - 4
Port Lympne - 4
Twycross - 4
Durrell - 3 (although technically not in the U.K.)
Highland Wildlife Park - 3
Knowsley - 3
Welsh Mountain - 3
Africa Alive! - 2
Birdland - 2
Exmoor - 2
Hamerton - 2
Monkey World - 2
Paradise Park - 2
RSCC - 2
Axe Valley - 1
Banham - 1
Birmingham Nature Centre - 1
Broxbourne - 1
Curraghs - 1 (although technically not in the U.K.)
Flamingo Land - 1
Hagley Falconry Centre - 1
Kilverstone (now closed)
Living Coasts - 1
Longleat - 1
Newquay - 1
Sewerby - 1
South Lakes - 1
Southport - 1 (now closed)
Wildlife Heritage Foundation - 1
Wild Wood - 1

Would it be accurate to say that the top 10 zoos on the list really are the ten "best" zoos in the United Kingdom? (That idea seems reasonable and controversial at the same time)
 
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