Your five favourite UK Zoos and Why?

Johnny Morris. said:
I haven't visited every zoo in the top 3.:D[/QUOTE

Must be at least one person who has probably been to all 47, or close to it.
I've been to the 1st 7, 4 of which are on my list, but only 22 in total!
I'm not keen on Safari Parks, but am still surprised how badly they have done- no votes for Woburn at all and if I remember rightly all the Knowsley votes were from 'locals'!
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I've been to the first 10 and 32 altogether, although some quite a long time ago - I have not really been to anywhere outside my East/North Yorkshire, South-west England, Colwyn Bay comfort zone for a few years now. Only one of the top ten made it on to my list, but some others would have once upon a time and if I had visited Cotswold more than twice (1981 and 1999) it probably would now. I am surprised at the votes for the YWP as it is such a new place, although I may be prejudiced as to me Flamingo Land will always be the number one larger zoo in Yorkshire. Interestingly a visitor from Doncaster was talking to the Head Keeper at Sewerby last week and she told him she preferred the place when it was Brockholes Farm.
 
I've been to 39 of the 47 - and all of those which received more than one vote. Some of the more idiosyncratic votes - @parrotsandrew, take a bow! - are places to which I have not been, nor am likely to go in the foreseeable future.

I think the breadth of the list proves that we all have different things for which we look in a zoo. Many years ago I met Michael Ann, the former director of Drusillas. When I very helpfully told him how his zoo could improve by being a great deal more scientific in its approach, he very charmingly reminded me that there should be a zoo for every man, a zoo for every reason. In other words, celebrate the difference! Much as I enjoy Andrew's copious photographs of the place, I can't say I am especially drawn to Sewerby - but I love that he enjoys the place so much, and for that reason alone I am glad it exists.
 
pipaluk said:
Johnny Morris. said:
I haven't visited every zoo in the top 3.:D[/QUOTE

Must be at least one person who has probably been to all 47, or close to it.
I've been to the 1st 7, 4 of which are on my list, but only 22 in total!
I'm not keen on Safari Parks, but am still surprised how badly they have done- no votes for Woburn at all and if I remember rightly all the Knowsley votes were from 'locals'!
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I've only been to 22 too.
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I'm virtually on the same score as Pertinax: 9 of the Top 10 and a total of 28 (but a couple were a very long time ago ;))
But I hope to add a few more in the next 6 months or so - I might even check my inoculations are up to date and try to get to YWP.

Alan
 
sooty mangabey said:
Much as I enjoy Andrew's copious photographs of the place, I can't say I am especially drawn to Sewerby - but I love that he enjoys the place so much, and for that reason alone I am glad it exists.
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Thank-you. As you say we all probably look for something different in a favourite zoo.
 
I have been to 18 UK zoos incl. 4 of the top 10.
My favourites are.
1. Chester. More than 20 visits. Always improving.
2. Jersey. Just always a huge Durrell fan.
3. London. Used to visit regularly and was always my absolute fav. until the changes in recent years.
4. Belfast. Very hilly site, but great species on show. (definitely in UK, at least half the population reckon so.)
5. Marwell. Used to be regular visitor. Formerly would have been 2nd to London in my list.
Hate to leave Bristol out but its almost 20 years since I was there.
Zoo I'd most like to get to see is RSCC.
 
1. London - This was the zoo I visited as a boy with my father and now drag my own children around regularly. I still love this place. Lots of fond memories of my own zoological firsts. The history and nostalgia factors are a massive part of the appeal.

2. Twycross - No longer a favourite amongst zoo chatters but my favourite taxa are elephants and primates and this zoo has them both in abundance. No doubt the historical significance plays its part in my minds eye as this is unfortunately not the collection it once was, but I still visit twice a year and enjoy my time there.

3. Howletts - I like the way that money was lavished on the collection of great mammals by Mr A in a decadent fashion. If I had that kind of cash then that's exactly what I'd do - build a world class zoo and do it my way! It's still a fantastic collection with a cracking breeding record but the current management seem to have ilost their way - the old man would be spinning in his grave.....

4. Bristol - A cracking little zoo. Animals around every corner and a few nice surprises and rareities. Exactly what a city zoo should be!

5. Chester. It's in many ways the best the UK has to offer, but for me has become a bit of a corporate machine in recent years. I guess if we're going to have truly world class zoos in the UK then professionalising and becoming more business like is essential and that is one area that Chester certainly lead in. Zoologically speaking this is a very impressive collection well displayed - but it's just missing something for me that the other four on my list have. I just can't put my finger on it!!
 
I've visited 33 of the favourite collections listed including Kilverstone and Southport (both of which were rather good in my opinion).

Paignton, Edingurgh, Port Lympne, Whipsnade, Banham, Jersey and Cotswolds all narrowly missed out on being part of my top 5.
 
I've visited a fair few but haven't managed london since I was a child (20 years ago i guess).

1) Chester Zoo - great all round zoo

2) South Lakes Wild Animal Park/Safari zoo - controversial choice but we live in the LD. NOTHING is close to us and this is 40 mins in the car. They have a great collection of big cats and one can hope they might get orangs or gorillas one day

3) Twycross zoo - Try to get here once a year because we love monkeys! Great for kids too. I know it's 'not what it once was' for some chatters but we think it's a cracking little place.

4) Highland Wildlife Park - Far superior to Edinburgh - pity its so flipping far away

5) Lake District Wildlife Park - tiny little place. Not many animals, but close ish to us and the animals they do have are very well kept, active and happy. Wonderful birds of prey. Lots of reptiles. The Gibbons are amazing to watch swinging from a large oak tree in the middle of the enclosure - i believe they have the oldest gibbon in Europe!
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Don't expect they will ever pop up again in the UK either - no need for them to be kept now! Which is a source of some frustration for me, as I first visited Chester Zoo soon after they went out of the species, and worse still only learned a falconry centre 12 miles from my home held the species when *they* went out of the species roughly at the same time! As such, never seen one and suspect I never will :p

But it is much better to never see one but know they are still around, than to never see one and know no one ever would again as so nearly was the case.
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We are going a bit off subject. The case of captive Mauritius Kestrels in captivity in the UK is a source of much frustration and disappointment. Over 20 were imported into the UK including breeding pairs and although they bred successfully at Newent and Jersey, they were not on the whole given the care and attention necessary to maintain the population in captivity. This was when I first realised just how low on the agenda breeding rare species is for most collections. British zoos have also done poorly with Pink Pigeons, and Telfair's Skinks and Guenther's Geckos have died out.

The wild population of Mauritius Kestrels is doing ok (c. 400 birds) but will always be endangered because of the size of Mauritius and the shortage of habitat.

Most zoos give lip service to conservation and it should be a major function for our zoos. It is not as high a priority as it should be.


Carl
 
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I've been to 39 from the list. Highest-placed zoo I'm missing is Monkey World.

No votes for Belfast (biggest UK zoo I've never visited). Geography counting against it, presumably.


EDIT: Just spotted dublinlion's votes - BELFAST LIVES! :D
 
gentle lemur said:
I'm virtually on the same score as Pertinax: 9 of the Top 10 and a total of 28 (but a couple were a very long time ago ;))
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Same goes for me too. And also from the past I could of course add quite a lot more that don't feature on this list.
 
Am not nearly so well zoo-travelled as everyone else here, but will add my five anyway :)

1. Whipsnade – my main childhood zoo, so much nostalgia. Plus, its so nice to walk around there, you rarely feel crowded, excellent views, and there’s plenty of native birdlife there too (nothing beats seeing the kites and buzzards flying across the Downs)

2. London – the zoo that kick-started my passion for zoo history, I love the nocturnal house/Clore and the Blackburn Pavillion. Although it has changed a lot since I used to visit in the late 90s, this has mostly been for the better

3. Tropical Birdland, Desford – went there a lot during my uni years as it was reasonably close. My friends preferred Twycross, but I love parrots more than primates. Usually had a parrot sat on me before even getting through the gate!

4. Horniman Museum Aquarium – Not sure if it counts or not, and it’s very small, but its nice to pop in, and when there isn’t a school group its lovely and quiet. The butterflies fascinate me!

5. Edinburgh – went to see the pandas, instead fell for the koalas and the sun bears.
 
I just can't decide. First trip to Europe was 1976 and I got to London Zoo and then after finding a copy of "A Zoo in My Luggage", rerouted my trip home via Jersey. London Zoo was a revelation - I'd never seen most of the small mammals and fell in love with galagos and lemurs. At that time, there was nothing else in the world like Jersey and I was so excited to see it. In more recent years I've managed a few trips to the UK and gotten to as many zoos and aquariums as possible. Just can't decide which special memories would make one a favorite.
 
Updated List of 50 Zoos (including all changes and additions)

Chester - 32
London - 18
Whipsnade - 17
Cotswold - 12
Bristol - 11
Colchester - 11
Paignton - 10
Dudley - 8
Edinburgh - 7
Twycross - 7
Durrell - 6 (although technically not in the U.K.)
Highland Wildlife Park - 6
Howletts - 6
Yorkshire Wildlife Park - 6
Marwell - 5
Blackpool - 4
Paradise Park - 4
Port Lympne - 4
Knowsley - 3
Monkey World - 3
Tropical Birdland - 3
Welsh Mountain - 3
Africa Alive! - 2
Exmoor - 2
Hamerton - 2
RSCC - 2
South Lakes - 2
Axe Valley - 1
Banham - 1
Belfast - 1
Birmingham Nature Centre - 1
Broxbourne - 1
Curraghs - 1 (although technically not in the U.K.)
5 Sisters - 1
Flamingo Land - 1
Hagley Falconry Centre - 1
Horniman Museum Aquarium - 1
Kilverstone - 1 (now closed)
Kirkley Hall - 1
Lake District Wildlife Park - 1
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis - 1
Living Coasts - 1
Longleat - 1
Newquay - 1
Sewerby - 1
Slimbridge - 1
Southport - 1 (now closed)
Wildlife Heritage Foundation - 1
Wild Wood - 1
Wingham Wildlife Park - 1
 
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