Your Top 5 Zoos (out of 50 plus visited)

Arizona Docent said:
If you visited at the time you liked it (eg 1970's) that is fine. However if you want to clarify that it would not apply now you can make a short comment following your listing.
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I think I can only reasonably base my choices on my last visit, which sadly rules out 2 of the favourite zoos of my lifetime, London, which has fallen from the position for decades and Whipsnade, possibly only on my last visit a few weeks ago which I found a bit disappointing!

1 Berlin Tierpark (2017)
2 Zoo Berlin (2017)
3 Zoo Duisburg (2018)
4 Chester Zoo (Last visited 2018)
5 Hamerton Zoo ( last visit a week ago and is better every time I go, approximately 4 times a year on average)

Honourable mentions in addition to ZSL would be Yorkshire Wildlife Park currently , late 70s Marwell, Cologne last year (it doesn't make the top 5, because though some parts were excellent, some I thought were very poor for a zoo of its standing), Colchester ( though I think that has started a decline).
 
It is surprising how much commonality there is so far. I think just about everyone who has replied has one or two on their list that is also on the list of someone else who has replied.
 
Arizona Docent said:
It is surprising how much commonality there is so far. I think just about everyone who has replied has one or two on their list that is also on the list of someone else who has replied.
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Maybe not , I've counted 9 who have none of my top 5, though most of those members aren't European!
 
pipaluk said:
Maybe not , I've counted 9 who have none of my top 5, though most of those members aren't European!
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Maybe I worded it poorly. I did NOT mean that one or two zoos are on everyone's list. What I meant is that almost everyone who replied (yourself included) has at least one or two zoos that are on at least one other person's list. In other words, very few people (if anyone) has an entirely exclusive list with zoos that NO ONE else shares as a favorite.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Maybe I worded it poorly. I did NOT mean that one or two zoos are on everyone's list. What I meant is that almost everyone who replied (yourself included) has at least one or two zoos that are on at least one other person's list. In other words, very few people (if anyone) has an entirely exclusive list with zoos that NO ONE else shares as a favorite.
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Fair enough, you are right when wording it that way, 3 of mine are on more than one member's list!
 
Arizona Docent said:
In other words, very few people (if anyone) has an entirely exclusive list with zoos that NO ONE else shares as a favorite.
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How about:

Auckland Zoo
Jurong Bird Park
Taiping Zoo
Penang Bird Park
Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Park

Those are probably my "favourites" for various reasons, but not necessarily the "best" I have visited. Jurong was listed by @lintworm as an honourable mention which doesn't count for a "top five".
 
amur leopard said:
Do they both still have all four big cats?
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Zoo, or Tierpark?

Neither has a full set at present, even if one disregards the split between Mainland and Sunda Clouded Leopards which means nowhere has a full set of all seven species.

Tierpark has Mainland Clouded Leopard, Javan Leopard, Amur Tiger, Malayan Tiger, Sumatran Tiger and Snow Leopard.

Zoo has non-subspecific Lion and Persian Leopard.

Neither collection holds Jaguar.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Zoo, or Tierpark?

Neither has a full set at present, even if one disregards the split between Mainland and Sunda Clouded Leopards which means nowhere has a full set of all seven species.

Tierpark has Mainland Clouded Leopard, Javan Leopard, Amur Tiger, Malayan Tiger, Sumatran Tiger and Snow Leopard.

Zoo has non-subspecific Lion and Persian Leopard.

Neither collection holds Jaguar.
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Really? The Tierpark has a photo of a jaguar on their site.
 
Oh, ok

I guess the split between mainland and Sunda clouded leopards is why Parc des felins doesn't have all of them - I think it only has the mainland species. :)
 
Also, when I last went to the zoo in 2013, they had lions, Sumatran tigers, Persian leopards and what looks to me like a terribly photographed angry black jaguar
:p
 
amur leopard said:
Also, when I last went to the zoo in 2013, they had lions, Sumatran tigers, Persian leopards and what looks to me like a terribly photographed angry black jaguar
:p
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They still had Jaguar at Berlin zoo when I was there in June 2017, but the Tierpark didn't have them. I think both have probably got rid of them (possibly temporarily) due to the major renovation of both carnivore houses.
 
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