Zoo/Aquarium Hot Takes

Jonny Bloxham said:
I was aware their numbers were between 50-300 at best estimate, but didn't think they were as low as that of the vaquita.
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At the time of the last sighting of the species (an individual spotted on a camera trap in 2013) the overall population was estimated at c.100 at *most* - however, despite several attempts to find surviving populations in the intervening time, the species has now not been seen in over a decade.

Given the apparent rate of decline, if the species is indeed extant it will be on the very brink by now.
 
In my honest opinion, I feel that the hippo land space debate is a bit overblown. To quote from my Cincinnati Zoo review about a year and a half ago:
Milwaukee Man said:
To go off topic briefly, I am aware that this is a common critique with most newer hippo exhibits on this site – the amount of land area being sacrificed for more swimming and underwater viewing space. I will confess that, while I do understand these viewpoints, I don’t necessarily see this as a huge detriment because hippos usually spend almost the whole day cooling down in the water, and likely not as much time on land. Of course, more space is something I wouldn’t complain about especially for animals as huge as these, but there isn’t any major disadvantage to this, at least in my opinion.
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Milwaukee Man said:
In my honest opinion, I feel that the hippo land space debate is a bit overblown. To quote from my Cincinnati Zoo review about a year and a half ago:

To go off topic briefly, I am aware that this is a common critique with most newer hippo exhibits on this site – the amount of land area being sacrificed for more swimming and underwater viewing space. I will confess that, while I do understand these viewpoints, I don’t necessarily see this as a huge detriment because hippos usually spend almost the whole day cooling down in the water, and likely not as much time on land. Of course, more space is something I wouldn’t complain about especially for animals as huge as these, but there isn’t any major disadvantage to this, at least in my opinion.
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It's true that they spend almost all day in the water. But there's also a night time, and that's the time they spend grazing on land.
 
CGSwans said:
It's true that they spend almost all day in the water. But there's also a night time, and that's the time they spend grazing on land.
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Honestly I just think that hippos probably have the short end of the stick in terms of good exhibits because for such a large animal, only
Memphis and Dallas give them what I feel is a fair amount of space.
 
Detroit Zoo is better than Brookfield Zoo. Feels good to get that off my chest. I have been conflicted ever since my visit in July about making this post. But yesterday, a friend who has decent knowledge upon zoos stated this. When he explained, all of the takes were agreeable and I have somewhat felt this way since my visit too.

So here’s the explanation and comparison:
I feel like Brookfield has too much concrete, I left the zoo with a sour taste in my mouth. While yes, some of their concrete is good like the penguins but the big cats, bears, primates and pinniped enclosures were terrible. The pinniped enclosure looked horrible in every way, with the concrete, not even mock-rock sticking out like a sore thumb. As for the big cats, that entire area is just a concrete patio with some grass. The bear enclosures weren’t terrible but disappointing. A habitat opening in 2010 should not look like this. Tropic World speaks for itself, a literal concrete jungle!

When comparing Detroit and Brookfield, you notice many quality issues at Brookfield. While Detroit isn’t a top 20 zoo in the US there’s no way Brookfield is either. Detroit has some grottos but all of them are planted, and look new. The lions and tigers can move in these enclosures and look appealing compared to their Chicago counterparts. Brookfield doesn’t have a single good (indoor) herp house or aviary. While I don’t particularly like Detroit’s, it definitely stands it ground for Brookfield. The species list at Detroit in their aviary is very impressive for a free flight aviary. It showcases many environments and is well planted and also has a good macaw habitat. As for herps, there’s no debate there. Large, well planted habitats and the best amphibian house in the US, maybe the world. Some habitats aren’t the best at Detroit, but the zoo is fixing that. They are adding climbing structures to their ape habitats and have large outdoor habitats. We just got another polar bear to fix the only issue with Arctic Ring of Life, not seeing anything. The kangaroos can be seen and aren’t in a terrible habitat that is blocked by mesh. While the wolf habitat is objectively better at Brookfield, Detroit’s is pretty good. It’s been a while since I haven’t seen them. The grizzly bear habitat is a grotto, but it’s large and has substrate along with much more. Detroit also has the best red panda and penguin habitats in the US. While their Africa complex isn’t good by any means, it has large habitats for their inhabitants. I hope this changes a few minds upon Brookfield, I may provide more details at another date.
 
Milwaukee Man said:
In my honest opinion, I feel that the hippo land space debate is a bit overblown. To quote from my Cincinnati Zoo review about a year and a half ago:

To go off topic briefly, I am aware that this is a common critique with most newer hippo exhibits on this site – the amount of land area being sacrificed for more swimming and underwater viewing space. I will confess that, while I do understand these viewpoints, I don’t necessarily see this as a huge detriment because hippos usually spend almost the whole day cooling down in the water, and likely not as much time on land. Of course, more space is something I wouldn’t complain about especially for animals as huge as these, but there isn’t any major disadvantage to this, at least in my opinion.
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That's like saying that keeping a human confined to a bed is fine because they "usually spend almost the whole night lying down on a bed, and likely not as much time walking around outside". The activity period of a species is a very important part of their life.
 
Milwaukee Man said:
In my honest opinion, I feel that the hippo land space debate is a bit overblown. To quote from my Cincinnati Zoo review about a year and a half ago:
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There are some criticisms of exhibits on this website I largely agree with in substance but become overblown by the tone of discussion, and this is one of them.

USZOOfan42 said:
Detroit Zoo is better than Brookfield Zoo. Feels good to get that off my chest.
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A valid opinion but an ice cold take. I can only think of two people who would dispute this. I think the overwhelming majority of US Zoochat would support you.

While Detroit isn’t a top 20 zoo in the US there’s no way Brookfield is either.
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Detroit is a top ten zoo in the US and in my experience one of the most praised facilities in the country over some "better" zoos. A couple people complain about unused space - mostly one or two of the same users repetitiously - but there is very little active criticism. Even though they rank more favorably, I've seen more complaints about top five zoos than I've ever seen about Detroit.

Detroit has some grottos but all of them are planted, and look new. The lions and tigers can move in these enclosures and look appealing compared to their Chicago counterparts.
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What does this mean? It sounds like you are implying the grottos at Brookfield are so substandard the animals can't physically move! Surely I am misunderstanding??
 
JVM said:
What does this mean? It sounds like you are implying the grottos at Brookfield are so substandard the animals can't physically move! Surely I am misunderstanding??
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I was trying to imply that the Brookfield grottos are very small. I would not agree that this is an ice cold take though, as Brookfield is heavily praised to the general public and this site is mixed upon Brookfield.
 
USZOOfan42 said:
I was trying to imply that the Brookfield grottos are very small.
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I see. So small the animals cannot move then. I did not misunderstand you as I thought.

I would not agree that this is an ice cold take though, as Brookfield is heavily praised to the general public and this site is mixed upon Brookfield.
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Not all praise for Brookfield is to say it is better than Detroit. Who do we mean by the general public - those terrible TripAdvisor polls where you can buy votes? Most Chicagoans I speak with have no idea it exists.
 
I can see that the Brookfield zoo discussion has moved to this thread then:p. I agree that Detroit is one of the best zoos at the US, and their very spacious exhibits are worth a praise, their collection is very good and if heard very good things about it, but throwing this hate to Brookfield is a bit to excesive.
 
Panda_Fan said:
I can see that the Brookfield zoo discussion has moved to this thread then:p. I agree that Detroit is one of the best zoos at the US, and their very spacious exhibits are worth a praise, their collection is very good and if heard very good things about it, but throwing this hate to Brookfield is a bit to excesive.
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Surely we all understand that they are both very good zoos.

~Thylo
 
JVM said:
Not all praise for Brookfield is to say it is better than Detroit. Who do we mean by the general public - those terrible TripAdvisor polls where you can buy votes? Most Chicagoans I speak with have no idea it exists.
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Many detroiters refuse to visit detroit zoo and chose to visit Toledo instead. Many people say it’s one of the worst zoos in the country (AZA). And when in Chicago, Brookfield was the most recommended and seemed praised.
 
ThylacineAlive said:
I think the outdoor areas are, in general, nicer at Brookfield than Detroit, but nothing at Brookfield is beating Detroit's indoor exhibits.
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I don't know that I'd say that. Certainly nothing at Brookfield beats PPCS or Amphibiville. But I do think Brookfield probably has higher average indoor exhibit quality, given Detroit's other buildings aren't really anything special.
 
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