Zoo Bucket List

lintworm said:
This is no criticism, but I am always surprised which European zoos feature and don't feature on bucket lists from non-Europeans. Makes you wonder which other factors play a bigger role than quality.
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I think reputation is a big one. Personally, I don't know a lot about European zoos, but I know that some highly regarded ones are Chester, Burgers, Schonnbrunn, Zurich, and the two Berlin Zoos. I'd be more inclined to put those collections higher up on a bucket list due to how well-regarded they are on here. That being said, crossing the Atlantic isn't really feasible for me right now so I don't have any European zoos on my bucket list.

I'd imagine for other people, some factors could include the presence of species they can't see closer to home, notable exhibits, and the zoo's historical significance. To reverse this, however, sometimes I think the same thing about American zoos and find it interesting which ones make the bucket lists of non-Americans.
 
Neil chace said:
I think reputation is a big one. Personally, I don't know a lot about European zoos, but I know that some highly regarded ones are Chester, Burgers, Schonnbrunn, Zurich, and the two Berlin Zoos. I'd be more inclined to put those collections higher up on a bucket list due to how well-regarded they are on here. That being said, crossing the Atlantic isn't really feasible for me right now so I don't have any European zoos on my bucket list.
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Reputation needs to be one, but if that means "Zoochat reputation" Schoenbrunn, Burgers' Zoo and Doue would feature more often than Edinburgh, London and Paris, which isn't the case and you are an exception ;). It seems being based in the UK is an important factor as is being located in a big city that is on a bucket list anyway like Paris, London or Amsterdam.
 
lintworm said:
It seems being based in the UK is an important factor as is being located in a big city that is on a bucket list anyway like Paris, London or Amsterdam.
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Not to mention, most Americans seem to have an aversion to Eastern Bloc regions (sans East Germany). For example when an American friend/acquaintance was talking about an hypothetical European Zoo trip which included the two Berlins, Burgers, etc.. I suggested they visit Prague. They disagreed for a reason I forgot why, but I didn’t find it compelling. it’s their loss
 
PossumRoach said:
  • Tierpark Berlin
  • Pairi Daiza
  • Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes (revisit)
  • Apenheul
  • Zie Zoo
  • Budapest zoo
  • Bioparc du la Fontaine
  • Zoo Antwerp
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PossumRoach said:
I should also add zoo plzen and Cheyenne mountain zoo as well.
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PossumRoach said:
I have decided to add Sylvan Heights bird park. One might argue that Weltvogelpark Walsrode should be on this list as well. But I want to visit SH in particular bc of its primary focus on ducks. Which brings the condition of my dream visit to SH: I want to get dressed as (or as some say, cosplay) Hugh Neutron to see a the rare ducks that call Sylvan Heights home.
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Well now, my bucket list seems to have been crossed off by a large margin since my trip in Europe last year. Surprisingly the zoo that gave me the best impression on the trip isn’t listed here.

The trip, the journeys of my friends, and my human greed did sort of caused me to expand my list to add new zoos to the list:

  • St. Louis Zoo
  • Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo
  • Toledo Zoo
  • Colombus Zoo
  • Brookfield Zoo
  • Lincoln Park Zoo
  • Shedd Aquarium
  • Zoo Miami
  • Roger Williams Park Zoo
  • Staten Island Zoo
  • San Diego Zoo (I just want to see what the hullabaloo is about)
  • San Diego Zoo Safari Park
  • Zoo Wroclaw
  • Zoo Lodz
  • Wilhelma Zoo
  • Parc des Felins
  • CERZA
  • Planckandael
  • Ouwehands
  • Zoo des Vincennes
  • Chester Zoo

There are also some zoos I want to visit in other continents as well, but Europe and the US are my main priority.
 
San Diego
Henry Doorly
Cincy
Berlin Zoo
Tierpark Berlin
Toronto
Singapore
Taronga
North Carolina
Columbus
South Africa National
 
Took inspiration from Neil Chace's categories here.

Coming Up Trips:
- Saint Louis Zoo, MO
- Racine Zoo, WI
- Peoria Zoo, IL
- Miller Park Zoo, IL
- Henson Robinson Zoo, IL

Next Year Trips:
- Sacramento Zoo, CA
- San Francisco Zoo, CA
- Oakland Zoo, CA
- Happy Hollow Zoo, CA
- Yorkshire Wildlife Park
- Chester Zoo?
- Hamteron Zoo Park?
- Twycross Zoo?
- Indianapolis Zoo, IN

(California and UK trips are extremely preliminary right now.)

Likely Trips:
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, NE
- Minnesota Zoo, MN
- Como Park Zoo, MN
- Smithsonian National Zoo
- Henry Vilas Zoo, WI
- Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, IN
- Mesker Park Zoo, IN
- Safari Lake Geneva, WI
- Hemker Park Zoo, MN
- St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, MO

(Small chance one of these will be done in winter. Considering moving up the Smithsonian before the pandas go.)

High Priority:
- Denver Zoo, CO (loved it there so much!)
- Denver Downtown Aqiuarium, CO
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, CO
- Bronx Zoo, NY
- San Diego Zoo, CA
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park, CA
- SeaWorld San Diego, CA
- Los Angeles Zoo, CA
- Monterey Bay Aquarium, CA
- Georgia Aquarium, GA
- Zoo Atlanta, GA

Medium Priority:
- Detroit Zoo, MI
- Toledo Zoo, OH
- Cincinatti Zoo, OH
- Colombus Zoo and Aquarium, OH
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, OH
- Philadelphia Zoo, PA
- Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, PA
- Louisville Zoo, KY
- Nashville Zoo, TN
- Memphis Zoo, TN
- Tennessee Aquarium, TN
- Fresno Chaffee Zoo, CA
- Oregon Zoo, OR
- ABQ BioPark, NM

I'd love to make trips to Texas, Florida and more eventually but I would sooner work down my existing priority lists, unless something felt very neatly into place. A lot of this list is based either on proximity, longstanding interest on my part, or someone else being interested in a road trip to that area.
 
Here is my bucket list, broken down into three categories. 'Almost certain,' includes zoos that I already have plans to visit, so are very likely for the near future. 'Possible,' includes zoos that we either have vague plans to visit, or are close enough that it feels as though it is only a matter of time before I finally make it there. 'Unlikely,' includes zoos that, if I ever visit, will most likely not be for quite a few years, possibly decades.

Almost Certain:
Zoo Prague (Czechia)
Zoo Dresden (Germany)
Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Hamerton Zoo Park (England)

Possible (from highest to lowest priority):
Zoologischer Garten Berlin (Germany)
Tierpark Friedrichsfelde Berlin (Germany)
Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Vienna, Austria)
Zoo Leipzig (Germany)
Weltvogelpark Walsrode (Germany)
Pairi Daiza (Cambron-Casteau, Belgium)
Tierpark Hellabrunn (Munich, Germany)
Zoo Wroclaw (Poland)
Plzen Zoo (Czechia)
Zoo Koeln (Germany)
Basel Zoo (Switzerland)
L'Oceanografic (Valencia, Spain)
Alpenzoo Innsbruck (Austria)
Bioparc Doue la Fontaine (France)
Zoo Zagreb (Croatia)
Wilhelma (Stuttgart, Germany)
Zoo Château Zlin-Lesna (Czechia)
Krokodil Zoo (Eskilstrup, Denmark)
Faunia Madrid (Spain)
Loro Parque (Puerto de la Cruz, Spain)
Odense Zoo (Denmark)
Den Bla Planet (Kastrup, Denmark)
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (Trinity, Jersey)
Le Parc des Felins (Nesles, France)
Reserve de la Haute Touche (Obterre, France)
Tierpark Daelhoelzi (Bern, Switzerland)
Oceanopolis (Brest, France)
Yorkshire Wildlife Park (Doncaster, England)
Parc Faunistico di Oasi di Sant'Alessio (Italy)

Unlikely (from highest to lowest priority):
Bronx Zoo (New York, United States)
San Diego Zoo (United States)
San Diego Zoo Safari Park (United States)
Bird Paradise (Singapore)
Singapore Zoo (Singapore)
River Wonders (Singapore)
Night Safari (Singapore)
Monterey Bay Aquarium (United States)
Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta, United States)
Saint Louis Zoo (United States)
Shedd Aquarium (Chicago, United States)
Taronga Zoo (Sydney, Australia)
Zoorasia (Yokohama, Japan)
Toronto Zoo (Canada)
Columbus Zoo (United States)
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, United States)
Australia Zoo (Beerwah, Australia)

Return Visits (due to either new exhibits or closures during my previous visit, or both):
Zoo Zurich (Switzerland)
Zoo de Beauval (Saint-Aignan, France)
Zoo Antwerp (Belgium)
Chester Zoo (England)

If I had to choose just ten zoos to visit in my lifetime, however, I think they would be:

1. Tierpark Berlin
2. Zoo Berlin
3. Zoo Leipzig
4. Tiergarten Schönbrunn
5. Zoo Prague
6. Diergaarde Blijdorp
7. Bird Paradise
8. Monterey Bay Aquarium
9. San Diego Zoo
10. Bronx Zoo
 
(This is only zoos in Europe and not in order)


  1. Zoo Berlin
  2. Tierpark Berlin
  3. Hamerton Zoo Park
  4. Artis Royal Zoo
  5. Cologne Zoo
  6. Prague Zoo
  7. Pairi Daiza
  8. Zoo Antwerpen
  9. Zoo Leipzig
  10. Planckendael
  11. Tierpark Hellabrunn
  12. Tierpark Hagenbeck
  13. Colchester Zoo
  14. ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
  15. Dublin Zoo
  16. Zoo Zurich
  17. Tiergarten Schobunn
  18. Zoo Duisburg
  19. Zoo Plzen
  20. Ouwehands Zoo
 
Most Wanted in the US:
1. Bronx Zoo (Likely in next 3 years)
2. Minnesota Zoo (Likely for next year)
3. Zoo Miami (Possible, never been that south in Florida)
4. Denver Zoo (Unlikely)
5. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Unlikely)
6. Akron Zoo ( Any Time )
7. Philadelphia Zoo ( Possible in next few years)
8. Fort Worth Zoo (Next Year?)
9. Dallas Zoo (Next Year?)
10. Milwaukee Zoo (Next Year?)
 
RETURN VISITS (Next Several Years):

- Indianapolis Zoo (This is my home zoo, and I usually try to visit once a year)

- Cincinnati Zoo (Didn’t get to see everything last time and of course I want to see Elephant Trek)

- Columbus Zoo (Hope to go back when the North America renovations are complete)

- Saint Louis Zoo (Loved my first visit and I haven’t been since 2021)

- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (Hope to go back during warmer weather this time)

- ZooTampa at Lowry Park
- Florida Aquarium
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium (Haven’t been to Florida in over a decade)

- Smithsonian National Zoo (Haven’t been since 2012)

- Louisville Zoo (Haven’t been since 2019)


NEW ZOOS (Likely in Next Few Years):

- Nashville Zoo
- Detroit Zoo
- Pittsburgh Zoo
- Brookfield Zoo
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Shedd Aquarium
- Toledo Zoo
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
- Zoo Atlanta
- Georgia Aquarium
- Memphis Zoo
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom

(More Likely in Next 10+ Years)

- San Diego Zoo
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
- Minnesota Zoo
- Akron Zoo
- Bronx Zoo
- North Carolina Zoo
- Houston Zoo
- Dallas Zoo
- Fort Worth Zoo
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

(Other Zoos I’d Like to Visit in the Future)

- Oklahoma City Zoo
- Oregon Zoo
- Virginia Zoo
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Phoenix Zoo
- Alaska Zoo
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- Alaska SeaLife Center
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Oakland Zoo
- Zoo Miami
- Jacksonville Zoo
- Kansas City Zoo
- Audubon Zoo
- Denver Zoo
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- John Ball Zoo
- Philadelphia Zoo
- Central Park Zoo
- Sedgwick County Zoo
- Downtown Aquarium Houston
- Tennessee Aquarium
- The Living Desert Zoo
- Zoo Knoxville
- Maryland Zoo
 
Last edited:
Here is my bucket list, in the style of @Kalaw ‘s post. This is for 2024 and 2025.

Almost Certain:
Audubon Aquarium (LA, United States)
Audubon Zoo (LA, United States)
Possible (from highest to lowest priority):
Audubon Insectarium (LA, United States)
Bronx Zoo (NY, United States)
Philadelphia Zoo (PA, United States)
Lincoln Park Zoo (IL, United States)
Zoo di Napoli (Naples, Italy)
Unlikely But Not Unplausible (from highest to lowest priority):
San Diego Zoo (CA, United States)
Smithsonian National Zoological Park (Washington, D.C., United States)
ABQ BioPark (NM, United States)
ABQ Aquarium (NM, United States)
Indianapolis Zoo (IN, United States)
ABQ Bugarium (NM, United States)
Return Visits (due to either new exhibits or closures during my previous visit, or both, from highest to lowest likelihood):
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay (NV, United States)
Roger Williams Park Zoo (RI, United States)
Shedd Aquarium (IL, United States)
Brookfield Zoo (IL, United States)
California Academy of Sciences (CA, Massachusetts)
San Francisco Zoo (CA, United States)
Monterey Bay Aquarium (CA, United States)
Capron Park Zoo (MA, United States)
Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo (CA, United States)
 
Domestic:
  • Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
  • Virginia Zoo (Asiatic black bear is probably #1 on my bucket list of zoo species)
  • Port Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (muskox)
  • The Living Desert
  • Dallas World Aquarium
  • Brookfield Zoo
  • Indianapolis Zoo
  • Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
  • Zoo Miami
  • Cheyanne Mountain Zoo (mountain tapir)
  • Georgia Aquarium
International:
  • Whipsnade Zoo (will hopefully be visiting next year)
  • Zoo Berlin
  • Tierpark Berlin
  • Burgers’ Zoo
  • Antwerp Zoo (eastern lowland gorilla)
  • Singapore Zoo
 
Just a disclaimer, none of these are at all certain and are just wishful thinking.

In the UK and Jersey:
Chester Zoo
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park
Hamerton Zoo Park
Jersey Zoo
Highland Wildlife Park
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
Crocodiles of the World
Exmoor Zoological and Conservation Centre

Germany:
Zoologischer Garten Berlin
Tierpark Friedrichsfelde Berlin
Tierpark Hellabrunn
Zoo Frankfurt
Cologne Zoological Garden
Tiergarten Nürnberg

Austria:
Tiergarten Schönbrunn
AlpenZoo Innsbruck

France
Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine
Ménagerie Jardin des Plantes
Citadelle de Besçanon
Le Parc des Félins
Réserve de la Haute-Touche

Czech Republic
Safari Park Dvur Kralóvé
Zoo Praha
Zoo and Chateau Zlin-Lesna
Zoological Garden in Jihlava

Netherlands
Burgers' Zoo

Switzerland
Tierpark Dählhölzli
Zoo Zürich
Zolli Basle

Sweden
Nordens Ark

United States of America
Bronx Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Smithsonian's National Zoo
St. Augustine Alligator Farm
San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Saint Louis Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
The Living Desert
 
Personally, I’ll be taking a page out of @red river hog’s book and the following will comprise of my ten most desirable facilities, thus far*:

Top 10 - (not in numerical order)
  • Nashville Zoo
  • Philadelphia Zoo
  • Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
  • Saint Louis Zoo
  • The Wilds
  • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens
  • Brookfield Zoo Chicago
  • Zoo Dortmund
  • Chester Zoo
  • Auckland Zoo
*subject to change
 
MOG2012 said:
Here is my bucket list, in the style of @Kalaw ‘s post. This is for 2024 and 2025.

Almost Certain:
Audubon Aquarium (LA, United States)
Audubon Zoo (LA, United States)
Possible (from highest to lowest priority):
Audubon Insectarium (LA, United States)
Bronx Zoo (NY, United States)
Philadelphia Zoo (PA, United States)
Lincoln Park Zoo (IL, United States)
Zoo di Napoli (Naples, Italy)
Unlikely But Not Unplausible (from highest to lowest priority):
San Diego Zoo (CA, United States)
Smithsonian National Zoological Park (Washington, D.C., United States)
ABQ BioPark (NM, United States)
ABQ Aquarium (NM, United States)
Indianapolis Zoo (IN, United States)
ABQ Bugarium (NM, United States)
Return Visits (due to either new exhibits or closures during my previous visit, or both, from highest to lowest likelihood):
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay (NV, United States)
Roger Williams Park Zoo (RI, United States)
Shedd Aquarium (IL, United States)
Brookfield Zoo (IL, United States)
California Academy of Sciences (CA, Massachusetts)
San Francisco Zoo (CA, United States)
Monterey Bay Aquarium (CA, United States)
Capron Park Zoo (MA, United States)
Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo (CA, United States)
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Never mind, I'm cancelling my New Orleans plans but the Bronx is more likely now, and possible the Las Vegas Seaquest
 
Highly doubt I'll realistically be able to hit the vast majority of zoos on this list, but it never really hurts to try and cast a rather wide net

In the US:
  • Alaska SeaLife Center
  • Audubon Zoo
  • Aquarium of the Pacific
  • Bronx Zoo (revisit)
  • Central Park Zoo
  • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
  • Cincinnati Zoo
  • Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
  • Dallas World Aquarium
  • Denver Zoo
  • Detroit Zoo (revisit)
  • Florida Aquarium
  • Franklin Park Zoo
  • Georgia Aquarium (revisit)
  • Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (revisit)
  • Houston Zoo
  • Indianapolis Zoo
  • International Crane Foundation
  • Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert
  • Los Angeles Zoo
  • Memphis Zoo
  • Minnesota Zoo
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • National Aviary
  • New England Aquarium (revisit)
  • New York Aquarium
  • Oakland Zoo
  • Oregon Zoo
  • Phoenix Zoo
  • Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium
  • Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
  • Potter Park Zoo (revisit)
  • Prospect Park Zoo
  • Reptile Gardens (revisit)
  • Saint Augustine Alligator Farm
  • Saint Louis Aquarium
  • Saint Louis Zoo (revisit)
  • San Antonio Zoo
  • San Diego Zoo
  • San Diego Zoo Safari Park
  • SeaWorld San Diego
  • Tennessee Aquarium
  • Toledo Zoo (possibly a revisit?)
  • Virginia Zoo
  • Woodland Park Zoo
  • Zoo Atlanta

Outside the US:
  • Antwerp Zoo
  • ARTIS
  • Asa Zoo
  • Aquarium Barcelona
  • Aquarium Finisterrae
  • Aquarium of Genoa
  • Auckland Zoo
  • Australia Zoo
  • Barcelona Zoo
  • Beijing Zoo
  • Belfast Zoo
  • Berlin Zoo
  • Bioparco di Roma
  • Brno Zoo
  • Burgers' Zoo
  • Calgary Zoo
  • Chapultepec Zoo
  • Chengdu Panda Base
  • Chester Zoo
  • Civic Aquarium of Milan
  • Cologne Zoo
  • Copenhagen Zoo
  • The Deep
  • Dublin Zoo
  • Duisburg Zoo
  • Edinburgh Zoo
  • Frankfurt Zoo
  • Hagenbeck Zoo
  • Haus des Meeres
  • Hellabrunn Zoo
  • Kagoshima Aquarium
  • Leipzig Zoo
  • Lisbon Oceanarium
  • Lisbon Zoo
  • London Zoo
  • L'Oceanogràfic
  • Lumigny Safari Réserve
  • Melbourne Zoo
  • Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes
  • National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth
  • Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium
  • Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
  • Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
  • Osnabrück Zoo
  • Ostrava Zoo
  • Pairi Daiza
  • Paris Zoological Park
  • Perth Zoo
  • Plzeň Zoo
  • Polaria
  • Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
  • Prague Zoo
  • Rotterdam Zoo
  • Safari Park Dvůr Králové
  • Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium
  • Singapore Zoo/Mandai Wildlife Reserve
  • Tama Zoo
  • Taronga Zoo
  • Tiergarten Schönbrunn
  • Tierpark Berlin
  • Tierpark Bern
  • Toba Aquarium
  • Tokyo Sea Life Park
  • Toronto Zoo
  • Ueno Zoo
  • Vancouver Aquarium
  • Vasco da Gama Aquarium
  • Warsaw Zoo
  • Weltvogelpark Walsrode
  • Whipsnade Zoo
  • Wilhelma
  • Wrocław Zoo
  • Zoo Aquarium de Madrid
  • Zoo Basel
  • ZooParc de Beauval
 
My top 10:
1. Prague zoo
2. Bronx zoo
3. San Diego zoo
4. Berlin zoo
5. Leipzig
6. Singapore zoo
7. San Diego safari park
8. Berlin tierpark
9. Rotterdam zoo
10. Antwerp zoo
 
Here is my new bucket list for 2025 after several changes.
Almost Certain:
Lincoln Park Zoo, IL
Indianapolis Zoo, IN
Philadelphia Zoo, PA
Possible (from highest to lowest priority):
Bronx Zoo, NY
Adventure Aquarium, NJ
Unlikely But Not Unplausible (from highest to lowest priority):
San Diego Zoo, CA
San Diego Zoo Safari Park, CA
Audubon Zoo, LA
Audubon Aquarium, LA
Buttonwood Park Zoo, MA
Zoo di Napoli, Italy
Ecotarium, MA
Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, LA
Return Visits:
Brookfield Zoo, IL
Shedd Aquarium, IL
Capron Park Zoo, MA
Franklin Park Zoo, MA
Museum of Science, MA
New England Aquarium, MA
Southwicks Zoo, MA
Stone Zoo, MA
Roger Williams Park Zoo, RI
Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences, VI
 
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