Zoo "Confessions"

I've aimed a lot of criticism at Tropic World on this website in the aim to be more objective, but it was actually one of my favorite zoo exhibits as a kid, and I desperately wish there was a way to capture the same magic of what it felt like for me as a child without the welfare compromises.
 
JVM said:
I've aimed a lot of criticism at Tropic World on this website in the aim to be more objective, but it was actually one of my favorite zoo exhibits as a kid, and I desperately wish there was a way to capture the same magic of what it felt like for me as a child without the welfare compromises.
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Is it mainly the indoor habitats for the larger apes and do you think that magic will comeback when renovations are done?
 
IcthyoRider said:
Is it mainly the indoor habitats for the larger apes and do you think that magic will comeback when renovations are done?
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It was really for me, as a kid, the feeling that there were so many different animals everywhere -- it seemed incredible to me as a kid to see the hippos and tapirs alongside the primates and the birds. The exhibit has been emptied a lot over the years to ensure better welfare for the animals and it's the right thing to do, but the animal presence is often underwhelming. My last three or four visits South America has been empty to boot. (Twice just happened to be renovations.) A lot of times lately it has become empty room, Asia feeling empty because the otters are small and gibbons take up a lot of room, and then spotting a few monkeys in the distance before the gorilla exhibit.

I'm very excited about the new outdoor habitats but it'll be a different kind of thing.
 
I usually skip Penguin and Puffin Coast at the Saint Louis Zoo. Its not that I take issue with the exhibit quality, its more just about what I visit zoos for and my own sensory sensitivities. As a photographer, it is difficult to get photos in there because of the dim lighting, and its popularity combined with its small size makes it very loud and crowded, which is something that can be really stressful for me. While I am generally not particularly sensitive to smell and the smell of the exhibit alone would not be enough to cause issues for me, it does not help with the sensory overload, though a face mask helps. I totally understand the hype, and I agree that it is a very cool experience, but not necessarily something I feel inclined to do every visit.
 
I really dislike any small and/or crowded indoor covered spaces. Although I don't think this is very hot take.

Great apes have never really done it for me or interested me that much.

Some of the 'popular' species are actually amongst my personal favorites, including tigers, giraffes, warthogs, meerkats and banded and yellow mongoose.
 
Not sure if this belongs here but... some people might find this stupid but I would rather not visit a zoo over going on an overcrowded day. Whenever I plan to travel in order to visit an specific zoo I make sure to go in low season and with worse weather (rain, cold, wind...)
 
Prochilodus246 said:
I have still yet to see a Dromedary camel and photograph an African Savannah Elephant :oops:
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Interestingly dromedary camels seem quite rare in UK zoos these days. A few collections have them, but most camels in zoos these days are Bactrians.
It seems also African Elephant are experiencing a decline of sorts - with some older singletons [e.g. Duchess] dying off, and the biggest breeding herd in the country [at Howletts] scheduled to be sent off for PR purposes.
 
I really like Land of the Lions at London Zoo. Yes, its a waste of space, and of budget, and the cultural elements seem out of place in a historic and scientific institution such as ZSL, but I really like it. The langurs are brilliant, the lions always seem to be more active here than elsewhere, I love the aviary with the birds of prey, and even the Dwarf Mongooses can be quite entertaining.

By contrast, I always rush through Gorilla Kingdom. Too crowded to watch the monkeys, and the gorillas are never active. Meet the Neighbours (the aviary at the start, used to set the theme and create suspense) is delightful, with Madagascar Crested Ibis being a rarity in UK zoos, and sharing a walkthrough space with hornbills is always nice. I usually spend longer there than in the entire rest of the exhibit.
 
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