Pheasant Aviary at Hanoi Zoo, 15/03/12

Pheasant Aviary at Hanoi Zoo, 15/03/12
28-04-2012

Home to Vietnamese Pheasants.

28-04-2012

An almost unheard of zoo in my book.

28-04-2012

Loving the Toy Story graphics in the background, what better way to sell zoos to children?

28-04-2012

There was a play area of some sort in that building - a ball pool, if I recall. But yes, classy!

28-04-2012

Overall is the zoo geared towards kids or is it a proper zoo for education and entertainment? Is it your typical Asian zoo or something above the ordinary? From the aviaries it doesn't look to great but the signage looks decent. (I know that's one thing you always look for! )

28-04-2012

Yes, in fairness the newer signs are not too bad. There are improvements going on (my dad had been before, and said the tiger/bear run in particular was in much better condition than previously and there was an area cordoned off for construction of some sort) but it's still not great. And there are a LOT of play area/ride/sideshow activities going on (even what seemed on investigation to be a haunted house).

There was a school trip there, so it does perform an education function. I know they are involved in offshow breeding for Tam Dao Newts, and are certainly doing a lot with pheasants, so they are involved in a modest way in conservation. But the feel of the park is almost zoo and fun park in equal measure, and not necessarily to the benefit of either attraction!

28-04-2012

Thanks for the info, from what I can gather quite a few S.E Asian zoos have their fair share (pun intended) of side attractions. I hope there wasn't any dodgy performing animals though... Let's be honest, it's not unheard of in that part of the world!

28-04-2012

No, no performing animals that I saw, dodgy or otherwise!

28-04-2012

Now that is reassuring, thought a performing elephant or two wouldn't have gone amiss in a zoo with Toy Story graphics!