In 1984 the national "Parade Magazine" found in Sunday newspapers across the U.S. ran a list of the best and worst zoos in the U.S. based on animal health and welfare. The list was made in conjunction with the Humane Society. I remember reading the original article when it came out, but have not been able to find a copy of it. I did find a newspaper article that discusses the contents of the list and how it was generated: Star-News - Google News Archive Search The worst zoos according to the 1984 list were: The Atlanta Zoo, Atlanta, Georgia Aqualand Zoo, Bar Harbor Maine Franklin Park Zoo, Boston Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn, New York City Houser's Groves and Zoo, Melbourne, Florida Knowland Park Zoo, Oakland, California Glenn Miller Park Zoo, Richmond, Indiana Nay Aug Zoo, Scranton, Pennsylvania Welder Park Zoo, Sinton, Texas Space Game Farm Zoo, Sussex, New Jersey This list resulted in great changes at several of the zoos on the list. The Atlanta Zoo became Zoo Atlanta and became a first class zoo. The Knowland Park Zoo has turned around into a very good zoo (the Oakland Zoo). The Prospect Park Zoo was taken under the management of the Bronx Zoo (WCS) and turned into a modern zoo. The Franklin Park Zoo seems to be in really good shape. I have not heard of the rest of these zoos. Hopefully they are transformed or closed. Does anybody know? Would a list of the worst zoos of 2012 have a similar effect or has the zoo community come far enough that there aren't bad zoos in the way that there were bad zoos in 1984? What zoos would deserve to be on such a list today (if any), and why?
I'm not too familiar with any of these, so I'm sure others could give more information: Houser's Groves and Zoo - Closed sometime before 1994, when the Brevard Zoo opened. Most of the animals were relocated there. Glenn Miller Park Zoo - Anmals removed from park in 1986 Nay Aug Zoo - Closed in 1989, replaced with a wildlife rehab center in 2003. This was closed in 2009 due to poor conditions. Now a research center for Lackawanna College. Aqualand Zoo - Closed, but cannot find much information about it. Here are some pictures: Webshots Outdoors, for the best in wildlife photography! Welder Park Zoo - Apparently closed. The park still exists, but I cannot find any mention of the zoo. Space Game Farm Zoo - Still exists: SPACE FARMS - Sussex, New Jersey - zoo, museum, animals Perhaps someone can give us a review? At the very least, their mink ranch closed in 1989, which was apparently quite large.
Thanks for the follow up research Perceptron. It looks like the list did a lot of good in getting the zoos on the list turned around or closed, except perhaps for the Space place in New Jersey (I find it hilariously horrible that this zoo that had a "mink ranch" attached to it). I can't think of any zoos in the U.S. that would go on a modern "Bad Zoos" list, although there may be some. I hope that this is a sign that the overall quality of zoos in the U.S. is good enough that such a list is not needed.
