Will get this started by saying the best Sumatran Tiger Exhibit in the UK. I would say Tiger Territory at London Zoo. I expect the new exhibit for the tiger in Islands will probably top that.
I like the spectacled bear enclosure at Chester, lots of out of sight areas if the bears want to stay hidden.
It's like any 'best' comparison best for the animal? best for education? best for viewing? best for photography? I personally think YWPs large open enclosures for the tigers are far better than London's and would struggle to agree on anything other than Safari Parks trumping their Lion Country either.
I really do think the lemur walk-through at Howletts is a great habitat. Lots of room and hiding spaces, multiple apple and pear trees which also means lots of tasty blossom this time of year, nice sunbathing spots. The animals there genuinely seem happy. The best gibbon enclosure I've seen is the siamang one at Monkey World, very impressive. Port Lympne has some great spots because of its size. I'm guessing Whipsnade does too but I've not been there for many years.
In terms of best enclosure for animals. Port lymphe has a great Gelada babboon exhibit also their colobus monkey enclosure is massive! Banham zoo has an brilliant griffons vulture enclosure. Quite a few places has free ranging marmosets but the best cage I have seen for common marmosets was at Brent lodge nature centre. Absolutely massive for just one pair. Whipsnades elephant enclosure is giant, is it the largest in the Uk? Chesters Orangutan enclosure is probably the best in the UK. What do other think?
I personally really like Flamingo Lands, because its massive, for not the largest group, I would of made the pool a little bigger, but still a great size. The penguins also seem to like climbing on the rocks at the back of the enclosure. http://www.flamingoland.co.uk/ci/crop?s=images/animals/humboldtpenguin/penguin.jpg&w=590&h=300 Yorkshire Wildlife Parks is nice, basically just a big tree surrounded by a low fence. Some may not find it easy to see, but I thought it was good viewing, the Armadillos also live in here as well. [/url
Africa alive! definitely have the best lion enclosure. I would also say that the tiger enclosure at colchester is very good and their lemur walk through 'lost Madagascar is very big and well decorated so that is one of the best i think.
Really I am shocked that its the best given that the whole of Suffolk Wildlife Parks Lion enclosure,would fit inside the smallest of the 3 Lion enclosures at Yorkshire Wildlife Park,and still have room to be expanded to be made bigger!!!
I reckon I would agree that the YWP complex of enclosures for African Lion is the best I have seen in the UK, come to think on it best gibbon enclosure is that at Edinburgh, no contest.
I would be interested to hear people's thoughts on best exhibits for the current 'ABC' zoo standards - meerkats, lemurs, short-clawed otters, capuchins, capybara etc. What makes them stand out from the crowd?
It's hard to be completely certain here, because I doubt if any of us have seen all the exhibits in all the zoos in the country (although zoogiraffe must be close to this mark). It's also a moving target, because zoos are developing new exhibits all the time: I would be very surprised if Islands at Chester is not a strong candidate for the best exhibits for tigers, orangs and macaques and the new Monsoon House ought to be the best tropical exhibit in the country too. However in spite of these reservations, I would make the following nominations: Chimps - Budongo at Edinburgh Gorillas - Palace of the Apes at Port Lympne Mandrills - Chester Snow Leopards - Marwell Sea Lions - Blackpool Giraffes - Marwell Penguins - Edinburgh (although Regents Park is very close) Walk-through aviary - Icelandic Lake at Arundel WWT That's enough to be going on with Alan
