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3 zoo visit (including 1 revisit)

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by Chimpangeek, 7 Sep 2016.

  1. Chimpangeek

    Chimpangeek Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I just got back from a long trip in Europe and Africa.

    I only got around to visiting Three Zoos. Each quite different from one another...

    The Copenhagen Zoo...
    The facility as a whole is old, and feels somewhat neglected. The Primate building had a few good exhibits for smaller species, and the Polar Bear and wolf Exhibits weren't bad. But most of the others were either too small, or were depressing looking. I felt awful for the Elephants. The yard is fairly small, and with relatively little enrichment. The indoor area is alright, and the exhibit does do a great job about educating visitors about Elephants and Elephant conservation. But I'd like to see the zoo send the Elephants somewhere better and give the Elephant exhibit to the Rhinos. The Chimp exhibit was okay, I don't like exclusively indoor exhibits for great apes, but this one was big and stimulating enough to keep the Chimps minds and bodies active. The African savanna and pampas exhibits were pretty decent.

    The Berlin Zoo..
    It places high importance on the size of its collection, and not as much on the quality of each exhibit. Not that there were many bad exhibits, but I thought most could use a little improvement. The Elephant Exhibit was similar in quality to Copenhagen's, but home to a slightly larger herd, which is nice. Though an older exhibit, the Cat house was defenitely not bad. The Lion and Tiger grottos were fairly large, and lushly planted. At the time of my visit there were no Tigers, and only a pair of lionesses. Would be nice seeing a larger Pride at the zoo. The Bear Exhbits were okay, but I was appalled at how dirty the Polar Bears pool was at the time of my visit. The Nocturnal and small mammal exhibit was probably among my top 10 exhibits I've seen at any zoo. The Gorilla Exhibit was nice, but I feel like the Zoo should downsize the number of Orangutans it keeps, as to give each more room. The Bonobos could also do with an upgrade. Their exhibit seemed crowded. The Hippoairum was one of the best exhibits I've seen for hippos anywhere. A perk is that they have both species. In general, I was really impressed with the zoos hoofstock collection.

    London...
    I've been to the London Zoo before, but not since 2009. I barely recognized it now. The Zoo has scaled back its collection. No large pachyderms, Bears or substantial hoofstock. But the the Exhibits it does have, are mostly outstanding. Tiger Territory and Land of the Lions are both outstanding Big Cat Exhibits. Very spacious, natrualistic, educational and with many great viewing opportunities. The reptile house has an incredible collection, including many venemous species I've never seen before. The nightlife and rainforest exhibits are also fantastic. Bats, Pottos, Lorises, Aye-ayes, Bushbabies, tamparins, sloths, armadillos etc
    I also enjoyed the walk-through spider exhibit, despite having arachnaphobia! The African Wild dog Exhibit is one of the largest I've seen for the species. Though only about 15 metres wide, I'm guessing it was about 130 meters long.
     
  2. oflory

    oflory Well-Known Member 10+ year member Premium Member

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    Glad you enjoyed London! It tends to get a bad rap on these forums (occasionally warranted... :) ) but it really is a super zoo!
     
  3. pachyderm pro

    pachyderm pro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    copehagen looks run down ( plus the giraffe thing from years ago)

    I feel berlin is overrated . great collection but poor exhibit quality

    how does Lodan get a bad rep? seems good to me.
     
  4. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Compared to Zoo Berlin, ZSL London is an extremely poor relative! In answer to your question, I can only suggest you read through the myriad threads on the topic, perhaps starting with these ones - none are specifically about the current state of ZSL London, but all contain quite a lot of discussion on the matter:

    http://www.zoochat.com/38/visiting-london-zoo-104437/

    http://www.zoochat.com/38/future-mappin-terraces-17573/

    http://www.zoochat.com/38/old-times-london-zoo-333472/

    http://www.zoochat.com/38/london-zoo-crisis-early-1990s-243566/
     
  5. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    So what was the last time you've visited Berlin Zoo in person, @pachyderm pro?
    And "that giraffe thing" aka the public section of a giraffe doesn't detract Copenhagen Zoo's positive aspects, such as the new Tasmanian devil exhibit complex.

    Given that the new director of Berlin Zoo plans to invest heavily into future renovations, one has to see whether such points of criticism will still be relevant then-and whether the extensive species collection will remain...
     
  6. pachyderm pro

    pachyderm pro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I feel while berlin has good exhibits like The gorrilas and pandas
    There are also old run down bear and elephant exhibits ( Hopefully a expansion soon)

    The giraffe thing does matter however. A reputation is important as well I mean they killed a animal for such a bad reason,. Also look at the seal, Lepard, and monkey habitats. all very bad even though their are good habitats.
     
  7. FunkyGibbon

    FunkyGibbon Well-Known Member

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    *Grabs popcorn*
     
  8. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Would this be the panda exhibit which doesn't exist yet, or the one which existed several years ago which was pretty poor? :p

    It rather sounds like you are parroting things you have read elsewhere on the site, without any actual understanding or - quite possibly - knowledge of what the exhibits in question even *look* like. Granted I am open in my deep love for both Berlin collections, as has been made clear in my report on my 2014 trip to the city, but I am perfectly happy to discuss the relative shortcomings of the collections with people who disagree with me...... however my patience for people who appear not to know the slightest thing about what they are talking about is somewhat lower ;)
     
  9. pachyderm pro

    pachyderm pro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    lol:rolleyes:
     
  10. pachyderm pro

    pachyderm pro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    sorry for late reply. does berlin no longer have pandas?
     
  11. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Surely you know, being as you are well-informed enough about Zoo Berlin to make sweeping judgements about the quality of its exhibits? ;)

    To clarify matters, Zoo Berlin last held Giant Panda in 2012, and Red Panda in 2004; as such it has not had a "panda exhibit" of any description in some time.
     
  12. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Would you like some caramel or butter to accompany that order, @FunkyGibbon? ;)
    As for @pachyderm pro: what TLD wrote. I assume you have also not been to Copenhagen Zoo in person. Furthermore, you also seem to be misinformed in regard to the giraffe:
    The specimen wasn’t killed for the public necropsy, but due to (the afterwards fiercly debated) lack of a suitable new home; using the carcass for public education and feeding the lions was just a typical Danish way of practical thinking. And it’s “they are“, not “their are“.
     
  13. pachyderm pro

    pachyderm pro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I have not been to these zoos in person, however I have done a lot of research and these zoos have very positive elements, but I just feel a zoo like san diego or henry doorly are much higher in quality then berlin even though there collection is amazing.
     
  14. DDcorvus

    DDcorvus Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    It seems you research can use some extra scrutiny, but if you have not visited both zoos I would be careful with making very bold statements. Especially when your information is outdated or in the case of the Giraffe incorrect. Also I think it is quite patronising to judge the Giraffe educational event as it is totally accepted within Denmark and has been defended by the regional zoo association.
     
  15. pachyderm pro

    pachyderm pro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I just did not like the fact that they killed a heathy animal, once again I belive Berlin is great I just prefer san diego or Omaha to it.

    oh and how was the popcorn?
     
  16. Batto

    Batto Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    About as plausible as your reasoning...

    I agree with DDcorvus on all accounts. Maybe you should improve your research first before passing any judgement. A good actual visit of the zoo in question might also be helpful to establish any credibility of your claims.
     
  17. DDcorvus

    DDcorvus Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    How many healthy animals are killed every year in San Diego and Omaha? Culling might be more accepted in parts of Europe than in the US, but how many feeder animals are killed on daily basis? And I assume you are a vegetarian as we would not like to see that healthy animals get killed for your personal pleasure?
     
  18. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    Well just how many healthy animals are killed each day,I suspect that more are killed in a week by PETA than are killed in Danish Zoos in a year,but of course PETA don't do things like that as they are all about animals rights:rolleyes:
     
  19. pachyderm pro

    pachyderm pro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    This will be my last post on this thread

    I am not vegan and I eat meat and I disagree with :mad:peta:mad: ( I really don't like these guys.) in almost everything except wearing animals and the Circus.. However the zoo also killed 4 lion cubs. zoos are supposed to help save species not kill them. also I eat meat because that helps keep the cattle and pig populations under control
     
  20. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    As did numerous American Zoo in the very same year that Copenhagen did,just that they didn't have the balls to be open and honest in what they were doing!Because it is sometimes better to keep species breeding rather than stopping them,and to prove that point I give you the lack of Pig species in the USA,after most zoo's stopped breeding them back in the 70s because they thought when they need some more they would be able to get them from another zoo,but all the other zoo's did the same so they more or less died out!