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Best and worst local zoo exhibits

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by pachyderm pro, 15 Oct 2016.

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  1. JVM

    JVM Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    They're somewhat unconventional exhibits and I think that docks points on both ends.

    In a day and age when many zoo exhibits are increasingly defined by focuses on replicating habitats, themes, storytelling and education, the small terrarium/diorama style habitats in buildings organized around two taxonomic groups are too modern to impress on that level. The mixture of the taxonomic groups and half-hazard attempts at modernization can also leave them a little weak for the visitor who might value a more retro/historical exhibit.

    They also lack charismatic reptile species, such as venomous snakes or crocodilians, which are often a highlight of such exhibits for the casual zoo visitor, although they do have some popular bird species between them.

    I try to look at this way though - they're both fine exhibits for what they are, so if that's the worst part of your zoo visit, you must be doing pretty good. :)
     
  2. The Speeding Carnotaurus

    The Speeding Carnotaurus Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    While they are great enclosures, I feel that the area itself is lacking due to baboon island and number of staff buildings also feel like the two buildings should really have been connected. The hoof stock suffer from this as well.
     
  3. JVM

    JVM Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    The problem here is that when Brookfield Zoo was constricuted in 1934, the layout intention was that the northern area would be home to almost exclusively outdoor habitats for the warm summers, and the southern area to primarily indoor exhibits for the harsh winters - so visitors would not have to pass the empty enclosures, for example, and could take a shorter visit.

    In more recent years, the intention has slowly been to divide the zoo into four continental zones - Africa in the northwest, Asia in the northeast, and the Americas in the southwest, chiefly, but a lot of this progress has been stalled since Great Bear Wildernass was complete. The ambitious plans drawn up over ten years ago suggested that the former Perching Bird House would be dismantled, and Feathers and Scales' area would be home to a larger combined building that would again contain both birds and reptiles. I would speculate a new exhibit of that type could talk about the evolution of reptiles into birds.

    The problem today is that the zoo is too low on money to dismantle these historic buildings and the baboon habitat (or Bear Grotto) and has therefore converted them to staff buildings, and what remains is mostly non-charismatic species in the relatively simple terrariums. With the poorly bordered-up Bear Grottos, the second half of the zoo is almost entirely anchored by the childrens' area in the furthest southeast and the Americas' areas in the furthest southwest.

    The current state of Brookfield is becoming a little sorry by now - it's a blessing it was a world-class institution before it came upon such difficult times...
     
  4. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Here are a few others:

    Milwaukee County Zoo
    Best - Aviary
    Worst - Small Mammals Building

    Henry Vilas Zoo
    Best - Arctic Passage
    Worst - Not really sure, the whole zoo is pretty solid

    Como Park Zoo
    Best - Polar Bear Odessey
    Worst - Aquatics Building

    Minnesota Zoo
    Best - Russia's Grizzly Coast
    Worst - The entire zoo is great, but there are a few exhibits on the Tropics Trail I am not a fan of.

    Brookfield Zoo
    Best - Great Bear Wilderness
    Worst - I really don't think any are bad.

    Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago)
    Best - Regenstien African Journey, Regenstien Center for African Apes
    Worst - Kovler Lion House
     
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  5. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    International Crane Foundation
    Best - Whooping Crane Exhibit, Spirit of Africa
    Worst - Pod Building

    Timbavati Wildlife Park
    Best - African Savanna
    Worst - Nursery

    Shedd Aquarium
    Best - Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Oceanarium, Caribbean Reef
    Worst - none
     
  6. Ethelbard

    Ethelbard New Member

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    Birmingham Zoo:
    Best - Bull Elephant Yard
    Worst - Predator House, Hippo/Rhino Exhibits, Orangutan Exhibit

    Montgomery Zoo:
    Best - Asian Savannah
    Worst - Reptile House
     
  7. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Wildwood Zoo
    Best - Kodiak Bear exhibit, Drive-Through Zoo
    Worst - Cougar Exhibit (not bad, just the worst of this tiny, terrific zoo.)

    Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo
    Best - African Spurred Tortoise Exhibit, Waterfowl Pond
    Worst - South American Animals

    Manitowoc Lincoln Park Zoo
    Best - Outdoor Exhibits
    Worst - Big Red Barn

    Special Memories Zoo
    Best - Wisconsin Train Ride
    Worst - Big Cats (especially Leopard)

    Animal Haven Zoo
    Best - Hoofstock
    Worst - African Lion Exhibit
     
  8. The Speeding Carnotaurus

    The Speeding Carnotaurus Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Shedd:
    Best: Oceanarium, Amazon Rising
    Worst: That tiny sea lion exhibit
     
  9. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Honestly, I don't think this exhibit is that bad, for a few reasons:
    1. It only houses one sea lion.
    2. The sea lion is blind, and therefore has trouble swimming. If it has trouble swimming, does it really need as much water as other sea lion exhibits?
    3. The sea lion has an opportunity to stretch his flippers during the one world show, so the lack of land room is made up for by this. I still feel the lack of land is the worst part of the exhibit, but as I stated earlier, I don't think it's that bad.
     
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  10. The Speeding Carnotaurus

    The Speeding Carnotaurus Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I will admit that it is fine for now, but I don't think it will be possible to house sea lions there in the future. I had more of a problem when Tanner was housed there.
     
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  11. groundskeeper24

    groundskeeper24 Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Cincinnati:

    Best: African wild dogs, bonobos.

    Worst: Bear grottos, Reptile House.
     
  12. Alex Bensky

    Alex Bensky Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    It's not clear from the zoo map if they still have them but at least at one time they would be semi-circular structures, you walk into the middle, and there are a number of cages from left to right. I didn't like them, either.
     
  13. Alex Bensky

    Alex Bensky Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Detroit's bear exhibit is not very good, although they are merging the three pits on the east side into one large one for the grizzlies. The two pits in the back really need to be redone.
     
  14. Alex Bensky

    Alex Bensky Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Detroit Zoo:

    Best--Arctic Ring of Life
    Worst-bears.

    They are in the process of a major expansion of the tiger exhibit and when it's finished it would be nice if they'd get a couple more tigers. They only have one. It's a bit sad but then again "sad" and "Detroit Tigers" are words you'll be hearing a lot for a while.

    I see several people have mentioned the Kovler Lion House in Lincoln Park as that zoo's worst, which last time I was there it was. A couple of years ago the zoo announced plans for a major renovation, although I don't know how far along that is.
     
  15. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Almost done! :)
     
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  16. Okapipako

    Okapipako Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Regarding Zoo Atlanta...

    The gorilla habitats are generally regarded as the best there, and among the best gorilla exhibits in the US by some. At least with the former I definitely agree - although I wish they could be a little lusher, but I understand the consequences that'd come with that (native Georgian plants growing that could be toxic to gorillas, or the apes just ripping up most of the foliage anyway).

    The still-pretty-new reptile house is probably my personal favorite at the moment. A vast improvement over the original with lots of space, light, sleek architecture and larger, more immersive enclosures. Only issue I'd really have is the cringeworthy name: "Scaly, Slimy, Spectacular".

    As for the worst, Atlanta's lacking in outright bad exhibits in my opinion but there are a number of pretty ho-hum, slightly undersized aviaries for galliformes, owls etc. scattered around. The little Australian area isn't much to write home about and I think the roos deserve a better space. Lastly, I've long thought the African elephant habitat was much too small, but thankfully it's currently undergoing expansion along with the rest of the savanna complex. I'm about ready to see that barren, dusty red paddock for zebras & giraffes go, so I'm excited!
     
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  17. JigerofLemuria

    JigerofLemuria Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Alright, the first one is my local zoo, but I'll mention others I have visited in the last 3 years.

    Barcelona Zoo:
    Best: "Terra de /Land of Dragons" and Orangutan enclosure/s.
    Worst: "Plaça dels Lloros" (Parrot Plaza), monkey gallery

    Zoo/Aquarium Madrid:
    Best: Giant panda complex
    Worst: Baboon and aoudad cliffs, sun bear grotto.

    Faunia:
    Best: "Jungla" (Jungle), "Bosque Africano" (African Forest)
    Worst: Eeehhh... Not sure. I'll say the dinosaur section, because those animatronics were super inaccurate!

    Bronx Zoo:
    Best: Wild Asia Monorail, Congo Gorilla Forest
    Worst: Raptor cages

    Central Park Zoo:
    Best: Polar Circle
    Worst: The Japanese Macaque island

    London Zoo:
    Best: Land of the Lions, Rainforest Life
    Worst: Casson Pavillion and Mappin Terrace; not too inappropriate for their current animals, but kinda ugly.

    Whipsnade Zoo:
    Best: Passage Through Asia, White Rhinos
    Worst: Sea lions, owls
     
    Last edited: 2 Apr 2018
  18. Yi Qi

    Yi Qi Well-Known Member

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    For my zoos:

    Toronto Zoo

    Best - Giraffes and wood bison
    Worst - Orangutan exhibit and raccoon pen

    High Park Zoo
    Best - Llama pen
    Worst - Bison pen (seems a little too small for them)
     
  19. The Speeding Carnotaurus

    The Speeding Carnotaurus Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Henry Vilas:
    Best: Bear Exhibits, Badger Exhibit, Prarie Dog Exhibit
    Worst: ?

    Miller Park Zoo:
    Best: Rainforest Building
    Worst: Reindeer Cow mixed exhibit, Harbor Seal Exhibit
     
  20. Alex Bensky

    Alex Bensky Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I've been to the LA Zoo a few times and yes, I can't believe those roundhouses are the best they could do.