Here is a list of the top 10 polar bear exhibits (in my opinion) please vote witch is the best. Brookfield zoo- Great bear wilderness http://photos.zoochat.com/large/gbw50-97547.jpg Detroit zoo- Artic ring of life http://photos.zoochat.com/large/detroit_zoo_032-8501.jpg San Diego zoo- Northern frontierhttp://pics.kaybee.org/Vacations/California2002/SanDiego/Zoo/BigAnimals/PolarBears/110-1089_IMG.JPG North Carolina zoo- Rocky coasthttp://photos.zoochat.com/medium/north_carolina_zoo_361-121359.jpg St louis zoo- Polar bear pointhttps://www.stlzoo.org/files/5213/8115/8629/Polar_Bear_Point_Bear_viewing_rendering_Saint_Louis_Zoo.jpg Henry Vilas zoo- Artic passage http://s3.zoochat.com.s3.amazonaws.com/large/dscf29553-301726.jpg Columbus zoo- North America http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5xddZWO5TY/TpsTPmd0JGI/AAAAAAAAANQ/Ntsm12Y65zo/s1600/214.JPG Kansas City zoo- Polar bear passage http://www.jalillig.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/KCMOZoo2.jpg Toledo zoo- Artic encounter http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2003/10/09/800x_b1_cCM_z/Toledo-Zoo-defends-its-exhibits.jpg Pittsburgh zoo-Waters edge http://photos.zoochat.com/large/pittsburgh_zoo_108-12425.jpg
My top ten would have Detroit as number one, Columbus as a close runner-up and North Carolina, Hogle, Como Park, San Diego, Buffalo, Brookfield, Henry Vilas and Saint Louis making it ten. Memphis and Toledo would also be considered. If Canadian zoos are counted I would put in Toronto and Assiniboine Park
I didn't vote because the only one I've ever seen is Memphis, which I think is very good but, it's not even in your top ten. So all these others must be outstanding and I hope to see them someday.
I have seen four polar bear exhibits in the last seven years. Detroit's is outstanding. Hogle Zoo's is good, Como Zoo's is okay, and Henry Doorly Zoo's is dismal.
The Columbus Zoo has a beautiful, naturalistic exhibit, but you can only view it from the front. North Carolina has more vantage points, some being open air viewing, so it's a notch up for me. I am sure once I see Arctic Ring of Life it would go to the top of my list. Sorry to nitpick, but I wouldn't think to place Pittsburgh Zoo as a top polar bear exhibit. Although it has an underwater tunnel, it's basically a modern grotto exhibit. For newer exhibits, I would have put Buffalo Zoo over Pittsburgh Zoo. Some photo of Buffalo Zoo's exhibit - Exhibit #2: http://www.zoochat.com/549/polar-bear-exhibit-2-a-427798/ http://www.zoochat.com/549/polar-bear-exhibit-2-a-427803/ http://www.zoochat.com/549/polar-bear-exhibit-2-a-427793/ Exhibit #1: http://www.zoochat.com/549/front-view-polar-bear-exhibit-1-a-427791/ http://www.zoochat.com/549/polar-bear-exhibit-1-a-427795/
I forgot about Buffalo, my bad. I liked Pittsburgh because it has the underwater tunnel and it has a rocky feel toit. Buffalo is much better though.