Great, thank you. Based on the reviews here, these are the precisely the collections I had in mind. Which zoo would you recommend over the other?
just checking that you have seen CGSwans' great thread on Japan: http://www.zoochat.com/241/land-rising-sun-2016-a-449744/
Really nice that they let you in. I guess they assume locals all know it is closed on Mondays and no need to post online. As you may recall I encountered the same situation in Spain at Zoobotanico Jerez. Except there, they did not even have a sign on the entrance. I had to be told by two teenagers walking down the street that the zoo is closed on Mondays. Thankfully I was in Sevilla for a couple nights, so I was able to return on Tuesday (to photograph Iberian lynx).
antonmunster, I would agree with CGSwans. Zoorasia is the top zoo in the Tokyo area but you'll find that each zoo or aquarium has a few very rare animals, so it does depend on what you want to see. There's also quite a lot of advice on this thread for aardvark250's trip: http://www.zoochat.com/241/visit-tokyo-447867/ Sumida aquarium would be for the 'aquascape' tanks as well as an interesting collection which is nicely displayed. The other Tokyo aquaria each have their advantages. If you're willing to go as far afield as Osaka then Toba Aquarium might also be an option, but I've not been so can't comment on the quality of the place. I would also have expected that if you've got the time/resources/plans then Okinawa Churaumi would also have been on the cards for you, but again I've not been - yet. The rare animals displayed in Japanese collections are scattered around but you'll get a good flavour even if you only stick in/near Tokyo. Just name it and you'll be able to organise your trip around the animals or exhibits you're most keen to see. Proboscis monkeys, red-shanked douc langurs, tarsiers, pangolins, pronghorn, kagu, emperor penguin, king cheetah, southern elephant/Baikal/Caspian seal, African manatee, dugong.....
Yeah - extremely fortunate and very nice of them! All other members of staff had been telling me there was no chance at all. No, it's a new policy, so both locals and tourists were queuing up outside the closed gates (no sign here either) and eventually turning away. They hadn't updated the website yet. It took a significant amount of time to get the permission to visit, which meant I didn't get the chance to walk around the outer perimeter of the zoo (a highlight last time, as this is how I saw all the wild & escaped animals), but fortunately I'd already visited the cathedral and main square to look for three-toed sloths before visiting the zoo, so it didn't swallow up my entire transit. Apparently many sloths in the city centre died following electrocution on power lines, so they were all translocated, except for one, we were told, who was invisible when I visited.
Instituto Butantan, Brazil - March/April 2016. It took a long time to arrange, but I'm currently part way through my first ever residence in a zoological institution. Brazil's Instituto Butantan (in Sao Paulo) is one of the world's most important herpetological collections. There are so many different areas here : they extract venom, develop vaccines, describe new taxa and maintain amazing reference collections, and among many other areas of interest, they have a small hospital which specialises exclusively in treating envenomations. These days the living collections on display are limited to three areas: the 'serpentarium' - a series of outdoor enclosures for snakes; the biological museum - an outstanding reptile house; and the 'macacario' - a series of macaque enclosures currently being renovated (and thus not open to the public). I had hoped that I could visit the reptile house at some point during my stay, so I was very happy to get a guided tour on my first day. A really nice experience. The visitor route starts a little tamer than I'd like, with common boas and anacondas, but quickly picks up the pace with a series of green racer species, vine snakes and Burmese pythons before starting the venomous snakes. A tremendous 12 species of the genus Bothrops are on show; with a few more off-display too. Some of these are very rare, such as the rare golden and Alcatrazes lanceheads, which are endemic to single islands. Coral snakes are displayed next to identical false corals, showing that the 'red, yellow, black' rhymes can be useless, even dangerous. With some you can only clearly tell the difference by looking at the teeth (or the teeth marks on your skin if you've harassed them enough). Similarly, recently split rainbow boa species are displayed side-by-side, and an amphisbaenian (!) is supposedly displayed next to a worm lizard, but you'd be lucky to see both above ground at any given time! The museum are big on education, and they try to correct misconceptions : morays are displayed, for instance, with signs to reinforce the fact that they are not sea snakes. Frogs are next displayed, followed by a series of vivaria for Brazilian tarantulas displayed opposite the smaller, deadly spiders and some scorpions. A fascinating display at the end compares different aspects of reptilian life, from the size of eggs in the animal kingdom to differentiation of snake hemipenes. Although not a huge place, this is clearly a reptile house of great importance. One of the facilities in the Instituto Butantan is an animal reception where people can bring in spiders and snakes that they fear from around their homes (dead or alive), can get them identified, discover some new facts and donate them to the collections. So the museum tends to have a good range of specimens available to display at any given time. I tried to return daily to see some of the better-hidden animals.
that's a fancy-looking reptile house. I like it. My understanding of the coral snake rhyming is that it works for only the North American species (coral snakes vs king snakes) - which is what the rhymes were invented for - but unfortunately people extend it to other places where it clearly doesn't work.
And milksnakes too I've also heard similar South American rhymes which are immediately called into question when you see some of the native species. Best course of action would probably just be to keep away. Fortunately coral snakes seem to strike very rarely, in my experience.
I've lost my report on Sao Paulo aquarium several times, and I've now completed it at least twice. Now that it's disappeared again I'll leave it out of the sequence for now and either come back to it at a later date or post the chunk that's been saved.
Guarulhos Zoo, Brazil - April 2016. Guarulhos is familiar to many visitors to Sao Paulo as the location of the city's main airport, but Guarulhos itself is actually the state's second largest city. A small municipal zoo with a few choice native animals provides a good reason to visit on the way to the airport - I did so straight after my trip to the aquarium. This little zoo is centered about a playground which was very busy when I visited, and a series of five lakes (often home to waterfowl). For the areas in-between there are animal enclosures. Unfortunately there's no luggage storage facility here either, so I ended up dragging my suitcases around with me again. Straight after the entry gates (free entry) are a row of small primate enclosures; black-fronted titi, buffy-tufted marmosets and brown howlers lead the bill - an impressive start. These rows of enclosures are the zoo's main method of displaying a variety of smaller animals, and so as one of the lakes is rounded we come to a similar row for reptiles (a very red tegu stars here), which leads to a row of larger bird of prey aviaries at the top of a small slope -I was lucky enough (on my third pass) to get reasonable views of a crane hawk here. A huge paddock houses rhea, tortoises and brown brocket deer together, with a king vulture aviary opposite. Back by the lake, a set of small mammal enclosures (jaguarundi, orange-spined dwarf porcupine, grison...) dot the route to a series of small bird aviaries; these, in turn, evolve into larger aviaries where a range of curassow and macaws are displayed. At the end of the row we find some of the more typical larger zoo animals of the region in decent paddocks; maned wolf, giant anteater and peccaries. A nearby complex has enclosures for jaguar and a lion. There wouldn't seem to be much else here, but in a stroke of genius one of the lakes is used to house Brazillian tapirs and another broad-snouted caiman. Some of the most naturalistic enclosures for these species I've ever seen. It's great to see that what would otherwise be considered a typical antiquated city zoo has taken steps to give the animals decent enclosures. Logic would dictate that the next step would be to merge a few of the smaller enclosures and improve the 'rows' of enclosures/aviaries. Nonetheless, this small zoo certainly seems to do the trick. A small museum to the side of the playground would have been interesting to visit, but had closed by the time I arrived. I left at closing time (when staff walk around with loud whistles to direct visitors out of the zoo) and eventually organised a taxi to the airport from the cafe across the road - much more difficult and time-consuming than I expected, so we arranged for the taxi driver to come back with business cards to help out future travelling zoo visitors.
Tatu Carreta, Argentina - April 2016. I landed in Cordoba, Argentina, to join my friends on a road trip across the north of the country. They surprised me on our first full day by telling me they had planned to unexpectedly stop at a zoo for me - Tatu Carreta Zoo. I’d read previously that it was in the area, but hadn’t wanted to push for more than two zoos during this trip so had’t looked into it much more. Still, a very nice surprise. Tatu Carreta is a name used for the giant amadillo; I was somewhat hopeful of seeing my second one of the trip here, and my friends were kindly optimistic that I might see a pink fairy armadillo, but the only armadillo here is a single stuffed giant armadillo kept in a glass case by the main gate. This zoo consists of two main parts; the first is a long drive-through route through scrub which is also home to free-ranging axis, fallow deer (including melanistic specimens), mara, rheas and guanaco. Visitors can buy feed which they can give to most of the animals on display. The most interesting thing in this drive through is the wild bird life: some tinamous race towards each car, hoping for some free food. The site is also teeming with wild woodpeckers. One stop on this route is next to a cage for a lone stocky jaguar. The other part of the zoo is a small walk around area. Visitors park the car and visit a number of small cages and paddocks. Highlights here are a large aviary shared by a crowned eagle and an Andean condor, and a large wooded enclosure shared by a group of capybara and grey brocket deer. Another interesting creature is the golden agouti (housed in a small enclosure). A decent puma enclosure and a large aviary for some waterfowl are near a large paddock for some agitated collared peccaries - agitated because one of the youngsters had slipped through the fence and was walking among the visitors. The rest of the enclosures are poor affairs for capuchin monkeys, and aviaries for a variety of birds (budgies, macaws, toucan, silver pheasant…) An interesting little place but not worth an enormous detour - especially if it didn’t have the eagle.
Mendoza Aquarium, Argentina - April 2016. My only personal request on this road trip was a full zoo day in Mendoza. I was very pleased to get it, and woke up early for a long day. My first stop was Mendoza Municipal Aquarium, in the city centre. On my arrival I was pleased to see that the zoo had made signs to let members of the public know that the tank lighting was currently poor, and that most of the signs weren’t working. The ticket desk also explained this to everyone and gave them the option to buy the ticket with this in mind. Very open and considerate. The small aquarium essentially consists of three rooms. The first (in the middle) is an open foyer with seating and a large screen. Cabinets of specimens line the walls of this room. The second room, to one side, is a marine room dominated by a central tank for an enormous loggerhead turtle named ‘Jorge’ who had been rescued a few decades ago. The tank itself is around 2m deep and not very large, but according to the signage Mendoza was the best-equipped aquarium to look after the turtle. On either side of this central tank is a row of tanks for fairly standard reef fish although a couple of the tanks are empty. Probably the most obscure animal here is a bird wrasse. The third room, on the opposite side of the foyer, is a long gallery which focusses on freshwater species. A large vivarium houses three species of turtle, and large tanks for pacu, ripsaw catfish, koi carp and redtail catfish dominate the end of the gallery. A lot of standard ‘pet’ species here too, but highlights include a grass carp, two lungfish and a rhombeus piranha. Outside there is said to be an ‘alligator’ enclosure on the roof of the aquarium, but access was closed when I visited. Staff were very helpful and tried to turn the answer to any question into an educational point (for further discussion), which I thought was excellent. The aquarium is much smaller than I had expected; an hour was plenty of time to visit.
Mendoza Serpentarium, Argentina - April 2016. Literally across the road from the aquarium is Mendoza Serpentarium. A small display but slightly more expensive than entry to the aquarium. The display area is just one long tunnel-like gallery lined with vivaria for snakes and some lizards, with larger enclosures for anaconda, common boa, Burmese pythons and tegu. There’s not a great deal to say – it’s a home-made collection with the walls covered in posters, both humourous and educational, with some very nice species displayed. I’m led to believe that the on-show collection is just a small fraction of the place’s live collection.
So, as this thread has ground to a halt for a number of reasons, I thought that I'd just post a list of all of my 2016 zoo visits here to outline how the rest of the year went: Collection & Country Sea Life Birmingham UK Liverpool World Museum UK Tokyo Sunshine Aquarium Japan Tokyo Owl Café Japan Tokyo Tower Aquarium Japan Sumida Aquarium Japan Zoorasia Japan Hakkeijima Sea Paradise Japan Tokyo Sea Life Park Japan Ueno Zoo Japan EPSON Aqua Park Japan Alexandria Aquarium Egypt Alexandria Zoo Egypt Giza Zoo Egypt Attica Park Greece Sea Turtle Rescue Centre Greece Avifauna Netherlands Diergaarde Blijdorp Netherlands Burgers Zoo Netherlands Artis Zoo Netherlands Bolton Aquarium UK Woodside Animal Farm UK ZSL Whipsnade Zoo UK British Wildlife Centre UK Bioparque La Reserva Colombia Parque Jaime Duque Colombia Zoologico Vesty Pakos Bolivia Zoologico Santa Cruz Bolivia Instituto Butantan Brazil Instituto Butantan Brazil Instituto Butantan Brazil Sao Paulo Aquarium Brazil Guarulhos Zoo Brazil Tatu Carreta Argentina Mendoza Aquarium Argentina Mendoza Serpentarium Argentina Mendoza Zoo Argentina Serpentario Machaqway Argentina Cordoba Zoo Argentina Bioparque Temaiken Argentina Buenos Aires Zoo Argentina Buenos Aires Natural Science Museum Argentina Bioparque M'Bopicua Uruguay Zoologico Nacional de Chile Chile Zoologico Nacional de Chile Chile Parque Araucano aviaries Chile Selva Viva Chile Buin Zoo Chile Aquarium Gaston Huygens Argentina Guira Oga Argentina Zoologico Bosque Guarani Brazil Itaipu research centre Paraguay Zoologico Roberto Ribas Lange Brazil Biocentro Argentina Parque das Aves Brazil Riozoo Brazil Riozoo Brazil Curitiba Zoo Brazil Curitiba Passeo publico Brazil Sorocaba Zoo Brazil Instituto Butantan Brazil Instituto Butantan Brazil Instituto Butantan Brazil Instituto Butantan Brazil Sao Paulo Zoo Brazil Sao Paulo Zoo Brazil Parque de las Leyendas Peru CREA Peru Pilpintuwasi Peru Mariposario Peru Serpentario Peru Quistococha Zoo Peru Parque de las Leyendas Peru Huachipa Zoo Peru Colegio de la Inmaculada Peru Parque de las Leyendas Peru Bioparque los Ocarros Colombia Zoologico Santacruz Colombia Cali Zoo Colombia London Zoo UK All things wild UK Taipei Zoo Taiwan Taipei Zoo Taiwan Penang snake temple Malaysia Taiping Zoo Malaysia Penang Bird Park Malaysia Green Connection Malaysia UMS Aquarium and Marine Museum Malaysia Lok Kawi Wildlife Park Malaysia Ragunan Zoo Indonesia Taman Safari Bogor Indonesia Ragunan Zoo Indonesia TMII Bird Park Indonesia TMII Reptile Park Indonesia TMII Insect Kingdom Indonesia TMII Freshwater Aquarium Indonesia Sea World Ancol Indonesia Bali Reptile Park Indonesia Bali Bird Park Indonesia Bali Safari Park Indonesia Bali Zoo Indonesia AQWA Australia Perth Zoo Australia Perth Zoo Australia Caversham Wildlife Park Australia Pata Zoo Thailand Siam Ocean World Thailand Bangkok Snake Farm Thailand Dusit Zoo Thailand Changi Airport Butterfly garden Singapore Singapore Zoo Singapore Singapore Night Safari Singapore Jurong Bird Park Singapore Sentosa butterfly & insect kingdom Singapore Sentosa Animal Encounter Singapore SEA Aquarium Singapore River Safari Singapore Singapore Zoo Singapore Jurong Bird Park Singapore Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Centre Philippines Avilon Zoo Philippines Beijing Zoo China Beijing Aquarium China Beijing Zoo China Beijing Blue Zoo China Istanbul Sea Life Turkey Warwick Castle UK London Zoo UK Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Centre UK Rodbaston Animal Zone UK Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre UK Lake District Coast Aquarium UK Lake District Wildlife Park UK Hazlehead Park Pets Corner UK Zoobotanico Jerez Spain Bioparc Fuengirola Spain Selwo Aventura Spain
Yes they do, as I was based in Butantan for a couple of weeks. Each listing is a single visit, which is why you'll see a few duplicates. I'd initially also documented dates, entry costs and durations of my visits but saw that this quickly complicated things.
When you revisited Yokohama Sea Paradise did they have other new rarities or were the goblin and tiger sharks pretty much one-offs? Also, what about a few words on Shinagawa Aquarium?
