With just under a week until I head to Alicante on holidays, I still have not decided which zoo to visit Rio Safari Elche or Terra Natura Benidorm. I'm going with my family so they'd much rather visit the better collection so if anyone that's been to both or has high praise for one could recommend one to me
a quick look at zootierliste suggests Benidorm has a lot more to see, but do they have what you want to see? elche is a bit more open I think, from looking at photos and youtube videos earlier this year
The better impression of the Benidorm exhibits (for me) it's just an illusion. The walk through aviary or the reptile collection are better, but not the big cats enclosures.
In Benidorm they try to be a Themed Park. The exhibits for Asia are "camouflaged" like humans buildings (Indian Maraha Palace) for big cats, and intent for "Agrah Red Fort" in the ungulates praire (like blackbuck, barasingas, and axis deers mainly) but others like camel dromedaires and asian elephants too. In the Central-South America's area, the buildings resembled at pre colombine structures. For me, the best exhibit in this area it's the walk throught aviary. With a good amount of birds, but titis and marmosets too. The reptile house it's indoor of a fake volcano. Elche in general, seems a old zoo,that they try to improve...But with a few good exhibits ( not the best yet, but...) for orangutans or white lions. I hope this can help you. Oh! About cats Species: Benidorm has tigers (Sumatran and hybrids from "Bengal") Asiatic lions, ocelots, and black jaguars.
