How many zoos have you visited? (poll 2)

1. London Zoo
2. Chessington Zoo and SeaLife
3. Marwell Zoo
4. Longleat Safari Park
5. Drusilla’s Park
6. Amazon World Zoo Park
7. Isle of Wight Zoo/Wildheart Trust
8. Newport Owl and Monkey Haven
9. Isle of Wight Reptilarium
10. New Forest Wildlife Park
11. Monkey World
12. Birdworld
13. Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary, Cornwall
14. Accra Zoo
15. Kumasi Zoo
16. Brighton: SeaLife
17. London: SeaLife

 

I have visited 53 zoos with my dad, starting at very young age, so some of them I don't remember very well:

1. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
2. National Aquarium in Baltimore
3. Smithsonian National Zoological Park
4. Roer's Zoofari
5. Catoctin Wildlife Preserve
6. Philadelphia Zoo
7. ZooAmerica
8. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
9. Bronx Zoo
10. Central Park Zoo
11. Mystic Aquarium
12. Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy
13. Franklin Park Zoo
14. Maine Wildlife Park
15. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
16. Toronto Zoo
17. African Lion Safari
18. Aquarium of Quebec
19. Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Felicien
20. Zoo de Granby
21. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
22. Sylvan Heights Bird Park
23. Zoo Atlanta
24. Georgia Aquarium
25. Brookfield Zoo
26. Lincoln Park Zoo
27. Shedd Aquarium
28. Dallas Zoo
29. San Antonio Zoo
30. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
31. Los Angeles Zoo
32. Monterey Bay Aquarium
33. SeaWorld Orlando
34. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
35. Zoo Miami
36. Monkey Jungle
37. Flamingo Gardens
38. Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society
39. Lion Country Safari
40. Xcaret Park
41. Croco Cun Zoo
42. Safari Ramat Gan
43. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
44. Metro Richmond Zoo
45. Virginia Safari Park
46. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
47. St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
48. Reptile World Serpentarium
49. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
50. ZooTampa at Lowry Park
51. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
52. Iguanaland Inc.
53. The Shell Factory and Nature Park

Hope to add 3 more to this list, after our trip to Alaska next month

 

My list is very short,none of my parents were especially interested in animals and Stockholm has very few zoos.
1 Skansen
2 Skansen-akvariet
3 Fjärilshuset - Haga ocean
4 Aquaria vattenmuseum
6 Kolmården Djurpark
7 Parken zoo
8 Universeum
9 Palmitos Park
10 Moscow zoo

 

As of 8/2022:

TOTAL: 15

United States:
• Phoenix Zoo
• SEA LIFE Arizona
• Wildlife World Arizona

Germany:
• Zoo Berlin
• Aquarium Berlin
• Tierpark Berlin
• SEA LIFE Berlin

United Kingdom:
• ZSL London Zoo
• SEA LIFE London

Spain / Canary Islands:
• Loro Parque
• Jungle Park
• Aqualand Costa Adeje (I’m not sure if this one should be included as it is primarily a waterpark but has a few dolphins and birds on display)

Iceland:
• Reykjavík zoo & family park
• SEA LIFE TRUST Beluga Sanctuary
• Slakki Petting Zoo

The cons of living in a remote place with no zoological facilities nearby D: I hope to expand this list by a lot in the coming years.

 

1. Edinburgh Zoo
2. Blair Drummond Safari Park
3. Five Sisters Zoo
4. Amazonia (an indoor rainforest at M&D's theme park at Strathclyde Country Park in Scotland)
5. Heads Of Ayr Farm Park
6. Calderglen Zoo
7. Glasgow Zoo (also known as Calderpark Zoo) (which closed in 2003)
8. Blackpool Zoo
9. Sea Life Loch Lomond
10. Sea Life Blackpool
11. Blackpool Tower Aquarium (which closed in 2010)

 

Another update here after reaching 250 after a lovely trip to California over the last couple of weeks:

England
223: Bridlington Animal Park
224: Pensthorpe Natural Park
225: Church Farm Rare Breeds Centre
226: SEALIFE Hunstanton
227: Melsop Farm Park
228: Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure
229: Pittville Park Aviaries
230: Normanby Hall Deer Park
Malta
231: Wildlife Park Malta
232: Villa Rundle Gardens Aviary
233: L-Arka ta’ Noe
234: Montekristo Animal Park
England
235: Cutteslowe Park
236: Peak Wildlife Park
237: Rutland Owl & Falconry Centre
238: Trentham Monkey Forest
239: Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre
USA
240: California Academy of Sciences
241: Aquarium of the Bay
242: San Francisco Zoo
243: Monterey Bay Aquarium
244: Oakland Zoo
245: Lindsay Wildlife Experience
246: Fresno Chaffee Zoo
247: California Living Museum
248: Aquarium of the Pacific
249: The Living Desert
250: Big Bear Alpine Zoo
251: San Diego Zoo Safari Park
252: Living Coast Discovery Center
253: Seaworld San Diego
254: San Diego Zoo
255: Springs Preserve
256: Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
257: Gibbon Conservation Center
258: Santa Barbara Zoo
259: Los Angeles Zoo

 

Here's my list, entirely possible I've forgotten some.

Taronga Western Plains (NSW, Australia) x2
Taronga (NSW, Australia) x numerous
Sydney Zoo
Melbourne zoo (Vic, Australia) (as a kid, don't remember much)
Featherdale Wildlife Park (NSW, Australia)
Australian Reptile Park (NSW, Australia)
Orana Park, NZ
Willowbank Wildlife Park, Christchurch NZ
Auckland, NZ x 2
Butterfly Creek, Auckland NZ
Wellington, NZ x numerous
Singapore Zoo,
Singapore Night Zoo

I feel like I'm missing something ...

 

Belgium
1. Zwartberg/Limburgse Zoo
(as this was about 30 years ago, I have a fond elephant memory of it, but can't remember anything else, it's only by browsing this forum I read this wasn't such a happy place afterall)
2. Antwerp Zoo
3. Aquatopia Antwerp
4. Planckendael
5. Pairi Daiza
6. Bellewaerde
7. Olmense Zoo/Pakawi park
8. Sea Life Blankenberge

The Netherlands
9. Gaia Zoo
10. De Oliemeulen Tilburg

France
11. Zoo de Lille

USA
12. San Antonio
13. San Fransisco

UK
14. London Zoo
15. Dudley Zoo
16. Twycross Zoo
17. Blackpool Zoo
18. Cotswold Zoo
19. Hamerton Zoo
20. Ribby Hall Wild Discovery
21. Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
22. West Midlands Safari Park

 

Australia
1. Adelaide Zoo
2. Monarto Safari Park
3. Gorge Wildlife Park
4. Cleland Wildlife Park
5. Urimbirra Wildlife Park
6. Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
7. Melbourne Zoo
8. Werribee Open Range Zoo
9. Taronga Western Plains Zoo
10. Taronga Zoo
11. Sea World (Gold Coast, has Polar bears and penguins)
12. Alma Park Zoo
13. Australia Zoo

Singapore
14. Singapore night safari
15. Singapore zoo
16. Singapore River Wonders

Japan
17. Ueno Zoo

(Excluding aquariums and small petting zoos)

 

1. Lincoln Park Zoo (first visit 1999 est)
2. Shedd Aquarium (first visit 1999 est)
3. Brookfield Zoo (first visit 2001)
4. Milwaukee County Zoo (first visit 2001, last visit 2014)
5. Smithsonian National Zoo (visited 2006)
6. Denver Zoo (visited 2022)

Determined to make it seven within the next six months.

 

That should be pretty easy considering there are still zoos in Chicago you haven't been to.

 

It should be

I've not had a zoo buddy for a while, but a friend of mine and me have been talking about trying to run through a few of these when they are back in town. Milwaukee, Mantiwoc, Phillips Park and Cosley have all come up, and there's still Peoria, Niabi and plenty in Wisconsin to consider if things go well.

 

My current list:

United Kingdom:
England:
- Chester Zoo
- Blue Planet Aquarium
- Knowsley Safari
- Cotswold Wildlife Park
- Blackpool Zoo
- Bristol Zoo (closed)
- Yorkshire Wildlife Park
- ZSL London Zoo
- ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
- SEA LIFE London
Wales:
- Welsh Mountain Zoo
- Rhyl SeaQuarium
- Borth Wild Animal Park
Scotland:
- Highland Wildlife Park

Germany:
- Berlin Zoo
- Berlin Aquarium
- Tierpark Berlin

Switzerland:
- Zurich Zoo

Spain:
- Mundomar Benidorm

United States:
- Disney's Animal Kingdom

Total: 20

 

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an obvious one to visit, considering it's a 10 minute walk from Lincoln Park Zoo.

 

I've been there many times as a child but hadn't thought to include it. Their butterfly exhibit was excellent.

 

Ok, late, late update on this, but I missed the Bat Zone in Cranbrook, Michigan (now defunct). I am at 61, and the honor of zoo number 60 is actually Lincoln Park, a far better zoo than Milwaukee for this title, IMO.

 

I have visited 35 zoos in my lifetime with the most recent addition being Burgers' and my most recent visit being to London. I hope to reach 40 within a year's time...

 

I assume I'm in the 10-24 range, but let's see if I make it over that hump.

1. Greenville Zoo (Greenville, SC - countless visits from early 90s through 2022)
2. Riverbanks Zoo (Columbia, SC - countless visits from early 90s through 2022)
3. Hollywild Animal Park (Spartanburg, SC - several visits throughout the 90s and early 00s)
   
4. Waccatee Zoo (Myrtle Beach, SC - first visited early 90s, visited most recently ~2011 and likely a time or two between)
5. Alligator Adventure (Myrtle Beach, SC - I believe two late 90s/early 00s visits)
6. Lowcountry Zoo (Myrtle Beach, SC - first visited 2017, 2018? regular visits through 2022)
7. Ripley's Aquarium (Myrtle Beach, SC - 2004)
8. South Carolina Aquarium (Charleston, SC - first visited 2001, most recently 2022)
9. The Animal Forest at Charles Towne Landing (Charleston, SC - 2001)
10. Zoo Atlanta (Atlanta, GA - first visited early 2000s, regular visits from 2014 through 2022)
11. Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta, GA - early 2010s through 2022)
12. Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary (Lilburn, GA - 2022)
13. Disney's Animal Kingdom Park (Orlando, FL - four visits between 1999 and 2022)
14. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (Orlando, FL - 2022)
15. The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot (Orlando, FL - 2022)
16. SeaWorld Orlando (Orlando, FL - 2003)
17. ZooWorld Zoological Park (Panama City, FL - late 90s or early 00s, possibly multiple visits)
18. Gulf World Marine Park (Panama City, FL - late 90s or early 00s, possibly multiple visits)
19. Western North Carolina Nature Center (Asheville, NC - 2021)
20. Santa's Land Fun Park & Zoo (Cherokee, NC - 2003)
21. Chattanooga Zoo (Chattanooga, TN - 2021)
22. Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga, TN - 2021)
23. Montgomery Zoo (Montgomery, AL - late 90s or early 00s)
24. Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL - 2001, 2011, and 2022)
25. Shedd Aquarium (Chicago, IL - 2001)
26. Brookfield Zoo (Brookfield, IL - 2022)
27. Virginia Zoo (Norfolk, VA - 2018)
28. Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA - 2002? and 2018)
29. Denver Zoo (Denver, CO - 2019)

So there we go. Some of these sure don't feel as great as others, but that's 29 facilities any way you slice it. I have distinct memories of one more zoo beyond these, but it was in the early 00s and the most vivid parts were lions, a train, and a restaurant overlooking a savannah, so... that's useful. Now that I'm thinking about it again, maybe I'll try and pick my mom's brain and see if she remembers anything (she won't).

Next up? A weekend trip to North Carolina Zoo and Greensboro Science Center is a matter of when, not if. It might happen this year, even. I'll probably hit Bee City Zoo, the last zoo I'm aware of in South Carolina, sooner or later against my better judgment as well. I currently have very tentative plans for another trip to Colorado in the spring, with Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (and possibly a return to Denver Zoo) being part of it. Other zoos situated near potential future trip destinations include Knoxville Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo, and Brevard Zoo. I wanna say Chehaw Park Zoo is a perennial maybe as well, but that's bordering on a 5 hour drive for a small zoo with less than a handful of notable species that isn't near anything else compelling. Who knows. And of course, I do eventually want to hit most of the country's bigger destinations in time as well - San Diego, Bronx, Omaha, the Ohio circuit. But I'm getting ahead of myself at this point.

 

1. Yorkshire Wildlife Park
2. Wolds Wildlife Park
3. The Ark
4. Lincolnshire Wildlife Park
5. Woodside Wildlife Park
6. Chester Zoo
7. The Wild Place
8. Dudley Zoo
9. Twycross Zoo
10. Hamerton Zoo
11. Marwell Zoo
12. Thrigby Hall
13. Banham Zoo
14. Whipsnade Zoo
15. Paradise Wildlife Park
16. Para Daiza, Belgium
17. Cologne Zoo
18. Tampa Zoo, Florida
19. Miami Zoo, Florida
20. Naples Zoo
21. The Deep Aquarium
22. Tampa Aquarium, Florida
23. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Florida
24. Wingham wildlife Park
25. Howlers Wildlife Park
26. Flamingo Land zoo
27. SeaWorld, Florida
28. Busch Gardens, Florida
29. Animal Kingdom, Florida

All I can think of now but I may have missed a few.