Hi all! I'll be doing a trip to South America & Mexico next month, and of course I'll be visiting some zoos there! I plan on going to the following places: In Brazil: 1.) Sao Paulo Zoo 2.) Belo Horizonte Zoo 3.) Municipal Zoological Park "Quinzinho de Barros" 4.) possibly the Rio Zoo. In Argentina/Uruguay: 1.) Zoo Batan, Argentina 2.) Jardín Zoológico y botánico de La Plata, Argentina 3.) Mundo Marino, Argentina 4.) Temaiken, Argentina 5.) Buenosair, Argentina 6.) Bioparque M'Bopicuá, Uruguay In Chile/Peru: 1.) Santiago Zoo, Chile 2.) Punta Arenas, Chile to try and see Peale's Dolphin 3.) Parque de Las Leyendas, Peru 4.) Huachipa Zoo (Again), Peru In Mexico: 1.) Africam safari park, Puebla 2.) Zoologico los coyotes, Mexico City 3.) Chapultepec Zoo, Mexico City 4.) Xcaret, Cancun That would be 18 in all, if I go to all of them. I have a few questions if anyone can help: 1.) Are there any Zoos in these area's that I'm missing, that have good collections of mammals? (especially South American species otherwise rare in captivity) 2.) Does anyone have any suggestions for the Santiago area. I'm not totally sold on the Santiago Zoo. I'm desperately trying to see Kodkod, Huemul, or Darwin's Fox. 3.) Has anyone heard from "Ocean Boy" lately? Since I'll be in Buenos Aires for a while, I've been trying to connect with him, but it seems like he hasn't been on Zoochat in a while.
Sounds like a great trip If any of those zoos have Pichi armadillos please PM me or post it in the thread: Pichi armadillos in captivity
But of course Epickoala! I'll post photos if I'm able to get them! I'm hoping they're at Temaiken, like they had said in their response to Ocean Boy.
I believe Ocean_Boy said they were in a nocturnal exhibit so taking photos might not be that great for the armadillos. ~Thylo
Upon re-inspection of the zoo's gallery it seems the exhibits are in a very dark building but are lite up so photos should be fine. I remember Ocean_Boy telling me via PM that one zoo also had Fairy Armadillos but I no longer have that PM and do not remember the zoo. Hopefully you can find out, though. ~Thylo
Planning a late summer road trip through the NW USA. Hoping to visit: Woodland Park Zoo Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Seattle Aquarium Northwest Trek Wildife Park Portland Zoo Seaside Aquarium Oregon Coast Aquarium Wildlife Safari First time visits to all but the Portland Zoo (last visit in August 2009). Unless someone recommends otherwise, we are planning to by-pass Cougar Mountain Zoo. We will be keeping the Alaska Zoo, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and Alaska Sealife Center in business throughout the year.
If it's still possible, I would reccomend a scottish collection or two Edinburgh: Amur leopard, Asiatic lion, Indochinese clouded leopard, Jaguar Sumatran tiger, Tibetan golden cat, Yucutan margay(off exhibit) Plus pandas, koalas, aardwolfs and other animals Scottish deer centre: Northern Lynx, Scottish wildcat Camperdown park: Northern Lynx, Carpathian Lynx, Scottish wildcat Fife animal trust: Scottish wildcat Highland wildlife park:Siberian tiger, Northern Lynx, Pallas cat, Scottish wildcat Galloway wildlife conservation park:Amur leopard cat, Northern Lynx, Indochinese leopard cat, Caracal, Scottish wildcat, Serval, Siberian lynx five sisters zoo: Northern Lynx, Scottish wildcat Blair drummond safari park:Siberian tiger, Lion Auchingarrich Wildlife park: Scottish wildcat, Really have to go to Galloway sometime.
@ epickoala123 - thanks for the tips, but absolutely no time to head up to Scotland. (One day I hope, but not now). I am impressed that Galloway has two different subspecies of leopard cat. But I am spending three days at Parc Des Felins which has all the cats and more that I could see at any of those places EXCEPT scottish wild cat. (They have european). I have only seen scottish wildcat once, at Port Lympne (an area now off exhibit I believe) and they were resting in a den box so not a good photo. I would like a better photo, but I do not think it will work. Plus I looked at some photos and Youtube videos of Edinburgh Zoo (which I was planning to go to) and honestly it looks like a pretty bad zoo. And although koalas and pandas would be a major draw for UK residents, I have seen both many times here in the US.
Edinburgh is an infinitely better zoo than Galloway is, trust me on this I am very fond of the place. It has flaws, but it's still one of the better zoos in the UK in my opinion. Highland Wildlife Park is a must-visit for you at some point, as their Scottish Wildcats have been genetically tested and proven to be the pure bloodline, unlike all but a very few others. I'm reasonably sure the Port Lympne wildcats are not pure.
Whilst it might not be to your taste or appeal to your interests, I don't think you can reasonably say Edinburgh is a bad zoo.
Since we are on the topic, which zoological park in Scotland has the best exhibit for scottish wildcats? Please understand that "best" for me means natural vegetation and photo friendly (glass or thin enough wire to blur it out of the picture).
Highland Wildlife Park, without a shadow of a doubt. The cats have multiple thickly planted enclosures, which have relatively fine mesh fencing, and which provide platforms at various levels, underground areas, and raised walkways joining the enclosures and passing over the public footpaths around the enclosures. Also, as I remarked, the cats themselves are pure - which is more than can be said for either Five Sisters or Galloway Wildlife Park, the other two Scottish collections I have visited which hold "scottish wildcat"
Arizona docent, post #71- I would love to go to parc des felines, and would definately pick It over edinburgh. I don't however agree with you saying that edinburgh zoo is bad, It has many good exhibits (budongo trail for example is amazing) yet has some bad. It has a amazing species list with a few rarities, bawean hog deer for example. As well as this there are some very good animals, my favourites being koalas, clouded leopard, wolverine, aardwolf, golden cat, and giant anteater. TLD, post #75- HWP is probably the best, but still not good. I really dislike the mesh caging, which is all to common.
Epic I will say you have one of my favorite usernames of all the forums of many different topics I frequent.
How would you propose to improve it? And the mesh caging is pretty good - it doesn't obscure view at all, whereas a wet or scratched window is often opaque, and it is easier to repair than glass barriers. This, I suspect, is why it is commonly in use.
I'll be sticking close to home this year since funds are tight (getting married and hopefully getting a new job)... So my zoo tour includes: Detroit Zoo (never been despite living in Michigan) John Ball Zoo Binder Park Zoo Potter Park Zoo (which is local to me) Toledo Zoo (my favorite) Columbus Zoo Cleveland Zoo Love zoos! So fun for a not-too-expensive vacation! Plus I'd like to get some more pictures for my website.
