I find urban exploration quite a fascinating trend / pastime (though I don't practice it as a hobby myself) and I enjoy watching videos on the topic on youtube. Abandoned zoos seem to be a popular destination for urban explorers and there are some interesting and eerie examples of this on youtube which I've seen and thought I'd share. This is an abandoned zoo in Australia which even had a wet / preserved specimen of a great white shark left behind : The old LA zoo rotting away : An abandoned zoo in Canada: An abandoned aquarium in Scotland: An abandoned part of a US zoo with old bear enclosures (and a nice overview of the history): The remains of a "Jardin d’essai colonial" a very dark and twisted kind of early 20th century trend in zoos which exhibited human beings from the French colonies: Another abandoned zoo in the USA : An abandoned private zoo in Japan (in German) :
Interesting topic indeed. See also this thread: Closed Zoos - ZooChat I have personally visited the site of closed zoos at Griffith Park (Los Angeles, California) and Crandon Park (Miami, Florida). I have also been to several zoos while they were still open that are now closed and the location redeveloped.
I think abandoned zoos seem to make for very eerie and atmospheric places to see, photograph, film / document but I'm judging purely based on the videos above as I can't say I've ever been to one. At the same time a long with all of these abandoned places that urban explorers document whether it be zoos, schools, hospitals or asylums I think there is a certain beauty and comfort for me in these places decaying and reverting back to nature.
I really like Abandoned places in general. When I'm in the car, and see an abandoned farm or an old overgrown truck I just really want to explore it, I have a little obsession with abandoned places. Every location tells a story in my eyes, there very eerie yet fascinating. I mostly always die to learn the backstory of that place, small town history is something that I am interested in and read books on in particular, if you saw my post in "What are your interests besides zoos and animals?" Such cool places, I think my least favorite places to explore (when abandoned) are Mineshafts. Get me a little claustrophobic, and while they may be interesting are generally underwhelming. Oh, and by the way, I ordered some of those books you recommended on "your favorite gecko species?" thread and there arriving in a few days. They didn't have all of them, but I'm excited to see what's inside.
Oh I haven't, They just look claustrophobic, which Is why I don't. The way to check if abandoned mines are stable is to know their location, and what people were mining in the area. If something like really dry stone in the desert with low concentration is more likely to collapse, than something in northern hillsides. I've studied the Subject, Its still interesting nonetheless, Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Still, some people actually have a sport of doing it. Don't reccomend it myself, but someone who's had experience could, I know I don't.
This video features a restored tourist train on Isle of Man that ends at Sea Lion Rocks. It is so named because it is the former site of a mini zoo with a sea lion pool, polar bear grotto, chained brown bears, and an aviary. To get to the zoo tour, skip ahead to time mark 11:38. Isle of Man Episode 3 (14th July) Groudle Glen and Laxey Mine Railway - YouTube
There are numerous articles on the long abandoned Discovery Island in Disney World. I got to visit that one before it closed. I find abandoned buildings fascinating although have never explored them.
