I'd agree with this one. I've heard both Prague and Omaha called the world's best zoo in the past, and Chester isn't all that far behind them. Dallas is probably the underdog in this group, but with their world class herp collection and fantastic Africa exhibit they're not one to turn one's nose to. ~Thylo
Collections I've been to: Group A Los Angeles Munich North Carolina Vienna Group B Berlin Zoo Detroit San Diego Zoo Safari Park Wroclaw Group C Columbus Plzen Rotterdam Singapore Group D Beauval Frankfurt San Diego Zoo St Louis Group E Cologne Denver Miami Pairi Daiza Group F Antwerp Bronx Leipzig Zurich Group G Berlin Tierpark Burgers Taronga Woodland Park Group H Chester Dallas Omaha Prague ~Thylo
Munich and Frankfurt are maybe a little bit surprising, I would personally have expected Doue, but I guess this one was left out as it is relatively little visited by zoochatters. I could also have imagined Basel, Stuttgart or Nuremberg above the chosen zoos, but Munich and Frankfurt are also good zoos in their own right. Personally I would also not be too happy with Group F, which has some very different zoos with their individually completely different strengths. Group A Los Angeles Munich North Carolina Vienna Group B Berlin Zoo Detroit San Diego Zoo Safari Park Wroclaw Group C Columbus Plzen Rotterdam Singapore Group D Beauval Frankfurt San Diego Zoo St Louis Group E Cologne Denver Miami Pairi Daiza Group F Antwerp Bronx Leipzig Zurich Group G Berlin Tierpark Burgers Taronga Woodland Park Group H Chester Dallas Omaha Prague
The 23 in bold are zoos I've visited: Group A Los Angeles Munich North Carolina Vienna Group B Berlin Zoo Detroit San Diego Zoo Safari Park Wroclaw Group C Columbus Plzen Rotterdam Singapore Group D Beauval Frankfurt San Diego Zoo St Louis Group E Cologne Denver Miami Pairi Daiza Group F Antwerp Bronx Leipzig Zurich Group G Berlin Tierpark Burgers Taronga Woodland Park Group H Chester Dallas Omaha Prague[/QUOTE]
I really like the look of this draw, every group seems to be well balanced and I can't wait for the cup to start. I particularly can't wait to see the cultural differences between European and North American zoochatters when it comes to the criteria in which they choose who the winner is. I'm also really glad Detroit made the cut, it's an excellent but underrated zoo. I've visited 8/32 zoos on the list with the ones I've visited being: Los Angeles, Detroit, San Diego Safari Park, Columbus, San Diego Zoo, Miami, Bronx and Taronga.
Currently I've only been to St. Louis and Columbus, but with possible trip to Detroit or Omaha next week.
I have visited Los Angeles and St. Louis many times, San Diego once in full, and Omaha once in part (although hopefully I will see the rest soon, maybe by the time it is featured in a match).
Still not been outside the US for zoos, but I have been to every US zoo listed but Woodland Park and Denver.
I'm delighted to realise that I can trump @snowleopard, having visited 24 of the 32 - unless the remainder of his current Euro-trek suddenly swings south to Munich, I should be safe.... Group A Los Angeles Munich North Carolina Vienna Group B Berlin Zoo Detroit San Diego Zoo Safari Park Wroclaw Group C Columbus Plzen Rotterdam Singapore Group D Beauval Frankfurt San Diego Zoo St Louis Group E Cologne Denver Miami Pairi Daiza Group F Antwerp Bronx Leipzig Zurich Group G Berlin Tierpark Burgers Taronga Woodland Park Group H Chester Dallas Omaha Prague I'd agree with this - pace discussion elsewhere on the merits of Antwerp and the Bronx, plus the undoubted excellence of both Leipzig and Zurich (even if neither is, wholly, My Sort of Place....)...
Great competition, @CGSwans. I'm on 21, plus Beauval in a couple of weeks. Group A: Los Angeles Munich North Carolina Vienna Group B: Berlin Zoo Detroit San Diego Zoo Safari Park Wroclaw Group C: Columbus Plzen Rotterdam Singapore Group D: Beauval Frankfurt San Diego Zoo St Louis Group E: Cologne Denver Miami Pairi Daiza Group F: Antwerp Bronx Leipzig Zurich Group G: Berlin Tierpark Burgers Taronga Woodland Park Group H: Chester Dallas Omaha Prague
I haven't visited that many zoos, but I still think I've got a reasonable list when it comes to the European zoos. I guess there will be few instances where I've visited both zoos, so I'll base my vote on the arguments put forward by those who have visited. Group A Los Angeles Munich North Carolina Vienna Group B Berlin Zoo Detroit San Diego Zoo Safari Park Wroclaw Group C Columbus Plzen Rotterdam Singapore Group D Beauval Frankfurt San Diego Zoo St Louis Group E Cologne Denver Miami Pairi Daiza Group F Antwerp Bronx Leipzig Zurich Group G Berlin Tierpark Burgers Taronga Woodland Park Group H Chester Dallas Omaha Prague
Group A Los Angeles Munich North Carolina Vienna Group B Berlin Zoo Detroit San Diego Zoo Safari Park Wroclaw Group C Columbus Plzen Rotterdam Singapore Group D Beauval Frankfurt San Diego Zoo St Louis Group E Cologne Denver Miami Pairi Daiza Group F Antwerp Bronx Leipzig Zurich Group G Berlin Tierpark Burgers Taronga Woodland Park Group H Chester Dallas Omaha Prague Shame on me...although I plan to tick off a few more very soon
Meanwhile im over here having only visited Bronx, the San Diego’s, Denver & North Carolina. Been to plenty of other American zoos, just never have had the chance to go leave the country or go to some of the American zoos in more obscure locations. Miami & Los Angeles should be the next ones I see.
For the record, I've been to ALL 32 of your listed zoos. But I'd say that I strongly disagree with some of the included zoos (Antwerp, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Plzen), and you are clearly missing some much better zoos (Sedgwick County, Hagenbeck, Hannover, Loro Parque).
I remember that in the first ZooChat Cup, he said he was strongly against including this zoo due to the fact it has one major strength (birds), with the others being less prominent.
Hagenbeck, although very significant on a historical level, is by no means superior to Frankfurt in my opinion - neither in terms of collection nor exhibit quality! I'm curious what has made Bronx drop even further in your estimations, too a few weeks ago you stated that although it didn't make the top 5 North American collections for you, it was safely within the top 10.... now you imply it doesn't even make the top 13!
