There are lots of great zoos out there and I've only been to a few. Here is what I think about the ones that I've visited; listed in order of distance from my house, with a 5-Star Rating System.
One Star : Not so hot
Two Star : Just Ok
Three Star : Pretty Good
Four Star : Very nice
Five Star : Knock your socks off outstanding
Franklin Park Zoo, Boston, MA - Not that good. It's in a big park, but there aren't enough animals (or visitors). We visit once every three years or so. It's getting better, but it's still below average. The best feature is the gorilla exhibit, which is excellent. People feel unsafe coming to Frankin Park. It's in a bad part of the city. Significant funding for the zoo is diverted to a small suburban zoo in Stoneham.
Southwick's Zoo, Mendon, MA - A good private zoo way out west of 495. Been here a bunch of times. A really cool 'deer park' where visitors can walk through a sizeable forest area and feed deer. They've also recently installed a chair lift over the park. Why no bears? I love bears.
Roger Williams Zoo, Providence, RI - A nice, walkable zoo in a very pleasant park. Very well organized. We've been here several times. They have most of the animals you expect to see. Nothing particularly special about it, but it's a nice zoo.
York's Wild Kingdom Zoo and Fun Park - York, Maine - Visited here just once. Nothing special here. It's a small zoo for kids in a tourist area. Also has a small amusement park.
Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY - My favorite zoo so far. Really good! Every animal you can imagine and unique presentations. They have one arrangement called the 'Wild Asia Monorail' where visitors sit in a 4 or 5 row open air 'theatre car' and are scooted over around the park to view the animals exhibits. The cool part is that seats all face the exhibits. There's also a chairlift to get from one part of the zoo to the next. Great energy here! Accessible by subway. Admission is waved on Wednesdays (contributions accepted).
Granby Zoo, Granby, Quebec - Visited this one a while back with college friends. I don't remember it too well. The highlight for us was seeing the birth of an elk. First and last time I've see that happen.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park (National Zoo), Washington, DC - A terrific zoo! Every animal you can imagine. Well organized. In a nice part of the city. And FREE! We especially enjoyed the orangutangs, which have fenceless access OVER the public walkways via rope 'walkways' (watch out, they may pee on your head!). And of course there are the pandas. I've been here a couple of times, but never manage to see it all.
Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Ontario - Vast. A huge place with a tremendous number of animals. We visited here just a couple of weeks ago. The displays in Toronto are often indoor/outdoor to accomodate the long cold winters. The result is a good zoo for viewing the animals in a comfortable setting. But it takes a few miles walking and long time to see it all though. And the Canada exhibit is way too spread out. We enjoyed the Toronto Zoo -- especially this Polar Bear!
[Updated October 2012]
Animal Kingdom, Orlando, FL - We had way high expectations for this one. It's rated everywhere as one of the best zoos in the world. But instead of being a zoo with some Disney attractions, it turned out to be a Disney amusement park with some animal attractions. To be fair the Kilamanjaro Safari was the best single zoo attraction I've been to. You're in a four wheel drive truck cruising across a very realistic African savanah. There are large animals all around you. Amazing. Also the tigers and bats on the Majarajah Jungle Trek are sensational. And and the gorillas in the Pangani Forest Trail are wonderful. It's a great park to be sure. But is it a great zoo?
Caribbean Gardens, Naples, FL - Pleasantly surprised at this one. Took the kids here while visiting grandma. It's a good zoo. Highlights were the alligator feeding, the African dogs and the monkeys. They have small lake with some islands. You take a boat tour and see different primates on each island. There's no need for fencing or cages 'cuz the monkeys won't cross water.
Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA - Visited this place a while ago, but I remember being impressed and thinking that it was a great zoo. It's set in a great park with beautiful trees. You get there via the streetcar. I was most impressed with the big cats; all present and accounted for. And active! This was the only place I've seen where the lions are up and moving around. There was an impressive Flamingo exhibit as well as a "Louisiana Swamp" area. It can get warm in New Orleans, but there is a lot of shade and air conditioned buildings.
[Updated September 2017]
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA - The first zoo in the United States. Often ranked in the Top Ten American zoos. It's relatively small but has a lot of animals. There are several trails for animals to cross over the paved visitor walkways. The primate reserve was great, with active gorillas and gibbons. The lions, tigers and bears were in small enclosures. The reptile and aviary houses contained species we hadn't seen before. There was no direct public transportation to our hotel downtown, but there was a trolley that connected to a bus.
Alipore Zoological Gardens, Calcutta, India - India's largest zoo. Exactly as you'd expect; a sad place. Magnificent bengal tigers in cement cages with iron bars, an Indian Elephant on a cement platform chained to a stake. Lots of great local animals; all treated poorly. Why did I go here?
Someday I'd love to see the San Diego Zoo. That's been on my list for a long time. I've heard great things about the Columbus Zoo as well. And the Singapore Zoo is supposed to be extrordinary.
Yeah, I too wrestle with the question over whether zoos are good or bad. So far I’ve been able to ignore the negatives and focus on the positives. In time? .. I dunno ..
Don't feed the animals.
One Star : Not so hot
Two Star : Just Ok
Three Star : Pretty Good
Four Star : Very nice
Five Star : Knock your socks off outstandingFranklin Park Zoo, Boston, MA - Not that good. It's in a big park, but there aren't enough animals (or visitors). We visit once every three years or so. It's getting better, but it's still below average. The best feature is the gorilla exhibit, which is excellent. People feel unsafe coming to Frankin Park. It's in a bad part of the city. Significant funding for the zoo is diverted to a small suburban zoo in Stoneham.
Southwick's Zoo, Mendon, MA - A good private zoo way out west of 495. Been here a bunch of times. A really cool 'deer park' where visitors can walk through a sizeable forest area and feed deer. They've also recently installed a chair lift over the park. Why no bears? I love bears.Roger Williams Zoo, Providence, RI - A nice, walkable zoo in a very pleasant park. Very well organized. We've been here several times. They have most of the animals you expect to see. Nothing particularly special about it, but it's a nice zoo.
York's Wild Kingdom Zoo and Fun Park - York, Maine - Visited here just once. Nothing special here. It's a small zoo for kids in a tourist area. Also has a small amusement park.Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY - My favorite zoo so far. Really good! Every animal you can imagine and unique presentations. They have one arrangement called the 'Wild Asia Monorail' where visitors sit in a 4 or 5 row open air 'theatre car' and are scooted over around the park to view the animals exhibits. The cool part is that seats all face the exhibits. There's also a chairlift to get from one part of the zoo to the next. Great energy here! Accessible by subway. Admission is waved on Wednesdays (contributions accepted). Granby Zoo, Granby, Quebec - Visited this one a while back with college friends. I don't remember it too well. The highlight for us was seeing the birth of an elk. First and last time I've see that happen.Smithsonian National Zoological Park (National Zoo), Washington, DC - A terrific zoo! Every animal you can imagine. Well organized. In a nice part of the city. And FREE! We especially enjoyed the orangutangs, which have fenceless access OVER the public walkways via rope 'walkways' (watch out, they may pee on your head!). And of course there are the pandas. I've been here a couple of times, but never manage to see it all.
Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Ontario - Vast. A huge place with a tremendous number of animals. We visited here just a couple of weeks ago. The displays in Toronto are often indoor/outdoor to accomodate the long cold winters. The result is a good zoo for viewing the animals in a comfortable setting. But it takes a few miles walking and long time to see it all though. And the Canada exhibit is way too spread out. We enjoyed the Toronto Zoo -- especially this Polar Bear![Updated October 2012]
Animal Kingdom, Orlando, FL - We had way high expectations for this one. It's rated everywhere as one of the best zoos in the world. But instead of being a zoo with some Disney attractions, it turned out to be a Disney amusement park with some animal attractions. To be fair the Kilamanjaro Safari was the best single zoo attraction I've been to. You're in a four wheel drive truck cruising across a very realistic African savanah. There are large animals all around you. Amazing. Also the tigers and bats on the Majarajah Jungle Trek are sensational. And and the gorillas in the Pangani Forest Trail are wonderful. It's a great park to be sure. But is it a great zoo?
Caribbean Gardens, Naples, FL - Pleasantly surprised at this one. Took the kids here while visiting grandma. It's a good zoo. Highlights were the alligator feeding, the African dogs and the monkeys. They have small lake with some islands. You take a boat tour and see different primates on each island. There's no need for fencing or cages 'cuz the monkeys won't cross water. Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA - Visited this place a while ago, but I remember being impressed and thinking that it was a great zoo. It's set in a great park with beautiful trees. You get there via the streetcar. I was most impressed with the big cats; all present and accounted for. And active! This was the only place I've seen where the lions are up and moving around. There was an impressive Flamingo exhibit as well as a "Louisiana Swamp" area. It can get warm in New Orleans, but there is a lot of shade and air conditioned buildings. [Updated September 2017]
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA - The first zoo in the United States. Often ranked in the Top Ten American zoos. It's relatively small but has a lot of animals. There are several trails for animals to cross over the paved visitor walkways. The primate reserve was great, with active gorillas and gibbons. The lions, tigers and bears were in small enclosures. The reptile and aviary houses contained species we hadn't seen before. There was no direct public transportation to our hotel downtown, but there was a trolley that connected to a bus.Alipore Zoological Gardens, Calcutta, India - India's largest zoo. Exactly as you'd expect; a sad place. Magnificent bengal tigers in cement cages with iron bars, an Indian Elephant on a cement platform chained to a stake. Lots of great local animals; all treated poorly. Why did I go here?
Someday I'd love to see the San Diego Zoo. That's been on my list for a long time. I've heard great things about the Columbus Zoo as well. And the Singapore Zoo is supposed to be extrordinary.
Yeah, I too wrestle with the question over whether zoos are good or bad. So far I’ve been able to ignore the negatives and focus on the positives. In time? .. I dunno ..
Don't feed the animals.
