Animal Kingdom (Orlando, the USA)
Animal Kingdom, having the area more than 500 acres, is the largest Disney thematic park in the world. Rhinoceroses, antelopes and other representatives of an empire of animals live here. The park is divided into seven thematic parts - from the Oasis up to the Tree of the Life - an artificial tree in height of about the 14-storeyed house, on which images of 325 animals are cut out.
Basel Zoo (Basel, Switzerland)
Inhabitants of Basel name it Zolli. Attendance of a zoo makes about one million visitors annually. Zolli has been opened in 1874. Today it has about 6 000 animal of more than 600 different kinds. It has also the so called “vivarium”-place, where it is possible to observe the history of evolution.
Beauval Zoo (France)
Beauval Zoo has been opened in 1980 as an open-air cage for birds. Later exotic animals, such as giraffes and monkeys appeared there, and the hen house has turned to a zoo. Today it possesses about 4 000 animal kinds.
Berlin Zoological Garden (Berlin, Germany)
The Berlin zoo can brag of the biggest collection animal - 13 900 individuals of 1400 various kinds. The area of a zoo makes 86 acres. It has been opened in 1844 and represents not only zoological, but also historical interest.
Bronx Zoo (New York, the USA)
Zoo in Bronx is the largest city zoo in the USA and it became the house for more, than 4000 inhabitants, many of which belong to the rare kinds, which are being on the verge of extinction. Monorail road “Wild Asia”, which allows visitors to examine all representatives of the Asian fauna containing in a zoo, is the main sight of a zoo. The closed part of a zoo, the World of Jungle, allows seeing plants and animals from tropics.
Chester Zoo (Great Britain)
In Chester Zoo occupies the area of 110 acres. It has been based in 1934 and today it has welfare fund of the Zoological Society of Northern England. Chester Zoo is considered as the most popular zoo of the Great Britain.
Prague Zoological Garden (Prague, Czech Republic)
Despite of modest sizes in 111 acres, this zoo possesses 4 600 animal of 630 kinds.
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA)
In such rich different living creatures to the country as the republic of South Africa, simply there should be a magnificent zoo and National Zoos in Pretoria of expectations do not deceive. The area of a zoo is about 198 acres. 2568 animals live in it, 99 % from which have been born there.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Forbes has named the best zoos of the world
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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5 comments:
A pretty good list. Seems like half the zoos in the US found some magazine to say they're "number one". All of these zoos can claim they're above the rest.
Disney's Animal Kingdom is an interesting case. For one reason, for years they claimed they're "nahtazu" (not a zoo)but an animal theme park. Probably a way to say they are special and worth the $75 admission. The animal collection is nice but not exceptionally large or diverse (few reptiles, fish, invertebrates). The way the animals are exhibited and presented is worth the visit -- (and the show and rides are great too.)
Jim,
I questioned the inclusion of Disneys Animal Kingdom on this list, especially leading off. I am assuming because it was a Forbes publication there was a bit of "pressure" ala Monte Carlo Circus Festival.
Wade
Anyway, Basel zoo fully deserves his second place.
Though I work there and think highly of the facility, DAK isn't THE number one. However, you could make a case it belongs in a group of the world's best zoos. It certainly has set a high standard on the presentation of animals to the public.
Maybe Forbes likes DAK because how many other zoos are listed on the NYSE? (Yes, I know about Busch Entertainment. Any others?)
Jim,
I think an argument could be made for Best "New" Zoo, but I just don't think you can compare anything today with some of the older classics, such as St. Louis here in the states, or Basel in Europe.
Interesting point about listing on the NYSE.
Wade
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