Best UK Zoo
April 27, 2007 4:58 AM Subscribe
What is the best zoo in the United Kingdom, in your opinion?
Things to consider: ethics, suitability of enclosures, education, rare species, price, cleanliness, location, overall design, etc.
I'm pretty sure it's a toss up between the West Midlands Safari and Leisure Park and Howlett's Zoo... but I want your input.
Things to consider: ethics, suitability of enclosures, education, rare species, price, cleanliness, location, overall design, etc.
I'm pretty sure it's a toss up between the West Midlands Safari and Leisure Park and Howlett's Zoo... but I want your input.
Response by poster: I'm not callow (at least, I don't think I am), but I am also American... Chester Zoo is one we haven't been to yet because Chester is three hours north. Good call!
posted by chuckdarwin at 5:17 AM on April 27, 2007
posted by chuckdarwin at 5:17 AM on April 27, 2007
In terms of ethics and conservation, I suspect Jersey Zoo is unbeatable — it was set up by Gerald Durrell with an emphasis on conservation and breeding programmes rather than entertainment. I've never been; you can't just hop in the car and drive there. I remember, as a child, thinking Whipsnade was the best thing ever, but to be honest it doesn't take much to impress a six year-old, so I can't really give an objective opinion about it.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 5:24 AM on April 27, 2007
posted by Aloysius Bear at 5:24 AM on April 27, 2007
Bristol Zoo is pretty awesome for a medium-sized zoo-- I'm a big fan of ring-tailed lemurs and their lemur island is absolutely the best I've seen anywhere. I went in 2005 and there was plenty of new construction. There seems to be a big emphasis on primates and all the animals seemed happy.
London zoo is pretty impressive in its variety and has some pretty unique exhibits like a marmoset enclosure that you walk through with the marmosets. There a signs reminding you not to touch them because you could touch them, so it's cool that you can get so close. I've got a Flickr photoset of the London Zoo. It's not a lot of photos, but you can see that there's a very wide variety of animals there.
Flickr might be a good resource for assessing the zoos in addition to this question-- I'd imagine there are photos from every zoo on your list.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:36 AM on April 27, 2007
London zoo is pretty impressive in its variety and has some pretty unique exhibits like a marmoset enclosure that you walk through with the marmosets. There a signs reminding you not to touch them because you could touch them, so it's cool that you can get so close. I've got a Flickr photoset of the London Zoo. It's not a lot of photos, but you can see that there's a very wide variety of animals there.
Flickr might be a good resource for assessing the zoos in addition to this question-- I'd imagine there are photos from every zoo on your list.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:36 AM on April 27, 2007
As well as Bristol Zoo, I'm a big fan of Paignton Zoo, in fact I was there a couple of days ago on a visit to the south-west. Scale and design get my vote. Very little marine attractions however, as they all seem to have been moved to their sister site, Living Coasts in Torquay.
posted by handybitesize at 6:06 AM on April 27, 2007
posted by handybitesize at 6:06 AM on April 27, 2007
Ethics wise Monkey World in Dorset is good. As the name suggests, the main focus is monkeys - all of which have been rescued from all over the world. It's not a huge place, but it's a good (half) day out.
posted by jontyjago at 6:37 AM on April 27, 2007
posted by jontyjago at 6:37 AM on April 27, 2007
I like Chessington World of Adventures Zoo, for the exact opposite reason everyone else has given here.
Things may have changed.. (but i doubt it), from when i visted about 10 years ago. It was a very poorly run zoo, all the animals looked mangey, bored and generally unwell.
They didn't have much room to move about it.. and many rocked from side to side out of boredom.
If your like me and find watching humans abuse animals funny.. its the zoo for you
http://www.chessington.co.uk/
posted by complience at 8:43 AM on April 27, 2007
Things may have changed.. (but i doubt it), from when i visted about 10 years ago. It was a very poorly run zoo, all the animals looked mangey, bored and generally unwell.
They didn't have much room to move about it.. and many rocked from side to side out of boredom.
If your like me and find watching humans abuse animals funny.. its the zoo for you
http://www.chessington.co.uk/
posted by complience at 8:43 AM on April 27, 2007
have you been to the welsh mountain zoo?
it's the only zoo i've visited in the UK, but i was surprised at how large it is, for a small town in Wales! it's gorgeous, too.
posted by gursky at 10:27 PM on April 27, 2007
it's the only zoo i've visited in the UK, but i was surprised at how large it is, for a small town in Wales! it's gorgeous, too.
posted by gursky at 10:27 PM on April 27, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:08 AM on April 27, 2007