There are a number of benefits associated with zoos, which include conservation of wildlife, education, and protection of endangered species. There are some zoos which are considered as the best in the world due to their good treatment of animals, creativity in the display of animals and the interesting ways in which people can interact with animals. This article presents the list of the fifteen greatest zoos in the world, and all of them have interesting sights and learning experiences for everybody. Starting from the famous San Diego Zoo in USA to the Singapore Zoo in Asia, these are some of the best zoos across the globe that offer memorable experiences that make people value wildlife and its protection. Find out the top animal parks that have a positive impact on the conservation of the earths bio-diversity.
Best Zoos in North America
San Diego Zoo
It can be reached by car and there are also available transport facilities. This is a famous zoo which occupies an area of 110 hectares and has more than 3,500 animals of 650 kinds and subkinds. Some of the special characteristics of this zoo are that it has no bars and no cages in its living spaces and has the Skyfari aerial gondola tram which provides the visitors an opportunity to have a birds eye view of the zoo. That is why San Diego Zoo is well-known for its Giant Panda Research Station and the Koalafornia Adventure where people can interact with koalas.
Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo is situated in Bronx, New York and visitors can use public transport like subways and buses to get to the place. Some of the features are Congo Gorilla Forest which is one of the largest homes of the western lowland gorillas and Tiger Mountain where Siberian tigers are found. The zoo also has games and ride attractions that include the Wild Asia Monorail that takes the visitors through Asian wildlife enclosures.
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is situated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and can be reached by car and by public means as well. These are the Tundra Trek which has animals like polar bears and Arctic wolves. In addition, it is also famous for its progressive programs such as breeding and reintroduction of some of the endangered species.
Top Zoos in Europe
Berlin Zoological Garden
The Berlin Zoological Garden is situated in Berlin, Germany and visitors can easily get there by using U-Bahn or bus. It is the oldest zoo in Germany and was established in 1844 with over 20,000 animals of 1,400 species. Specific attributes are the iconic Panda Garden with the giant pandas and the Aquadom & SEA LIFE Berlin with the marine life.
London Zoo
The London Zoo is situated in Regents Park, London, England and one can get there by car, by bus or by the tube. It was founded in 1828 and is the oldest scientific zoo in the world and currently holds over 750 species and more than 17 000 animals. Some of them are the Land of the Lions, which is a walkthrough exhibit, which takes the visitors through the Gir Forest National Park in India and the Penguin Beach which is the largest pool for penguins in England.
Vienna Zoo
Vienna Zoo or officially known as Tiergarten Schnbrunn is a zoo located in the Schnbrunn Palace Gardens in Vienna, Austria. It is conveniently located for public transport, trams and buses are available nearby. It was established in 1752 and is the oldest operating zoo to date and currently houses over 700 species. Among them are Rainforest House which is a tropical indoor exhibit and Giant Panda that is a home to these rare animals.
Best Zoos in Asia
Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is situated in Mandai, Singapore and visitors can get to the place by car, bus and the MRT. As is well known, the zoo has an open concept that allows for habitats as close to the natural environment as possible. These are the Fragile Forest, a biodome that hosts a number of rainforest animals and the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia which features animals such as baboons and ibexes. There are also night and river tours at the zoo so that people can be able to see animals that are active at night and those that dwell in water.
Ueno Zoo
Ueno Zoo is situated in Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan and one can get there by car, subway and train. It is one of the oldest zoos in Japan established in 1882 and has over 3000 animals of over 400 species. Special points of interest include Giant Panda which is one of the main attractions of the zoo and Five-Story Pagoda which is an architectural landmark. The zoo also has a well-developed Asiatic area with animals typical for Japan and other Asian countries.
Beijing Zoo
It was founded in 1906 and is one of the oldest zoos in China; moreover, it is famous for housing a great number of Chinese animals. Some of the characteristics are; the Giant Panda House, which is home to Chinas favorite animal, the giant panda, and the Golden Monkey House, home to the golden snub-nosed monkey, an endangered species.
Top Zoos in Other Regions
Taronga Zoo, Australia
Taronga Zoo is situated in Sydney, Australia and it is well connected by car, bus as well as by ferry and one can get a beautiful view of the Sydney Harbour. This zoo is one of the most popular ones in the world and currently, it hosts more than 4,000 animals of 350 different species. Some of them are the Australian Walkabout, which is a native Australian animals like kangaroos, koalas, and emus and the Lemur Forest Adventure that is an indoor walkthrough enclosure where one can walk with the lemurs.
Wellington Zoo, New Zealand
Wellington Zoo is situated in Wellington New Zealand and is reachable by car and through the public means of transport. It is the oldest zoo in New Zealand which is currently housing over five hundred animals from over one hundred species. Some of the special attractions include the Close Encounters where one can take a closer look at the animals such as the red pandas, giraffes, and the cheetahs. The zoo also has a good reputation for sustainable development and conservation of animals and their natural habitat including the Zoo Animal Hospital where guests can watch live animal surgeries.
Loro Parque, Spain
It is famous for parrots and today it hosts more than 4,000 animals of 350 species. These include the Orca Ocean, which is a killer whale show, and the Katandra Treetops; an aviary. It is also important to note that the zoo is focused on the conservation and education on the environment and this makes it to be among the most preferred by visitors.
Conclusion
Traveling to the best zoos in the world is a good way to interact with animals and get informed on the issues of their protection. Starting from the creativity of the Singapore Zoo and the Berlin Zoological Garden to the history of the London Zoo and Vienna Zoo, every place is interesting. From the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia to Loro Parque in Spain, these are some of the best-known zoos around the world that present the wonderful world of animals. Accept the challenge and learning these zoos provide and stand behind the essential role they play in saving our earths fauna for the generations to come.