A lot of people these days seem to have mixed opinions about zoos, but they’ve long been a source of family-friendly fun. Adults and kids alike will always be curious to learn about the many different species of critters and creatures found around the world. It’s through zoos and aquariums that we’re actually able to visit them up close and personal.
While there are many excellent zoos across the world, unfortunately, there’s also a few bad apples in the bunch. We highly recommend that you steer clear of the zoos with questionable practices and reputations while focusing on the ones that go above and beyond while earnestly working to help aid the conservation of the global animal population.
Going to the zoo can be a truly enriching and educational experience. Join Viewcation as we take a look at a few of the biggest zoos in the US. The zoos were about to cover not only are massive in terms of scope, acreage, and features, but they’re also renowned for going out of their way to treat the animals that they house with care and dignity.
Los Angeles Zoo
The LA Zoo has for the last 55 years been an integral community resource for over 84 million Los Angeles residents and out-of-town visitors who have come from all walks of life to experience the natural world in all of it’s glory. The zoo and botanical gardens has been open since 1966 and works hard through it’s numerous programs to educate the public about animal conservation and their care.
The zoo houses more than 2,200 animals representing more than 270 species. The vast majority of the animals in the zoo’s care are those of species that are considered to be endangered. The Zoo’s mission has long been to create an environment conducive to recreation and discovery. In this process of discovery, the zoo hopes that people can develop a strong appreciation for all wildlife.
There are many fabulous things that visitors can do at the LA Zoo, including feeding giraffes, hanging out with flamingos, and taking behind-the-scenes tours to see all the hard work and effort that goes into taking care of the animals.
Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
This zoo is known for being one of South Carolina’s favorite spots for families to visit. There are countless activities that visitors can take part in when visiting. The zoo’s botanical gardens alone are downright stunning and they have long been recognized as being on of the top-tier botanical gardens in the country.
There’s even a fantastic children’s garden, where young guests can participate in a dinosaur fossil dig. Beyond that, the zoo boasts caring for more than 2,000 animals. They even offer day camps for children and summer movie nights. Of course, if you really want to see the behind-the-scenes operations with your own two eyes, we highly recommend taking one of the many specialized tours on offer.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney is famous for many things, but as anyone that has ever visited one of their theme parks before knows, there is no one that creates a family-friendly quite like them. These parks are oozing with Disney magic, and Animal Kingdom is no different. The park is by far the biggest of all of Disney’s parks, at over 580 acres. It’s also home to a wide variety of animals and plants.
Animal Kingdom might not be a zoo in the traditional sense, but it certainly has all the hallmarks of a great zoo. Sure, there are plenty of rides and other attractions to experience, but the way that Disney cares for it’s resident animals is nothing short of top-notch. Not only is there considerable focus placed on entertainment, but the park also does a great job of educating the public about the value of protecting these creatures and their natural environments.
Detroit Zoo
This Michigan zoo, which opened in 1928, provides various habitat exhibits in addition to the largest facility for penguins in the world. Not only are there hundreds of species of interesting animals on display, but the Detroit Zoo’s rich exhibits feature more than 700 varieties of plants as well.
Once again, the Detroit Zoo remains committed to treating plant and animal life worldwide with care and respect. Funding provided by the zoo has assisted the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds to build a nursery for the rare African Penguin chicks that they work tirelessly to rehabilitate.
Henry Doorly Zoo
Since 1894, this Nebraskan zoo has been fiercely committed to treating all of it’s furry, fuzzy, scaly, and feathered residents like royalty. In 2014, the zoo won TripAdvisor’s title of “world’s best zoo”. The Henry Doorly Zoo is famous for featuring the biggest cat complex in North America. It’s also notable for being the home of one of the largest indoor rainforests in the world.
One of the most popular exhibits featured at the Henry Doorly Zoo is the impressive Desert Dome exhibit. The exhibit’s large glazed geodesic dome is the largest of it’s kind on the planet and is also one of the largest indoor deserts in the world.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
This 163-acre zoo located in Washington D.C. first opened it’s gates way back in 1893. It’s primary attractions are The Great Ape House and Lemur Island.
Being one of the oldest zoos in the United States, this zoo has had quite some time to refine it’s award-winning formula. It’s part of the Smithsonian Institution and serves to educate visitors about the importance of conserving natural environments and the animals that call them their home.
The zoo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the D.C. area and remains open 364 days a year without charging an admission fee. That’s right, a trip to the Smithsonian Zoo won’t cost you a dime, but donations are always welcomed.
Interestingly, since the zoo is so laser-focused on drawing attention to and educating the public about conservation, around a fifth of the species on display are either endangered or threatened.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Located in Central Ohio, this zoo is known for having some of the best zoological exhibits in the country. The director of the zoo is the world-famous Jack Hannah, whom you might have seen on countless nature documentaries over the years. This zoo is open daily, although the hours vary.
Zoo members are entitled to several free visits around the year in addition to several other notable perks. One of the zoo’s main attractions is Colo, the gorilla. So, make sure you stop by and say hello when making your upcoming visit.
Brookfield Zoo
This Illinois zoo was originally know as Chicago Zoological Park. It was founded in 1934 and occupies 216 acres. The zoo is famed for it’s open-air, unbarred animal enclosures which provide the resident creatures with a much more pleasant habitat to reside in. The zoo houses more than 2,000 animals representing more than 200 species, including black Rhinos, kangaroos, baboons, alligators, wombats, and tigers.
San Diego Zoo
This San Diego staple is a well-known zoo in the state of California. It’s also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the San Diego area. It’s home to more than 4,000 animals representing more than 800 species! What makes this zoo so special is the fact that it’s home to one of the largest collections of rare, exotic, and endangered animals in the world. Guests can see animals like giant pandas, Galapagos Tortoises, and clouded leopards – among many others.
Bronx Zoo
This 265-acre urban zoo first opened it’s doors in 1899, making it one of the oldest still-operational zoos in the country. It’s home to more than 4,000 animals representing 650 species. It’s also renowned for being open year-round, 365 days a year, allowing visitors to appreciate the animals on display throughout the seasons.
This critically-acclaimed and world-famous zoo not only does it’s best to care well for the animals that live in it’s exhibits, but it also supports wildlife conservation efforts in far-off lands like Africa.
The Bronx Zoo once was the home to several Thylacines or Tasmanian Tigers. Sadly these majestic specimens have since died, leading many to suspect that the species as a whole have gone extinct. To help prevent this same fate befalling countless other endangered species, the Bronx Zoo has gone above and beyond to help protect all threatened species around the globe through it’s various conservation and education initiatives.
Minnesota Zoo
This 485-acre Midwestern zoo is one of the newer ones to appear in this video. It first opened in 1978, but since then it has quickly become one of the most-visited attractions in the state. The zoo was formerly known as the Minnesota Zoological Garden. It was one of the first of it’s kind to arrange animals according to their ideal natural environments rather than by singular species. More than 4,300 animals are housed at the zoo, and visitors are provided with ample opportunities to see them up close.
One of the zoo’s most popular features, the Medtronic Minnesota Trails, takes guests on a thrilling and informative journey to observe animals native to Minnesota. The Various other exhibits give visitors the opportunity to see and appreciate local wildlife in person.
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Opening in 1875, this Ohio zoo is the sixth oldest in the country. It houses and cares for more than 1800 animals representing more than 500 different species. Over the years, the zoo has conducted several breeding programs and was the first to successfully breed adorable little baby California Sea Lions.
The Cincinnati Zoo has routinely appeared on lists of the best zoos in the nation, and it remains one of the most-visited attractions in the Greater Cincinnati area. In 1987, the zoo was designated a National Historic Landmark. Notably, it’s reptile house is the oldest existing zoo structure in the country, having been built when the zoo first opened in 1875.
Well, there you have it. All of the zoos that we just covered are among some of the biggest and most-visited in the United States. Now that you’ve heard what we have to say, we’d love to hear from you.
What is your favorite zoo in the US? And do you think that zoos are objectively good for the animals they house or do you think that they’re harmful? Let us know in the comments section down below.
As always, thanks for watching, and happy travels!