Visit a Zoo

This is the lead article on the Yahoo web page this morning.


America's Best Zoos
By Diana DeCicco

Philadelphia Zoo
Philadelphia
With over 1,300 animals living on the 42-acre Victorian garden, the Philadelphia Zoo turns 150 years old this year and is celebrating all year long with special events and exhibits. As America’s first zoo, it is one of the nation’s foremost conservation organizations, protecting and breeding endangered species. This year it will open the McNeil Avian Center, a $17 million “green” renovation of the original 1916 Bird House, now home to four walk-through habitats with more than 100 exotic birds. Visitors can also take a ride on the Channel 6 Zoo balloon, a hot-air balloon that rises 400 feet above the zoo for amazing views of the animals and the Philadelphia skyline.
In Pictures: More of America's Best Zoos


San Diego Zoo
San Diego
One of the largest and most progressive zoos in the world, the 100-acre San Diego Zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals representing more than 800 species, including the rare giant panda, one of only four zoos in the country that house these highly endangered bears. The zoo has been a pioneer in cageless exhibits including the famous Polar Bear Plunge, where more than 30 species of animals frolic in the Artic tundra in the middle of sunny San Diego. The San Diego Zoo also encompasses Wild Animal Park, an 1,800-acre wildlife sanctuary with more than 3,500 animals, and San Diego Conservation Research Center, which is dedicated to preserving rare and endangered species.

Bronx Zoo
New York City
The largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, the Bronx Zoo sits on 265 acres of parklands and natural habitats, has more than 4,000 animals, and welcomes over 2 million visitors each year. Last year a Madagascar habitat opened, which showcases the exotic wildlife (lemurs, hissing cockroaches, and tomato frogs to name a few) and bizarre landscapes (a dry forest, an underwater cave, a desert, and a rainforest). Other notable features are the Congo Gorilla Forest, which is the largest rainforest ever built and the tiger enrichment sessions at Tiger Mountain, where you can watch these amazing cats jump, dive and do puzzles.

Brookfield Zoo
Chicago
Just outside of Chicago sits 216 acres of zoo featuring a top-notch dolphin exhibit, butterfly garden, and an innovative family play zoo. Brookfield’s 450 species live in a barless environment, the first of its kind in the United States, with only moats and natural barriers separating human from animal. Dr. Stuart Strahl, president and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society and director of the Brookfield Zoo says “the mission of Brookfield is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature.” Not to be missed is the Australia House where visitors can experience the world of down under with wombats, emus, free-flying fruit bats, and of course kangaroos.

Disney's Animal Kingdom
Orlando, Fla.
With more than 1,700 animals spread across 500 acres of fertile landscape, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the largest animal theme park in the world. Just don’t call it a zoo. Since its opening in 1998, the park has led the way in animal care, research, and education, focusing heavily on animal and environmental conservation. Highlights of the seven differently themed areas include a must-see safari through the “African Savannah,” the Expedition Everest rollercoaster—complete with a Yeti—for thrill seekers; the Tree of Life, a 14-story, 50-foot wide tree engraved with 325 animal forms where the theatrical adventure “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” is presented. Visitors can get close enough to pet some of the animals, and, if you’re lucky, get an autograph.

Denver Zoo
Denver
Starting out in 1896 with only one resident, a black bear named Billy Bryan, the Denver Zoo has since grown to 3,500 animals over 80 acres. As Colorado’s number one cultural attraction, a master plan was implemented in 1996 to continually modernize zoo habitats and visitor amenities; they hope to break ground on the Asian Tropics exhibit soon. The latest habitat to be renovated was Predator Ridge, built to resemble Kenya’s Samburu National Game Reserve and is home to two prides of lions, spotted hyenas, African wild dogs, and crowned cranes, among others. The zoo also cares for some unique animals including four extinct species and Mshindi, the world’s only rhinoceros that can paint with a brush.

Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Washington D.C.
Located in the nations’ capital and part of the largest museum and research complex in the world, it is only fitting that the National Zoo is among the best in the country. Nearly 400 species, many of them threatened or endangered, reside on the 163-acre park while others live at the Conservation and Research Center where endangered animals are bred and studied in conjunction with conservation efforts. Some of the zoo’s more famous occupants are three giant pandas and a recently added western lowland gorilla born in January. More than two million people visit the zoo each year, making it one of D.C.’s most popular destinations—the free admission doesn’t hurt.

In Pictures: More of America's Best Zoos