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Zoo Ratings

The PHILADELPHIA ZOO is the ideal zoo size (45 sq. acres) because you can cover the entire zoo in two hours, then have time to go back to see your favorite animals again to observe their daily routines. The zoo exhibits a good (although not as good as it was up until a few year ago) variety of animals in a layout that is well-paved way and easy to navigate. Most of the exhibits are up-to-date natural-habitat exhibits, but, with a few exceptions, particularly the Big Cat Falls exhibit, the animals are visible at all times. Most exhibits have informative signs about the animals posted, and some have several signs which go into great detail about the species history and about current conservation projects involving the animals in the exhibit. A couple of the buildings are still in the renovation process, so visitors can see the evolution of a modern zoo in progress. If you have questions about the animals, you can always find a keeper who is willing and able to answer. The Philadelphia Zoo has five strategically-placed restrooms, one restaurant with indoor seating which is open all year, a refreshment stand with outdoor seating which is open spring through fall, and plenty of smaller refreshment stands open during the spring and summer. It also has picnic areas and places for people who bring their own refreshments to sit.

The Carnivora House has been renamed and renovated. The new Big Cat Falls, which opened in spring 2006 is a disappointment in many ways. Viewing areas are small and can get crowded and hot in the summer months. The glary glass through which visitors see animals make them seem remote, even when they are close.

Kira, the female tiger, is expecting cubs. See the zoo's official website for videos and more information.

For parents: At the Philadelphia Zoo, your child can learn to recognize a variety of kinds of animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, primates, insects and arachnids), can learn to observe animal routines, can learn about animal care, can observe zookeepers doing their jobs, can learn to read signs to gather information about animals, can learn to follow directions on a map and on signposts, and more! However ... the zoo will be closing its elephant exhibit in early 2007, thereby depriving all children in the area of a chance to see one of nature's spectacular wonders up close in real life unless they are fortunate enough to have parents who can and will travel at least a hundred miles to another zoo.

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Visiting the BRONX ZOO is like going on a safari or hiking through a state park. The Bronx Zoo is a fabulous place which exhibits a wonderful variety of animals. But you can't see them all in one visit, even if you stay all day. The zoo is huge (500 sq. acres) and so are the exhibit areas which, in many cases, are not just natural looking, but are actually natural environments. The animals can easily hide from view in large natural-looking environments, so you can walk for long distances without seeing any animals and then suddenly spot a herd of buffalo or a colony of sea birds. You can also get lost and go around in circles because the paved paths all seem to intersect with each other, and, although there are signposts to guide you at many intersections, there are not signposts at every insection. Informative signs are posted for most of the indoor exhibits, but it is sometimes difficult to locate the signs for the outdoor exhibits. Keepers are willing and able to answer questions, but they are a little hard to find except early in the morning. There are several restrooms and refreshment areas, but there are long distances between them.

For parents: At the Bronx Zoo, your child can learn about natural environments, can observe a variety of kinds of animals in natural environments (mammals, birds, reptiles, primates, fish, insects, arachnids) , can learn to use a map and signposts as guides, can learn to read signs to gather information about animals, can get plenty of outdoor exercise, and more. _______________

The NATIONAL ZOO is big (160 sq. acres), but it is not too big to cover in one visit, and the paths are well designed so visitors can find their way around easily. The National Zoo is a little-too-slowly being renovated. Most areas are not as scenic or modern looking as the Bronx Zoo, but it exhibits a really wonderful variety of animals, and most are easily visible. The animals that are not yet housed in natural-habitat exhibits have playground-type areas to climb on, and specially designed "toys" to keep them mentally stimulated. Keepers are easy to find and are willing and able to answer questions. The zoo has plenty of refreshment stands and rest areas, and it is FREE to visitors all year long.

For parents: At the National Zoo, your child can observe a great variety of animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, marsupials, primates, fish, insects, arachnids) , can see the kinds of buildings and exhibits all zoos had in the past, can observe the modernization process in progress, can learn to read signs to gather animal information, can learn to follow signs, use a map, and to use other visual guides, can learn about studies which test and develop animal learning skills, can communicate with keepers, can observe keepers doing their jobs, and more. _______________

The ELMWOOD PARK ZOO in Norristown, PA, is the ideal "small zoo" (15 sq. acres). It is a great place to visit if you only have an hour or so and you want to get out and take a walk past a wonderful variety of animals. The exhibit areas are well designed so that they appear natural, yet they give visitors a good, close-up view of the animals. Keepers are always in sight and are friendly and able to answer questions. There is a small restaurant, a refreshment stand which is open in the summer, a picnic area, and a restroom.

Note: The Elmwood Park Zoo has big plans for the future. In addition to expanding to more than 40 square acres, it plans to specialize in exhibiting animals from North and South America only.

For parents: At the Elmwood Park Zoo, your child can observe a variety of animals (mammals, birds, and reptiles) in natural settings, can learn to read signs to gather information about animals, can communicate with keepers, and can observe keepers doing their jobs. _______________

The BRANDYWINE ZOO in Wilmington, Delaware, is so small that you can see every animal in the entire zoo in half an hour, but it has a great variety of animals which are easy to see up close in natural-looking exhibits. The zoo has on small refreshment stand, a few tables, and a restroom.

For parents: At the Brandywine Zoo your child can observe a variety of animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, small primates) in natural-looking exhibits, can observe animals being fed, can observe keepers doing their jobs, and can communicate with keepers.

Below I have listed features I believe are important to zoo visitors and rated each of the five zoos I mentioned above. I hope everyone will have a chance to visit these zoos, and will want to visit them often.

PHILADELPHIA ZOO: (last updated, 4/27/07)

Size:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Variety of animals:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Note: Unfortunately, the number of animals on exhibit has dropped from 2000 to 1300 in the past five years. And the zoo will be closing its elephant exhibit in early 2007. (A terrible mistake, in my opinion.)
Animals easy to see:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Natural-looking exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Informative signs on exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Friendliness/willingness of keepers to answer visitor questions	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Signposts to guide visitors:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals well-cared for:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Ease of walking from exhibit to exhibit:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Comfortable, scenic rest areas:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Refreshments/restrooms:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Price of admission:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Cost of membership:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Additional costs:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Zoo location:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Zoo parking:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor

BRONX ZOO

Size:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Variety of animals:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals easy to see:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Natural-looking exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Informative signs on exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Friendliness/willingness of keepers to answer visitor questions	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Signposts to guide visitors:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals well-cared for:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Ease of walking from exhibit to exhibit:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Comfortable rest areas:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Refreshments/restrooms:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Price of admission:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Cost of membership:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Additional costs:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Zoo location:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor

NATIONAL ZOO

Size:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Variety of animals:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals easy to see:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Natural-looking exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Informative signs on exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Friendliness/willingness of keepers to answer visitor questions	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Signposts to guide visitors:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals well-cared for:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Ease of walking from exhibit to exhibit:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Comfortable rest areas:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Refreshments/restrooms:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Price of admission:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Cost of membership:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Additional costs:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Zoo location:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor

ELMWOOD PARK ZOO (Norristown, PA)

Size:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Variety of animals:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals easy to see:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Natural-looking exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Informative signs on exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Friendliness/willingness of keepers to answer visitor questions	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Signposts to guide visitors:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals well-cared for:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Ease of walking from exhibit to exhibit:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Comfortable rest areas:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Refreshments/restrooms:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Price of admission:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Cost of membership:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Additional costs:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Zoo location:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor

BRANDYWINE ZOO (Wilmington, DE)

Size:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Variety of animals:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals easy to see:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Natural-looking exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Informative signs on exhibits:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Friendliness/willingness of keepers to answer visitor questions	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Signposts to guide visitors:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Animals well-cared for:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Ease of walking from exhibit to exhibit:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Comfortable rest areas:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Refreshments/restrooms:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Price of admission:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Cost of membership:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Additional costs:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Zoo location:	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor

MORE ZOO RATINGS (from other people who love zoos, too!)

Would you like to rate a zoo you visit frequently? If so, click here.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact me!

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