Zoologic Sights
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Parque Aguirre
Named for the city's founder, enormous Parque Aguirre has a small zoo, camping areas, a swimming pool and, on the far side, a new costanera (riverside road) along the erratic Río Dulce. At time of research this was mostly recreational, but bars and restaurants tend to blossom in these places, so it might just be a happening place by the time you read this.
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Wildlife Habitat
Slip away from the madness inside the Flamingo’s wildlife habitat, out back behind the casino. Over a dozen acres of pools, gardens, waterfalls and waterways are filled with swans, exotic birds and ornamental koi (carp). Here Chilean flamingos and African penguins wander around, and palm trees and jungle plants flourish in the middle of the desert.
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Open-Range Zoo
Take a walk on the 'wild' side at this 1800-acre open-range zoo. Giraffes graze, lions lounge and rhinos romp more or less freely on the valley floor. For that instant safari feel, board the Journey to Africa tram ride, which tours you around the second- largest continent in under half an hour. Combination tickets with the San Diego Zoo are $60/43.
reviewed
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Train Station
Windhoek's beautiful old Cape Dutch-style train station dates from 1912, and was expanded in 1929 by the South African administration. Across the driveway from the entrance is the German steam locomotive Poor Old Joe, which was shipped to Swakopmund in 1899, and reassembled for the run to Windhoek. Upstairs is the small but worthwhile Trans-Namib Transport Museum.
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Aquarium Wharf
The Aquarium Wharf surrounds pretty Liberty Sq and is a great place to stroll around and watch the tugboats guiding ships into the seventh largest container port in the US. The wharf is the embarkation point for tours to Fort Sumter. Boat tours of the harbor depart from the harbor tour dock and nearby Charleston Maritime Center. Also here is the IMAX Theater.
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Jacksonville Zoological Gardens
Northeast Florida's only major zoo which opened in 1914 with one deer, today has over 100 exotic species. Don't miss the jaguars prowling around replicated Mayan temple ruins. Other highlights are the wetlands of Wild Florida, with rare Florida panthers, the Australian Adventure and an elevated viewing platform that brings you face to face with the giraffes.
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Fiskeri- Og Søfartsmuseet
For an up-close-and-personal look at North Sea marine life you can head 4km northwest of the city centre to the saltwater aquarium at Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet. Here you can see assorted local fish species getting along swimmingly, plus entertaining seals being fed at 11am and 2.30pm daily. The aquarium can be reached on buses 1 and 8.
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Parque Zoológico Nacional
A surprisingly pleasant zoo near the outskirts of town, with 10 square city blocks worth of green spaces, paths, even a lagoon. Among the 144 species of animals housed here, you'll see lions, elephants and a whole host of monkeys (be sure to check out the spider monkeys who live on an island in the middle of the lagoon). It's packed with families on Sunday.
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Vivarium
You can provide further fodder for your jungle fears with a visit to the Vivarium, home to 87 live reptiles and amphibians including poisonous snakes, boa constrictors, iguanas, turtles, frogs and tortoises. It’s a herpetological research and education center, and the staff periodically gives close demonstrations with one of the snakes.
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I
Alaska Sealife Center
Alaska SeaLife Center is the only cold-water marine-science facility in the western hemisphere. It's home to a thousand fish, nearly all from Alaskan waters, and is the top attraction on the Kenai Peninsula. Plan to spend an afternoon here watching puffins, otters and 2000lb Steller sea lions glide past the two-storey viewing windows.
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Jurong Reptile Park
Check out the Jurong Reptile Park, across the car park from the bird park. It's a little run-down and probably not much fun for the crocodiles (they also appear on the park restaurant's menu), but kids will get a kick out of the croc feeding (10:30 and 17:00), giant tortoises, Komodo dragons and pythons. There's a reptile show at 11:45 and 14:00.
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Zoo du Paradis
Ironically, or cynically, or simply honestly named, the Zoo du Paradis, on the southern side of the palmeraie, is anything but for the animals housed, if it can be called that, in tiny cages. The star turn is a Coca-Cola-drinking camel. The closing time isn't set in stone and paradise usually closes its pearly gates when it gets dark.
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Biosfera
Two of Renzo Piano’s most distinctive new additions to the port are the Biosfera, a giant glass ball housing a humid mini-ecosystem with tropical plants, butterflies and birds; and a panoramic lift, Il Bigo, which hoists a cylindrical viewing cabin 200m into the air. The lift has access for disabled visitors.
reviewed
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Zoo
When Hurricane Ivan hit years ago, many of the staff at the Zoo, about 10 miles east of Gulf Breeze, risked their own safety to stay and look after the animals that had nowhere else to go. And today their personal attachment is still evident through this zoo, which is worth a visit especially if you’re traveling with kids.
reviewed
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Loro Parque
Loro Parque the self-declared 'must' of the Canaries, is home to 340 species of parrots along with other exotic animals. Unless you object in principle to wild animals in captivity, the park is really quite impressive. Don't miss the dolphin and parrot shows, the aquarium with 15,000 aquatic animals, and the world's largest 'penguinarium'.
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Manbana Aquaculture Hatchery & Discovery Centre
Manbana Aquaculture Hatchery & Discovery Centre is Australia's first indigenous-owned commercial aquaculture hatchery and a discovery centre exploring the role the Kimberley waters have played in the lives of local Aboriginal people. Learn how they fished and pearled, get close to a variety of live marine species, and feed barramundi!
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Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre
One of only four orang-utan sanctuaries in the world, Sepilok is among Sabah's top tourist attractions - so much so that the atmosphere can be a bit like a circus or a zoo. Nonetheless, a visit to Sepilok can be a memorable experience. The orang-utans are impressive, young orang-utans particularly so, all ginger fur and intelligent eyes.
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Ocean Park
A superb advertisement for ecotourism, Ocean Park offers visitors the chance to experience shark-feeding up close and to hang out with red kangaroos at dawn and dusk. The park, situated in a World Heritage area, is run with the emphasis firmly on renewable energy. The soon-to-be-opened oceanarium promises to be a worthwhile addition.
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Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat
All of the feats of conservation bragged about on the free audio tour can’t compensate for enclosures built much too small for animals such as snow leopards, black panthers and white lions and tigers, who roam the world’s wildest places. The claustrophobic Atlantic bottlenose dolphin pools may also make animal lovers sick at heart.
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Ashgabat Zoo
The Ashgabat Zoo is a curious diversion if you happen to be walking nearby, although animal-lovers may be appalled at the tiny living quarters set aside for the animals. The resident lion and bear in particular look severely downtrodden. At the time of writing, a new zoo was being planned, in which case this one will likely close.
reviewed
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Akvarium Nerpy
Nessie and Tito, two much-loved nerpa (freshwater seals), live at Akvarium Nerpy and perform 'shows' every half-hour with no minimum attendance. Unlike some small 'zoos' elsewhere, the experience is positive and relatively humane. Feats include 'singing' (nasal flatulence?), break-dancing, ball-tossing and even basic mathematics.
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Pattaya Elephant Village
The Pattaya Elephant Village is a non-profit sanctuary for former working elephants. There’s a 2.30pm elephant show (adult/child 500/400B), which demonstrates training techniques, and one-hour (adult/child 900/700B) and 3½-hour (adult/child 1900/1300B) elephant treks. The elephant village is 7km off Th Sukhumvit.
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Parque Zoológico Minerva
This zoo-park is a good place to take the kids to see small animals such as monkeys, coyotes, raccoons, deer and Barbary sheep, plus there's a few rides. Outside is the neoclassical Templo de Minerva, built by dictator Estrada Cabrera to honor the Roman goddess of education and to inspire Guatemalans to new heights of learning.
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Aquarium of the Lakes
Aquarium of the Lakes is at the lake's southern end, and recreates over 30 freshwater habitats, including an underwater tunnel through Windermere's lakebed, complete with pike, Arctic char and diving ducks. As usual, though, the mischievous otters steal the show. The best way to arrive is by boat from Bowness or Ambleside.
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Mini-Zoo
Some of the 200 animal species unique to the islands can be seen in rusting cages at the small and rather sad Mini-Zoo. These include the Nicobar pigeon, the Andaman pig (the staple diet of some tribal groups) and the crab-eating macaque. Feeding time is 08:30 to 09:00, and there's a short film shown at 10:00 and 15:00.
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