Zoos are portals to the world

John Johnston, photo by James Dunford Wood

Everybody remembers that first visit to the zoo. The smell of all the animals, the excitement as you come round to the tigers and lions, the chance maybe even to pet a goat or to get up close to some killer creepy crawly, it’s a rites of passage for many a youngster. The zoo really is that first portal that you step through as a child that shows you how big this world we inhabit is, how vast it must be to have all of these animals just wandering across it, plunging to the depths of the ocean or flying as high as we can imagine. Zoos take are minds off to plains or mountains or forests that we’ve never been to making that first zoo visit undeniably magical about.

This magic isn’t new however, since 1752 and the opening of the Tiergarten Schonnbrunn in Austria, people have been experiencing the magic of the animal kingdom and zoos have emerged all over the world, each with something that makes them special and unique. In Berlin, you can visit Knut, the rejected polar bear cub who captured everyone's hearts with his as cute-as-can-be looks (despite the fact he's going to grow into the world's largest land-found predator). You can share the five million dollar view with the giraffe's in Taronga, chill with the animals in Amsterdam's Artis zoo, stay up with the nocturnals at Singapore zoo or have the safari brought to you in the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. With zoos the world is brought to you in one place.

While early zoos could be described as monuments to human superiority over the world, a more animal-empathetic mind has emerged and the modern trend is for animal friendly zoos. Many work hard to create an au natural feel for their inhabitants. Zoos such as San Diego, Ueno Zoological Garden and London zoo are tirelessly trying to reverse the destruction that human arrogance has caused with their conservation and breeding efforts and in an incredible turn of events, are releasing animals into the wild rather than just capturing.

With the increasing popularity and ease to which we can see magnificent animals in the wild, in places such as safaris, some now see zoos as slightly tame affairs. If you feel that there magic is beginning to wane, then Australia Zoo could be the pilgrimage to restore your faith! Carrying on the fearlessness of its former owner Steve Irwin, the zoo gives you the opportunities of a lifetime such as taking the tigers for their walkies! Over in America, a different route has been taken, with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park deciding the best way to see the animals is from the top of a rollercoaster!

Whatever way you decide to see the animals, a trip to the zoo is going to bring all those magic memories flooding back and pry those world weary eyes wide open and if you bring the kids you’ll get all the thanks you need when you see their eyes open to the splendour of this world.

The world's best zoos

	San Diego Zoo Visitor Attractions in West Coast, United States The San Diego zoo is one of the world’s largest and most fun zoos. The zoo displays an array of over 4,000 animals for you to marvel at while soaking in San Diego’s always gorgeous weather. It also features exhibits that range from an African rainforest to an Elephant exhibit to an Artic themed park complete with adorable polar bears. A family oriented experience, the San Diego Zoo has a whole area dedicated to children called the Children’s zoo. The Children’s Zoo features over 30 different exhibits and even a petting zoo. This part of the zoo is not only for the kids however, as there are many animals there that are not available to see in any other part of the zoo. Coupled with the petting zoo and the exclusive animals, the Children’s Zoo is a cant miss part of your visit here. Even better, the Children’s Zoo is free with your admission to the rest of the park. One of the zoo’s most intriguing exhibits is the Tiger River. Along this exhibit you will find not only a tigers den, but you will also find a crocodile pit and a marsh with different types of trees and fauna. The tigers den features a waterfall and it is fun to watch the tigers splash in the pool or just act silly in front of their guests. This part of the park has a very distinct rain forest feel to it, so don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild in this area as you get as close to a real rain forest you can in the United States. The San Diego Zoo’s most famous attraction by far is its Giant Panda exhibit. With only 5 zoos in North America having them and only 1500-3000 of them that are not in captivity, the panda exhibit is truly an amazing experience. Marvel at these charming creatures as they sit around, eat bamboo, and act as if you are not even there. The San Diego Zoo is awesome because of its mix of rare animals, intricate exhibits, and its location in always sunny, downtown San Diego. Review by Tony Owusu Photo by Tony Owusu
	SeaWorld San Diego Visitor Attractions in West Coast, United States San Diego’s Sea World is more than just a zoo for marine animals - it's a theme park. Home to a bevy of marine animals from dolphins to Orca’s (more commonly known as killer whales), Sea World also features roller coasters and different marine themed rides and exhibits. Visitors can also soak up the San Diego sun in it's world class water park. Sea World’s most famous attraction is Shamu Stadium, where the Orca whale, Shamu (from a long line of Shamus), performs with trainers and supporting animals, executing stunts to the delight of the crowd. It is truly spectacular to watch the 6 ton mammal jump into the air on command. The shows last for about 20 minutes and are run several times during the day. The show has been famously imitated in shows and movies such as the children’s film, Free Willy. Another big attraction at the park is the Shark Encounter ride - a metal tube in which visitors are lowered into a shark tank. Being underwater with one of the most feared predators in the ocean is an amazing experience. Review by Tony Owusu Photo by flickr user Matt McGee
	Beauval Zoo Visitor Attractions in Rouen, France Zooparc de Beauval (or Beauval Zoo to you and me) is just outside the village of St. Aignan, France. The zoo has been voted one of the fifteen most beautiful zoos in the world and a walk around it will leave you in little doubt as to why. The biggest attractions that Beauval currently has are the baby white tigers and the baby gorilla, with both attractions bringing a rather odd feeling of excitement as you see them fumbling about their enclosures. The zoo has a fine array of animals with rhinos, elephants and alligators all proving to be great encounters. Running several times a day, the bird and sea-lion show is an entertaining show that gives a great spectacle of these animals although, depending on your political stance, will either leave you impressed or angry. There are plenty of restaurants on offer, but the Loire valley that the zoo is located in provides a great source for wine and cheese lovers to get their fix after the zoo. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user belgianchocolate
	Barcelona Zoo Visitor Attractions in Barcelona, Spain Barcelona Zoo has been open since 1892, originally housing the privately collected animals of a wealthy local man. Nowadays, it’s just as concerned with showcasing its important conservation work and research, running children’s events, lectures, field trips and training courses. Review by Eleanor Dean Photo by flickr user belgianchocolate
	The Tiergarten Schonbrunn Visitor Attractions in Vienna, Austria The Tiergarten Schonbrunn (Vienna Zoo) is a small zoo by today’s standards but it’s hardly surprising when you take into consideration that this is the oldest zoo in the world! The history of the Tiergarten goes back to Empress Maria Theresia and her husband Franz Stephan von Lothringen, who commissioned his compatriot and architect Jean Nicholas Jadot der Ville-Issey, to design a menagerie in the park of Schönbrunn, the new Habsburg-Lothringen summer residence. The summer of 1752 saw the animals brought to the zoo and presented to the public. Until the end of Maria Theresia’s reign in 1780, the menagerie was largely reserved for the Imperial family, although school classes were invited along soon after it opened. In 1778, along with the castle and park, the menagerie was opened for ‘decently dressed persons’ on Sundays. 1770 saw the first elephant arrival, with wolves and bears following in 1781. By 1800 it also had polar bears, big cats, hyenas and kangaroos for visitors to marvel at every day. Thankfully today’s zoo looks very different to the opening day version. While it may not boast the variety of more modern zoos, the Tiergarten Schonbrunn has shifted perspective to the conservation of endangered species, especially European ones such as the European Bison and some Austrian breeds of horses, meaning that it’s still important to the zoological world. The inauguration of the children’s zoo and the zooeducation department aims at helping young ones understand the importance of conservation. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user bigbear3001
	Chester Zoo Visitor Attractions in Liverpool, United Kingdom In 1930, founder George Mottershead realised his dream of creating a zoo without bars. With over 7000 animals and 400 different species, Chester Zoo is alive with characters from all over the globe who are part of the zoo’s conservation breeding programme. Different zones of the zoo attempt to transport you into realms undiscovered. “Elephants of the Asian Forest” must feel at home in their surroundings as they were the first Asian Elephants to breed successfully in the UK. Watch the Great Indian Hornbills and Azure Winged Magpies flock around them as the Pig Nosed Turtles snuffle for ground bound treasures. It’s hard to believe that Chester holds the key to the expansive central American jungle, but, visit “The Spirit of the Jaguar” and see local residents Salvador and Sophia cross the dry Savannah to cool off in the river pools. Look down into “The Realm of the Red Ape” and see a playground of trees belonging to the Borean and Sumatran orang-utans. Indonesia is a few minutes walk away from the enclosure, as is the chimpanzee breeding centre, home to king-pin Dylan, the dominant male. Monkey Island is a fortress surrounded by a moat, coups are not advisable. The “Twilight Zone” holds the largest flying bat cave in the U.K and the second coming arrives at Chester Zoo in the form of five Komodo dragons, born to virgin mother Flora. Review by Sybilla Harvey Photo by flickr user craig.hamnett
	London Zoo Visitor Attractions in London, United Kingdom Although the name Stamford Raffles may bring to mind various creatures which belong in the reptile house, Sir Stamford opened his zoo to the public in 1847. Originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific purpose, London Zoo has undergone vast changes over time. Housing over 16,802 individual critters and crawlers, London Zoo is the zoo that did things first. The northern edge of Regent’s Park is home to the first reptile house, aquarium, insect house and children’s zoo in Britain. Famous past residents include the now extinct quagga, the first hippopotamus to be seen since the Roman Empire and the first giant panda and polar bear. The zoo also holds the only populations of humming birds and Socorro doves which are now extinct in the wild. Gorilla Kingdom, home to Bobby, Zaire, Elfie and Mijukuu, boasts an indoor gym and a giant island for its residents to retreat to. Although slightly voyeuristic, there is even a breeding room for those who want to become a part of the zoo’s future. Cages have been replaced with enclosures but some ugly buildings still remain. Although informers say the penguins think their enclosure palatial, the listed structure wouldn’t be an ideal spot to cool off in. Despite this, the zoo is famed for its architecture; the Round House considered one of the first Modernist buildings to be built in Britain. Review by Sybilla Harvey Photo by flickr user Neil Phillips
	San Diego Zoo and Animal Park Visitor Attractions in West Coast, United States The San Diego Zoo and Animal Park must be one of, if not the, most ethically run zoos the world. While giving the animals a home away most resembling home, it still more than meets the demands of zoo visitors. Exhibits are designed around particular habitats, meaning that animals that would co-exist in the wild are found near to each other in a native (to the animals) environment. Exhibits such as the Ituri Forest allow you to see monkeys hanging about with sea otters while you’re getting up close with the hippos and learning about the real Ituri rainforest in the Congo. The attention to detail and search for authenticity doesn’t just stop there -San Diego Zoo is a pioneer in ‘cageless’ exhibits. This means that you can really get up close to the animals while nifty features such as piano wire providing see-through barriers keep you and the little ones out of harm’s way. The Park is also dedicated to providing an authentic taste of the wild for both animal and visitor. With the open-range enclosures, visitors are taken on tram tours of habitats representing the Asian plains, North Africa, Asian waterholes, Southern Africa and East Africa, which is the largest. As well as the tram the park has a tethered balloon ride that takes visitors high in the sky to get an aerial view of the attractions. The Park also houses the Paul Harter Veterinary Centre, a state-of-the-art hospital considered to be the largest and most sophisticated zoo hospital in the world so you can really rest in the comfort of knowing that these animals are being treated with the utmost care. There’s always something new to see at the San Diego Zoo, with different events and programs occurring throughout the year. Its sheer scale may tire the younger explorer quickly but it makes for a memorable adventure. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user peasap
	National Zoological Gardens of South Africa Visitor Attractions in Pretoria, South Africa On a continent, where if you want wild animals you go to a safari game reserve, a zoo is always going to have a difficult job attracting visitors. The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is a great day however where the wild is brought to you in the city of Pretoria. Founded by J.W.B Gunning in 1916 the zoo has been the site of some important firsts in zoological-keeping. The expansion of the zoo by director Dr Rudolph Bigalke, creating the mountain area exhibits to the north of the zoo, marked the beginning of the end of small enclosures. These habitats are now home to some of the most endangered species such as Bengal Tigers, as well as your tried and tested crowd pleasers such as lions. Zoo modernization continued under the directorship of Dr Frank Brand, who believed that animals shouldn’t be housed singly in enclosures but instead a zoo should represent an animal’s natural habitat. He was also responsible for the abolition of using animals as entertainment, making training and playing with wild animals taboo. The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa has one shining light that keeps it running alongside the big game reserves - its conservation efforts. Species facing extinction in the wild due to man are being given a chance by places such as Lichtenburg Biodiversity Conservation Centre, found at the zoo, which houses and breeds endangered species such as the white rhino, Pere David’s deer, Cape mountain zebra, scimitar-horned Oryx and Arabian Oryx. The first white rhino to be born in a zoo was at the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. The big game reserves undoubtedly offer thrills and magical moments, but coming to this zoo and witnessing animals that would have already disappeared without its endeavours in conservation offers an entirely different magic. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user DanieVDM
	Berlin Zoo Visitor Attractions in Berlin, Germany The Berlin Zoological Garden is a green oasis at the heart of Berlin’s sprawling towers and wonderful architecture. Opened in 1844 the zoo is the oldest in Germany and with around 14 000 animals from 1500 species, Berlin Zoo provides homes for more species than any other zoo. Berlin Zoo tries hard to strike a balance between what’s right for the animal and what’s right for the paying visitor. The animals rumble around recreations of their natural habitats but are close enough for you to still get plenty for your buck. The zoo is one of only a handful of zoos where you get to see panda’s milling about being all panda-ry. As well as the obvious entertainment the zoo has a serious side so the kids (and yourself) will learn plenty about the animals on show. The zoo is also an important place for rhino conservation and the bison enclosure is a historical reminder to the impression zoo conservation has made so far. Perhaps the most famous resident of the zoo is Knut, the polar bear rejected by his mum after he was born in 2005. The first polar bear to be born at the zoo in over thirty years led to the world going knuts over the little guy and visiting figures rose by 30% while the worldwide interest sparked headlines such as ‘K-nu-t believe it?’…I know I can’t. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user glyn_nelson
	Singapore Zoo Visitor Attractions in Singapur, Singapore Singapore Zoo is a relatively new and very modern zoo and due to that a great place for both visitors and animals. Set in a rainforest environment, the ‘open concept’ of the zoo is a great way of getting a feel for how these animals truly interact with their natural habitats. With this ‘Open Concept’ ideal, Singapore Zoo keeps the animal in spacious, landscaped enclosures with only a dry or wet moat keeping them apart from the visitors. Thankfully the short tempered animals (leopards, jaguars and other creatures who may really like to get to grips with you) are kept in beautifully landscaped glass-fronted enclosures. Also thankfully, the cages that typify older zoos have been completely done away with. The zoo is slowly evolving into a more open, learning zoo. Interactive features have been incorporated and the exhibits keep everyone interested in the educational side of protection and conservation as well as mesmerised by the animals on display. Near by the zoo are the Jurong Bird Park, which is worth a view if you like colourful feathers and the very cool Night Safari, the world’s first nocturnal zoo. It’s also the place where you get to watch tribal dances, fire-eating displays…and blow-pipe demonstrations. Obviously, these aren’t performed by the animals themselves, but a zoo that’s only open at night? I think that’s cool enough. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user Huasito
	Bronx Zoo Visitor Attractions in New York, United States “Let’s take you back to the concrete streets, original beats with real live MCs” once rapped Jurassic 5, and with the Bronx Zoo we’re kind of doing that. The place where the jungle meets the concrete jungle, Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the USA and offers 265 acres (1.07 km²) of parklands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows. The zoo now hosts more than 4000 animals, many of which are endangered species. The usual “natural habitats” can be found within Bronx Zoo, meaning that you can transport yourself to the African Plains, then to the Congo for some Gorilla watching, before hitting Jungle-world and Tiger Mountain. There are also plenty of indoor exhibitions, such as Butterfly Garden and World of Darkness. These and the outdoor exhibitions give great information and with the zoo being heavily involved in animal conservation, a great deal of reflection and passion to preserve the magnificent species that could be wiped out is shown throughout the zoo. While the concrete jungle of New York has plenty to occupy you, the Bronx zoo is a nice way to transport yourself away from the urban landscape for a day. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user Lida Rose
	Basel Zoo Visitor Attractions in Basel, Switzerland Opened in 1874, Basel Zoo has obviously had to go through some changes. Lovingly referred to as Zolli by the people of Basel the park is relatively small at 11 hectares, but with over a million people visiting each year, it’s Switzerland’s second biggest attraction after the Rhine Fall in Schaffhausen. The zoo has the usual line-up of animal species, but with changes taking place all the time, there’s a new way to see or interact with the animals with each visit. The Etosha house and outside facilities allow for you to take a virtual journey across the Etosha savannah of Namibia, where you get to see the cycle of nature, predator and prey. The aquarium is one of Basel’s strong points, the oddly-shaped building allowing you to take a trip through the evolution of life on earth, with the growing coral reef and sea dragons of particular interest, with Basel being one of only a few European zoos with this Australian species of fish. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user E. E. Piphanies
	Animal Kingdom Visitor Attractions in Kissimmee, United States In the part of America where runaway trains driven by mad professors hurtle you through the air and where Jaws is liable to attack your boat, a zoo could be in danger of being seen as sedate or mundane in comparison. Disney didn’t let this defeat them, bringing the zoo and theme park together to create Animal Kingdom. Covering more than 500 acres, making it the largest Disney theme park in the world, Animal Kingdom is a great way to mix some education and natural wonder with the usual theme park spills and thrills. Although the park has been met with criticism from various animal welfare organizations, the park is respectful of its animals, though the population is mostly from the more “glamorous” species - you’re unlikely to see a goat for instance. The rides are what you would expect from a Florida theme park and the dinosaur part of the park is a nice feature for a “zoo”. Animal Kingdom will take your breath away, but maybe not due to the diversity of animals. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user hyku
	Artis Zoo Visitor Attractions in Amsterdam, Netherlands It may be small, there may be other things on your mind when visiting Amsterdam and it might not pack the same punch as other zoos around the world, but Artis Zoo, founded in 1838, is the Netherlands’ oldest zoo and is an attractive oasis of calm in the city centre. The main thing you’ll notice about this zoo is that it exudes historical character. The two golden eagles perched atop the main entrance gives you a taste of things to come, with the winding paths, majestic trees, fascinating sculptures and historic buildings giving a 19th century atmosphere to the zoo and a calm that’s difficult to find elsewhere in the city. The animal side isn’t too much to shout about, 700 species is quite a small number but all the main animal species are represented. The aquarium is quite famous and is a nice distraction promising to show you the secret life of the canals. There’s also plenty to see and do at the planetarium, museums and smaller exhibitions within the gardens. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user ansik
	Ueno Zoological Garden Visitor Attractions in Tokyo, Japan Ueno Zoological Garden, Tokyo, was founded in 1882 making it the oldest zoo in Japan. The flagship of Japanese zoos, a trip to Ueno will show you over 2600 animals from 464 different species, providing visitors with an entertaining learning experience. In areas such as “Gorilla Woods” and “Tiger Forest” you will be able to get up close to the animals and learn about the conservation methods and schemes that Ueno Zoo is collaborating on with other international zoos. If you want to get a bit closer to the animals, the petting zoo will add something special to a visit. Though primarily for children, you’re never too old for that giddy pleasure of being chased by a goat. The small mammal house is also worth a look, as is the Vivarium (Reptile and Amphibian House), where some of the world's rare fishes, crocodiles, turtles, snakes and frogs can be visited. The Five-storied Pagoda and the tea ceremony house give the zoo a Japanese touch. The pagoda was built in 1631, rebuilt after destruction by fire, and in 1958 the owner, Kan'ei-ji temple, gave the pagoda to Tokyo Metropolitan Government, who assigned its management to Ueno Zoo. The tea ceremony house was built to entertain Shoguns in 17th century, and it stills stands as a historic structure in the zoo ground. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user いぬっころ
	Toronto Zoo Visitor Attractions in Toronto, Canada Toronto Zoo is in the north-east of the city and is the third-largest zoo in the world. The zoo is divided into six zoogeographic regions, servicing most of the continents. As with most zoos, an emphasis on conservation permeates through the information provided and in the running of the zoo. One thing that Toronto has that many other zoos lack is a great sense of interactivity. Zeller’s discovery zone encompasses the kid’s zoo, which boasts some great interactive features to make it a day that they won’t forget. There’s also Splash Island, a two-acre water play area and teaches the kids about the three states of matter, liquid, gas and solid. The Waterside Theatre provides great entertainment for all the family. The zoo holds special exhibitions sometimes where you get to touch some of the animals you wouldn’t ever get the chance to elsewhere and really engages you a lot more than you would be endlessly looking through glass. There’s a great diversity of species and whether big or small, they are some of the most interesting animals in the world so a trip won’t be a disappointment, although if you’re scared of spiders, best to stay away from the Black Widows exhibition. Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user striatic
	Roar and Snore at Taronga Zoo Visitor Attractions in Sydney, Australia If I told you you could go for a sleep over at a fantastically appointed zoo and wake up in the morning to million dollar views and the roars, cheeps and warbles of some of the world’s most beautiful and exotic creatures would you be literally chomping at the bit for the chance? Me too. Sydney’s Taronga Zoo is built into a cliff overlooking the harbour and the city and is home to an excellent range of big, small, furry, feathered, hairy, scary, friendly, scaled and mischievous animals. A ‘Roar and Snore’ adventure starts with an evening arrival at the zoo’s education centre where you can get up close and personal with some of the more friendly locals including Dubbo the wombat, John the Koala, lizards, tortoises and kangaroos, followed by dinner, an evening safari and the final feeds and ‘tucking in’ of the animals. The red pandas and big cats look particularly cuddly when bedding down… Nightcaps are then available for adults… Overnight you sleep in domed tents, two to a tent then in the morning there are two ‘behind the scenes’ tours over different sections of the zoo, a popular highlight is the antics of the primate breakfast feeding and the curious giraffe feed - it‘s amazing to think about them swallowing. Entry for the day is included, so you can go back and visit your favourites in the daylight. Don’t miss out on the bird show, it’s nearer to the bottom of the hill than the top, but worth it for the view and the impressive intelligence of the birds and the popular penguin show, belly sliding looks like so much fun. Review by Kat Mackintosh Photo by flickr user TravelJunkieoz
	Madrid Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Attractions in Madrid, Spain Madrid’s zoo is relatively young in zoo-terms, as it’s only been in its current location at the Casa de Campo for about twenty five years. Moving to this new home allowed ample opportunities for the zoo to grow, and it has particularly large collections of African and Asian wildlife. The aquarium is notable for its incredible displays of tropical fish, and daily dolphin shows. Review by Eleanor Dean Photo by flickr user cesarastudillo
	Frankfurt zoo Visitor Attractions in Frankfurt, Germany Germany's second oldest zoo (after Berlin), but it was all but destroyed during the Second World War and only twenty of its residents survived. It has been gradually regenerated since, alongside the residential area in which its 32 acres lie, to become a serious contender for a reputation as the cleanest and most animal-friendly in Europe, and it's now home to some 3200 animals. One or two of the enclosures and public areas have been as they are for almost as long as the elephants can remember, but the designs and layouts are open and nature-imitative enough for it not to matter; for example, some of the larger animals are kept safe from the attentions of the overly curious by landscaped ditches instead of tall fences or glass. Aside from the zoo's conservation project and rare animal breeding programme, it can also be justifiably proud if its nocturnal zone, the mystery-filled Grzimek Nachthaus. Review by larapiegeler Photo by flickr user marfis75
	Crocodylus Park Visitor Attractions in Darwin, Australia Crocodiles are one of the Northern Territory’s attractions, they add danger to the amazing scenery and unique, way laid back lifestyle. The easiest way to see a croc without ending up on the menu is to visit a crocodile farm, there are a few in and around Darwin. About a thousand crocs live in Crocodylus Park, from ruler long hatchlings to half tonne, four or five metre long daddies. The park was started as a research facility, but is now more like a zoo with other animals joining the collection of crocs. But the crocs are still king. Review by Worldreviewer Photo by flickr user Stephen Barnett
	Australia Zoo Visitor Attractions in Queensland, Australia Regardless of whether you thought Steve Irwin was an amazing man or a stupid one, it is impossible to dismiss his influence on bringing a fascination with the animal world back into popular culture. The zoo set up by his parents, Lyn and Bob, who was a world-renowned herpetologist and a pioneer in keeping and breeding reptiles and where Steve interacted with animals such as crocodiles from a young age, is now run by his widow Terri Irwin. Australia Zoo is quite unlike other zoos. The conservation efforts by the zoo are an incredible achievement and the education that you can receive at the zoo is hefty to say the least. As it was once the home of the “crocodile hunter” the crocodile area is understandably substantial and the live croc feedings not to be missed. Other animals on show include the usual international line-up and a strong Australian roster with koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils and a plethora of snakes. The thing that is really different about Australia Zoo though is the entertainment and interactivity. The “Animal Planet Crocoseum” has snake, bird and crocodile shows, while you can hang out with the tortoises and take the tigers for a walk (for a price obviously) and you even get the opportunity to feed elephants, crocodiles and feed the babies in the kid zoo! Review by John Johnston Photo by flickr user Maik Radke
	Taronga Zoo Visitor Attractions in Sydney, Australia The well worn cliché about Taronga is that the giraffes have a five million dollar view. I beg to differ. I say with inflation their view - which even from my eye level incorporates that quintessential Sydney Harbour backdrop of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the city glinting in the sun, which also makes the deep blue water sparkle - is worth more like ten or twelve million, depending on what kind of house they built. Standing there, metres below their head I often wondered why they gave the best view to the tallest animals – surely these guys have a good view anywhere? But then it’s not like any of these creatures are slumming it in the scenery department: unsurprisingly the word taronga is an aboriginal word meaning beautiful view. Built into the side of a cove, the best way to arrive at Taronga is by ferry. Arriving at the dock you can go up in the chair life and zig zag your way back down the steep paths to the bottom. Enclosures run like wide stairs or bands so if it wasn’t for the trees mimicking each animal’s natural habitat they’d all have an amazing view. The original entrance at the top of the hill is perfectly old school and small, especially considering the zoo now has one of the largest areas of any zoo worldwide. You’ll definitely need a map, but generally speaking the Australian animals are on your left as you face down the hill while the African are on the right and Asian down the centre. If you’re not Australian you’ll definitely want to meet the locals. You can walk amongst the kangaroos and wallabies, but don’t be too disappointed when they generally ignore you. If they come close enough there is no reason why you can’t pet them, but though there aren’t any fences you’re expected to stick to the path. Japanese visitors especially seem to want to have their photo taken with a koala, which you can do several times a day in a special enclosure. They look cute and sleepy but they’re actually totally doped up on eucalyptus and can turn nasty if you’re not gentle. The platypus may take a bit of patience but they’re totally worth it; nocturnal creatures, they’re in tanks in a special darkened house, but you can’t see into their burrows. When they do pop out they have an amazing wiggly way of moving, searching the rocks at the bottom of their tank with their bills. They can keep me entertained for ages but there is a lot to get through so don't get too distracted. To be honest it’s difficult to choose Taronga’s highlights. All the enclosures give the impression of being as natural as possible and the animals always seem pretty chilled out. As far as the animal shows go, which I know are a bit un-P.C. these days, the bird show is breathtaking – hunting birds get a chance to hunt some prey against the backdrop of the harbour, and the seals and penguin shows are lots of fun. If you do want to see the shows you need to plan your winding journey down the hill accordingly, they’re pretty popular. If you have a soft spot for a particular animal you can pay to go on an enclosure tour, where a keeper takes you inside, and there are plenty of talks and lectures going on every day, so if you want to learn more you just have to ask the nice keepers. If you’re finding it hard to leave, in summer Taronga runs the ‘Roar and Snore’ sleepovers where you can camp inside the zoo and be part of the final feeding and bedding down on the animals, then be awoken in the moring to the sounds of cheeps, coos and growls. Absolutely fantastic. Review by Kat Mackintosh Photo by flickr user TravelJunkieoz