Burrowing owls use open grasslands, deserts, prairies, and agricultural areas throughout North and South American. This one lives at the Bronx Zoo. Photo courtesy of Bronx Zoo/Julie Larsen Maher
Pygmy slow lorises at the Bronx Zoo are nocturnal and arboreal. Photo courtesy of Bronx Zoo/Julie Larsen Maher
The penguin enclosure at the St. Louis Zoo is a great place to cool off on a summer day. Photo courtesy of St. Louis Zoo
divided into eight regions of the world, ranging from polar regions to the heart of Africa. Far out of the ordinary (for Ohio) is Manatee Coast, the largest exhibit of Manatees outside Florida, and Discovery Reef, an indoor 100,000-gallon coral reef exhibit. It is home as well to one of the country’s best primate exhibits and is recognized worldwide for its lowland gorilla breeding program. www.columbuszoo.org – 800-666-5397 Audubon Zoo – New Orleans, Louisiana Managed by Audubon Nature Institute and nestled among 58 acres of ancient oaks and lush gardens in historic Uptown New Orleans, Audubon Zoo offers an exotic mix of nearly 2,000 creatures from around the globe, hands-on animal encounters, and engaging educational programs. Audubon gets rave reviews from its guests for its daily animal presentations, chats, and feeds. For the most part, its animals are exhibited in their natural habitats, a factor that has led to Audubon’s consistent ranking among the country’s best zoos. Its most unique and highly acclaimed habitat, Louisiana Swamp, invites visitors to explore an authentic swamp environment—home to a congregation of mysterious white alligators—and, ever so appropriately, the
rustic Cypress Knee Cafe serving spicy Cajun dishes. www.audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo – 504-581-4629 St. Louis Zoo – St. Louis, Missouri A top attraction in St. Louis (second only to the city’s landmark Gateway Arch), the St. Louis Zoo occupies 90 acres in the heart of sprawling Forest Park. Recently voted Best Zoo and America’s Top Free Attraction by 10Best.com, the St. Louis Zoo is dedicated to connecting people to animals and it’s renowned for its innovative approaches to animal management, wildlife conservation, and education. Annually, nearly 3 million visitors enjoy free admission to experience the zoo’s 16,000-plus animals, many of which are rare and endangered. The zoo is configured in six zones—River’s Edge, The Wild, Discovery Corner, Historic Hill, Red Rocks, and Lakeside Crossing—each of which highlights unique animal habitats. Its children’s zoo is a big hit with younger devotees who can pet guinea pigs and goats and learn more about intriguing critters such as Tasmanian devils and Matschie’s tree kangaroos. www.stlzoo.org – 314-781-0900 Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium – Omaha, Nebraska Nebraska doesn’t seem a likely location for a world-class
EIGHT GREAT AMERICAN ZOOS
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2019
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