Best Zoos In The World? Which One Should You Visit?

Christian Mba
Oct 19, 2023 By Christian Mba
Originally Published on Oct 25, 2021
A cougar (puma concolor) moves about in it enclosure
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 13.5 Min

Zoos are regarded as some of the best attractions in the world where you can meet wild animals like lions, bears, and several others.

Are you wondering why people fascinate visiting zoos and want to know which are the best zoos in the world? Today we have added some of the best zoos in the world that you can visit to get an unforgettable experience.

Worldwide, zoos are famous for the variety of species that they house. They contain different animals and birds that you cannot see anywhere else.

Wild animals are amongst a zoo's biggest attractions. Many best zoos in the world are famous for several species of animals.

Many notable zoos around the world are famous for housing endangered species, such as the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, United States. These zoos are a good source of education for visitors as they carry out conservation efforts as breeding programs and other forms of animal welfare.

Many zoological parks are famous around the world. The question arises, what makes a zoo famous for anything? Why do children want their first zoo trip to be unforgettable? Why are zoos known as the knowledge hub?

Zoos are famous for the animals you have seen inside them. The animals in a zoo's secured enclosures are endangered animals that are not safe in an open environment.

Due to increased hunting and poaching, many people have made many species, including those at the edge of extinction.

These endangered species have high importance in nature to maintain a proper ecosystem. Nature cannot bear the loss of these species; thus there is the need to protect the remaining animals of the endangered species like lions, polar bears, penguins, elephants, and more.

Many zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks are established by governments around the world. Many animals that are kept under supervision in cages are highly endangered and need to be protected at any cost. At the same time, many other animals are protected in their own habit where human activities are restricted.

Many people, especially children, like to visit zoos, sanctuaries, and national parks to see and observe rarely found animals. Across the entire world, there are numerous zoos and national parks opened for the protection of these endangered species. Let us see several lists of the best zoos in the world that you can place your visit to.

After reading all about the best zoos in the world, read about animals in the Arctic and animals in the Taiga.

Best Zoos And Aquariums In The World

People admire well-organized zoos and properly maintained aquariums.

Not only zoos but aquariums are also made across the world to protect endangered species of fish since not only land animals but aquatic animals like dolphins and polar animals like penguins also come under endangered species.

In several parts of the world, many zoos and aquariums are famous for keeping rare animals and aquatic creatures that people, especially kids, get mesmerized while watching. The best zoos around the world, located in different regions, include the following.

Gramado Zoo, Gramado, Brazil.

Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain.

Prague Zoo, Prague, Czech Republic.

Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia.

Chester Zoo, Chester, United Kingdom.

Singapore Zoo, Singapore.

St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, United States.

National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.

Loro Parque, Puerto de la Cruz, Spain.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska, United States.

San Diego Zoo, San Diego, United States.

Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria and Schönbrunn Zoo, Schönbrunn Palace, Austria.

Toronto Zoo, Canada.

Wellington Zoo, Wellington, New Zealand.

Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne, Australia.

The world’s best aquariums are also ranked by the authorities on the subject. These aquariums are based in several parts of the world and are highly maintained by the local authorities.

Many people love to plan their trips to these aquariums expecting a memorable experience. Many love to be a part of this experience as they are fascinated by nature the most and also wish to see how these places enhance wildlife conservation. The world's best aquariums include the following.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is based in Monterey, California, United States.

Two Oceans Aquarium based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Mundomar located in Benidorm, Spain.

Vancouver Aquarium, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Dallas World Aquarium based in Dallas, United States.

National Zoological Park — Washington D.C, United States.

Aquaeworld Aquarium is in Hersonissos, Greece.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States.

Tennessee Aquarium is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States.

Georgia Aquarium based in Atlanta, United States.

Lisbon Oceanarium located in Lisbon, Portugal.

Best Zoos In The World In Terms Of Animal Treatment

Many people are against the thought of making a national zoo for animals.

They see caged animals as a source of entertainment for humans, which is something wild animals are not supposed to do. Many people think they should not be kept in a national zoo and rather left free to roam around their natural habitat and live amid wildlife.

Many people have not understood the basic motive of building zoos, natural parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Many zoos and national parks are made by authorities in different parts of the world. But the best zoos are those that treat their animals with much care and responsibility.

There are many zoos where animals are not treated nicely by the authorities and hence get the warning from the high authorities regarding the need for a change of behavior towards the rare beautiful animals that live there.

There are many best-rated zoos in the world based on the treatment animals get while staying there. These best zoos include the following.

San Diego Zoo:

San Diego Zoo, which is located in California, covers 100 ac (40.4 ha) of land in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. This best zoo comes in top tourist hotspots, which allows many things to do during your visit.

The San Diego Zoo is a non-profitable zoo that houses more than 3,500 animals of 650 different species.

Along with animals, 700,000 exotic plants also form the botanical garden of the zoo. Most of the animals that live in the zoo are the rescued ones that are living a good and healthy life today.

Prague Zoo:

The Prague Zoo is located in the Czech capital. In the Prague Zoo, more than 5000 animals live belonging to 676 different species.

This national zoo is made on 140 ac (56.6 ha) of land. The Prague Zoo was initiated with a mindset of enhancing knowledge of zoology while protecting wildlife.

The zoo also believes that the public can be educated by allowing them to access the right information about all endangered species living in the zoo. The best way to make the children’s knowledge greater while making their trip memorable and exciting.

Chester Zoo:

Chester Zoo is located in the Northwest region of the United Kingdom (UK). This zoo is made on 126 ac (51 ha) of enormous land that is home to many animals.

In Chester Zoo, more than 35,000 animals live while being in a safer place. The zoo area and the external area of this best zoo are owned by the zoo authorities to produce good-quality food to provide their herbivorous animals with a healthy diet and also for better human education.

Singapore Zoo:

Singapore Zoo is a comparatively smaller zoo than many others out there in different parts of the world. The Singapore Zoo is located within 69 ac (28 ha) of land and is still known as one of the best zoos in the world to date.

This oldest zoo of Singapore is home to around 315 animal species. The zoo has created a well-organized place for visitors and tourists to watch endangered species from a reasonable distance. Glass windows are also arranged around highly dangerous animals to avoid any ill-happening.

Vienna Zoo:

Tiergarten Schönburnn Vienna Australia Zoo is an educational center that educates children and adults about different animal species. The zoo stands among one of the best zoos in the world.

Various research and education go on in the zoo. Vienna Zoo was the first zoo in the world that created and bred an elephant in captivity. The zoo has also successfully bred pandas inside the zoo.

The Vienna Zoo is an excellent example of research and innovation that have helped in wildlife conservation and breeding patterns. This zoo is known as one of the best conservation zoos in the world by the authorities.

Gorilla beating his chest

Largest Zoos In The World

The main motive of constructing the best zoo is to protect the zoo’s animals. Many animals fall under the endangered species category, and hence it becomes important for them to be protected and saved at any cost. Mentioned below are some of the largest zoos in the world.

San Diego Zoo:

San Diego Zoo is located in California and is listed as one of the world’s largest zoological gardens. This zoological park is a very well-known home for the great panda. The great panda is protected inside the authority’s space. The zoological garden houses over 3,700 species of animals well protected.

London Zoo, England:

London Zoo comes in the oldest zoological park in the world. London authorities run and take care of the zoo very well. Around 20,166 animals stayed in this oldest zoo of London that belonged to 698 different species. This zoological park remains open all day except for Christmas day.

Bronx Zoo, New York City, (The United States of America):

Bronx Zoo, US, is one of the largest zoos in the world. The entire zoo has four different zoos and an aquarium also. This zoo houses over 4,000 animals of around 650 species living in peace. The Bronx Zoo remains open all the days with timings variations on weekdays and weekends.

Moscow Zoo, Europe:

Moscow Zoo comes in one of the oldest and largest zoological gardens in the world. The zoo is spread over 53 ac (21.5 ha). Moscow zoo is a home for more than 6,500 animals of around 1000 different species. The tourist attraction is the white tiger reserved in the forest.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Nebraska:

The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium of Omaha is one of the largest zoos in the world. The Henry Doorly Zoo and aquarium is known for its infrastructure, wildlife conservation, and research unit. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a home for over 17,000 animals of around 962 species.

Beijing Zoo, China:

Beijing Zoo located in China attracts many tourists from different parts of the world. The China Beijing Zoo is a home for many animals of around 14,500 of nearly 950 species.

Many tourists visit the zoo every day. The first zoo of Beijing is famous for some rarely found animals species that include the giant panda, south China tiger, white-lipped deer, and many more.

Toronto Zoo, Canada:

Toronto Zoo located in Canada is created on land spread across a massive area going up to 709.1 ac (287 ha). The Toronto Zoo is famous for many wildlife species. The Canada zoo is home to around 5,000 animals belonging to more than 460 species.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio, United States:

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, located in Ohio; United States of America (USA) is known as the second-largest zoological garden in the world. The zoo is spread across an average land of 580 ac (235 ha) meters. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a home for more than 7,000 animals that belong to 800 different species.

Berlin Zoologischer Garten, Berlin, Germany:

Berlin Zoological Garden located in Germany covers an average area of 99 ac (40 ha). The zoological garden is a home for more than 49,660 animals belonging to 1,380 different species. The zoological garden is famous for its tremendous collection of fauna.

Some other noteworthy mentions are the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington; Taronga Zoo, Sydney; and St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri, where breeding programs are being conducted under conservation efforts.

Which country has the most zoos?

Zoos or zoological gardens are the reserves places that allow the endangered species to live properly under good care.

There are many zoological gardens in the world. Many countries and states are home to large and beautiful zoos along with national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Countries like Asia, South Africa, Sydney Australia, New York, New Zealand, the USA, and Germany are famous for zoological gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, and animal reserves.

The USA has the most zoos in the world.

Many conservation programs are conducted by every great zoo as part of the efforts to help protect endangered animals. These programs help them to educate people while making them understand the importance of preserving these animal species. Several conservation programs also include ways to protect and guide some rarely seen animals like the polar bear, giant pandas, and penguins.

Many African zoological gardens allow visitors to tour around the zoos in a way that will help people to educate themselves while getting an unforgettable experience.

African cities have natural reserves that are created keeping the natural habitat of rare animals in mind, to protect highly endangered species like tigers, lions, elephants, bears, help the city gain while making such tourist attractions that are safe and that will also help the environment.

What are the safest zoos in the world?

Many zoological gardens are there in different parts of the world that have the proper setup and measures to ensure the safety of visitors and animals also.

When humans interact with wildlife, both groups are exposed to danger. With appropriate assessment and safety precautions, a zoo can become one of the safest zoos in the world.

One such zoo that is one of the safest zoos around the world is the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.

Some of the best, largest, and safest zoos around the world run several conserving programs that allow the safety measure guidelines to be followed inside the premises.

Some of the safest zoos for visitors to plan their tour in a different part of the world include the following.

Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C., USA - Famous for Giant pandas, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, and African lions.

Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China - Famous for Giant pandas, Chinese giant salamanders, Chinese alligators, South China tigers, Tibetan gazelles, kiangs, and many more.

Bronx Zoo, New York, USA- Famous for the Congo Gorilla Forest.

Zoologischer Garten, Berlin, Germany - Famous for piranhas, sharks, fish, and many coral reef ecosystems.

Taronga, Sydney, Australia- Famous for a mixed breed of chimpanzee troupe, kangaroos, and koalas.

National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, South Africa- Famous for Cheetahs, African rhinos, giraffes, African elephants, and hippos.

Chester Zoo, Upton by Cheshire, England, United Kingdom- Famous for Asian elephants, Jaguar, Red Ape, rhinoceros, and chimpanzees.

Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Vienna, Austria- Famous for Tiergarten, with Siberian tigers, hippos, pandas, and rhinos.

San Diego Zoo, California, United States of America (USA)- Famous for koalas, tigers, giraffes, gorillas, Galapagos tortoises, bonobos, and much more.

Singapore Zoo, Singapore- Famous for the fragile forest, the frozen tundra including polar bears, penguins, and other arctic species animals, the reptile garden including tortoise, Komodo dragons, and venomous snakes.

What are the most beautiful zoos in the world?

There are many beautiful and stunning zoos in the world. Many newer places exhibit many amazing zoological gardens with peaceful vibes that some of the oldest zoos lack in providing to their visitors.

It is essential for the animals to give them an environment somewhat similar to their habitat. Knowing the fact that nature's beauty is unbeatable, zoo authorities try to present a similar appearance to the zoological gardens so that animals can still feel close to their natural home inside the zoo premises.

Many zoos in different regions of the world use the beautification of the zoo as an attraction point to attract more tourists and visitors for a tour guide.

Some of the beautifully stunning zoological gardens include the following; Berlin Zoo, Germany; Nikolaev Zoo, Ukraine; Loro Parque, Spain, Tenerife; Singapore Zoo, Singapore; Moscow Zoo, Russia; Zoo Australia, Birwa, Queensland; Solar Miami Zoo, United States of America (USA); Finland Zoo, Helsinki; London Zoo, United Kingdom (UK); Henry Doorly Zoo, Nebraska, United States of America (USA); Chiang Mai Zoo, Thailand; Jerusalem Zoo, Israel; Prague Zoo, Czech Republic; Animal Kingdom, Orlando, United States of America (USA).

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for the best zoos in the world, then why not take a look at animals in Hawaii, or animals in Alaska?

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Written by Christian Mba

Bachelor of Science specializing in Computer Science

Christian Mba picture

Christian MbaBachelor of Science specializing in Computer Science

Christian Mba is an experienced blogger and content writer with over a decade of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Nigeria and has a keen interest in Python programming. Along with his writing and blogging expertise, he is also an SEO specialist with more than six years of experience. Chris, as he is commonly known, has a passion for music and enjoys playing the piano.

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