The Columbus Zoo’s Islands exhibit takes you on a voyage to the islands of south-east Asia, with minimal use of enclosures by using moats and waterways to contain the animals on their islands providing a realistic experience for visitors into the lives of some amazing creatures. Your first encounter is with the Lar gibbons and siamangs,…
Western Lowland Gorilla Follow the boardwalk trails to experience an enticing taste of Africa. In the Columbus Zoo’s African Forest you’ll encounter a friendly flock of African greys, the captivating okapi with its dark chocolate-brown coat, tall zebra-like leggings, long browsing tongue and gentle eyes, and don’t forget to scan the tall grasses for the illusive leopard…
Discovery Reef aquarium Just past the entrance stands a large fountain and in its center towers a steel globe. Emblazoned across the globe’s middle is written “Conserve Our World, Experience Wildlife.” Being a zoological park and aquarium the Columbus Zoo has a large variety of animals for the public to encounter, everything from giant tortoises to elephants,…
From our hotel we took a cab down Riverside drive that runs along the scenic Scioto River towards the Columbus Zoo. Named as the #1 zoo in America by USA Travel Guide in 2009 the Columbus Zoo has a worldwide reputation largely in part to its Director Emeritus, Jack Hanna. Named Director of the Columbus Zoo in 1978 Jack Hanna…
At first glance this large, two-storied, red brick building looks more like a rural high school than an extraordinary exhibit showcasing some of the most fascinating creatures that inhabit the Amazon of South America. Entering on the first floor your first encounter is within a large pool that resembles a river in the Amazon. Here…
Four separate enclosures surround the Smithsonian National Zoo’s Lion/Tiger Hill and allow for rotating the animals between each enclosure. Having access to different environments, especially where other animals have been and left their scent provides great enrichment for these big cats. At Lion/Tiger Hill you’ll find Sumatran tigers lounging beneath their shade and the zoo’s…
The entrance to the Smithsonian National Zoo’s Reptile Discovery Center is stunningly grand. The red bricked building has two turtles standing guard with large pillars rising up towards an exquisite mosaic of a stegosaurus. Within its walls are roughly 70 species exhibited with even more at their Virginia site. Two massive green anacondas, the world’s largest snake, were lounging in…
Lady of the Zoos 