The World’s 100 Best Zoos & Aquariums

The zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, has large indoor and outdoor habitats, including the Desert Dome and Lied Jungle, and an aquarium with sharks overhead. A sky ride, a tram and a train cross the grounds.

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Leipzig's zoo sits in the middle of the city and is built around themed areas with large enclosures. Gondwanaland, a tropical house with a boat ride, and Tierra del Fuego, where penguins and seals swim past a tunnel, set it apart.

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A large zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, run by the Irwin family, with spacious enclosures and a working wildlife hospital. The Crocoseum crocodile show and the kangaroo feeding set it apart.

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A large zoo on a hillside on the edge of Prague, with enclosures that run up and down the slope. Mountain goats on rock faces, walk-through pavilions and a chairlift to the top set it apart.

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A zoo in Zlín, Czechia, divided into continents, with a castle and a large Japanese garden. Touching and feeding stingrays sets it apart.

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A zoo in Arnhem, Netherlands, with habitats housed in large indoor halls for rainforest, mangrove, desert and ocean. Manatees, sharks and butterflies are among the animals, and an outdoor safari section adjoins the halls.

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A large zoo in Brugelette, Belgium, arranged as themed areas for different continents. Overnight stays in lodges beside the animals are offered, such as the Tiger House.

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A zoo built into old troglodyte quarries in Doué-la-Fontaine, with rock walls, caves and large aviaries. The caves keep the paths shaded, and the giraffe feedings set it apart.

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A large zoo in Forest Park in St. Louis, with paved paths and free admission. Its Living World building, penguin house and polar bear enclosure set it apart.

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A large zoo in Balboa Park in San Diego, California, with hills across the grounds. A bus tour and an aerial tram cross the site, which sets it apart from smaller zoos.

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A zoo on the side of Cheyenne Mountain above Colorado Springs. The hillside layout gives city views from many paths, and the giraffe feeding area is one of the main draws.

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A zoo and safari park in Saint-Aignan with a large equatorial dome, a greenhouse and walk through aviaries. Its large enclosures, the bird show and the cable car across the grounds set it apart.

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A zoo and aquarium in northern Tenerife with parrot, dolphin, orca and sea lion shows. Its wide range of species and the shows held several times a day set it apart.

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The zoo in the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace is the oldest zoo still operating in the world, founded in 1752. Its historic pavilions sit beside newer enclosures, and giant pandas are among the animals kept there.

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An aquarium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has three themed areas and a curved glass wall of about 36 metres onto the shark tank. An underwater tunnel leads past rays and turtles, and a jungle section has crocodiles.

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A large zoo in Wrocław with renovated enclosures across a wide site. The Afrykarium and the oceanarium are the main draws, with hippos gliding past underwater and sharks overhead.

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A wildlife park in Saint-Félicien, Quebec, set in boreal forest beside a river. A train ride through the large enclosures, with bears, bison and moose, sets it apart.

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The zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, has large habitats with shade, misting stations and water features for a wide range of animals. Its African savanna has an elevated boardwalk for feeding giraffes, and the Museum of Living Art holds reptiles and amphibians.

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A zoo in Opole, Poland, with enclosures set among greenery, bamboo and water channels instead of fences. Gorillas, sea lions and giraffes are among the animals, and aquariums sit in the Water World area.

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A museum and aquarium inside the Bass Pro Shops store in Springfield, Missouri, with habitat displays, a shark tank and penguins. Its taxidermy displays and themed habitats set it apart.

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Large zoo in Chester with aviaries to walk through, a bat walk, a lemur walk and big cats. Themed loops from a central welcome area cover a site that needs a full day.

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A green zoo in Rostock set in woodland with old trees, playgrounds and two sections. The Darwineum evolution house and the Polarium polar bear area are its main draws.

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A zoo on a canyon in Guadalajara with a cable car, a safari and a train between enclosures. Its wide range of species and the rides across the grounds set it apart.

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A large zoo in the center of Berlin with a wide range of species, including giant pandas. The enclosures are spacious, and the grounds include an aquarium and playgrounds.

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Atlanta's aquarium has a whale shark and manta rays in its Ocean Voyager tank. Belugas, dolphins and sea lions appear in shows and exhibits, and a tunnel passes under the main tank.

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A zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina, with large natural habitats in an African and a North American section. Trams link the sections across a hilly site, and lions, elephants and polar bears are among the main animals.

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A zoo with large habitats built to look like natural landscapes, with few visible barriers between visitors and animals. The Madagascar lemur zone and the African savanna are the main draws.

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A zoo in Hanover, Germany, with themed areas that recreate regions such as Zambezi and Yukon Bay. A seal show, a boat ride and a petting zoo sit among the enclosures.

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A private zoo in Poddębice, Poland, with white lions, white tigers and capybaras. Demonstration feedings, a safari train and a petting area with goats and sheep sit across the grounds.

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A forest zoo on the Cornești Plateau in Târgu Mureș keeps elephants and giraffes. Shaded alleys run between enclosures, and deer and llamas can be touched in a petting area.

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A zoo on a wooded hillside in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico. It keeps only animals native to Chiapas, such as jaguars, tapirs and quetzals.

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Zoo in Gelsenkirchen divided into three circular themed areas: Alaska, Africa and Asia. A boat trip, an ice floe ride and a farm with a petting zoo sit among the enclosures.

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Zoo in Emmen with themed areas such as Alaska, the desert and the tropics, a truck safari across the savannah and a boat trip through a jungle. A roller coaster and indoor playground sit among the enclosures.

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A large zoo in Zurich with savannah, rainforest and elephant enclosures on one site. The Masoala Rainforest hall, the Lewa Savannah and the koala house are its main draws.

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A zoo on a hillside in Colchester with giraffes, elephants and rhinos among its animals. Animal encounters run through the day, and a land train runs to the lemur enclosure.

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A nonprofit zoo in Melbourne, Florida, supported largely by volunteers. Giraffes and kangaroos can be fed, and a kayak tour passes through the African section.

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A zoo and botanical garden in the middle of Cincinnati, Ohio. Plants line the paths, and the grounds include an elephant trek and manatee rehabilitation.

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A safari park in Pudong, Shanghai, with bus routes through lion, tiger and bear enclosures. Paid feeding with red pandas and capybaras sets it apart.

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A wildlife park in Hermival-les-Vaux, France, with a small safari train through part of the grounds and walking trails on red and yellow routes. Lodges and tents let people stay overnight among the animals.

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A small zoo in Görlitz where people can get close to farm and native animals in walk through enclosures. Feeding stations, a farm with hatching chicks and play areas set it apart from larger zoos.

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A zoo in the Basse-Terre rainforest in Guadeloupe, with most species native to the region or suited to its tropical climate. Walkways and canopy bridges run above the enclosures, and a lemur enclosure lets people walk among the animals.

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A large aquarium in Lisbon's Parque das Nações built around one central tank that runs across two floors, with sharks, rays and sunfish. The single path past the tank and the sea otter area set it apart.

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This aquarium on Sentosa island replaced the former S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore. The Open Ocean habitat and the Shark Seas tunnel set it apart.

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The zoo in Guatemala City keeps a wide range of species, from giraffes and jaguars to reptiles and fish, on a large shaded site. Feeding giraffes and Australian parakeets is offered on site, and food areas are spread around the grounds.

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The zoo in Powell, Ohio, covers a large site with habitats for animals from many regions. It keeps manatees and stages seasonal events such as the Lantern Festival.

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A zoo in Łódź built around the Orientarium, a pavilion with an underwater tunnel where sharks swim overhead. The grounds also include a butterfly house, elephant bathing and giraffe, orangutan and monkey enclosures.

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A zoo in a green park in Kerkrade, Limburg, has enclosures for giraffes, hippos, rhinos and gorillas. A walking route marked by orange signs and a dinosaur area set it apart.

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The zoo in Lisbon has a large green site with a wide range of animals, a dolphin show and a cable car ride above the enclosures. The grounds are green, with comfortable walking paths and a metro stop next to the entrance.

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An indoor aquarium in Cairns that moves through the ecosystems of Tropical North Queensland, from rainforest rivers to the Great Barrier Reef. A tall reef tank with sharks and manta rays, and a turtle hospital, set it apart.

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Aquarium in Osaka built as a spiral route down around a central Pacific tank with whale sharks, manta rays and sunfish. Seals, penguins, otters and dolphins are shown along the descent.

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A zoo on a hill in Mosman, reached by ferry from Circular Quay, with views over Sydney Harbour. Giraffes stand in front of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and seal and bird shows run daily.

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The small zoo in Greifswald, Germany, sits around a lake, with walk-through enclosures where animals can be fed and petted. There are no big cats or elephants, and most enclosures hold farm animals and small mammals.

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A wildlife and botanical park in La Lajita on Fuerteventura with camels, giraffes, lemurs and sea lion shows. Feeding giraffes and camels is part of the visit, and the grounds hold a large cactus collection.

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A zoo in Lower Silesia, Poland, set among woodland on a hillside. The World of Lemurs area lets people feed and pet lemurs for an extra fee.

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A zoo in Kharkiv, founded in 1895, that was rebuilt since 2016 with large enclosures in place of traditional cages. Admission is free, and guided tours led by zoo staff set it apart.

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A charity zoo near Barnstaple with many cat species and a shoebill. An encounter zone with keepers sets it apart.

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A zoo and botanical garden in Stuttgart on one large site, with park grounds and animal houses. The Amazon House, the greenhouses and the sea lion feeding are its main draws.

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A zoo and aquarium on a site beside Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia. The walk-through lemur enclosure and the shark and reef tanks are the main draws.

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The zoo near Dubbo, New South Wales, keeps African and Asian animals on a large open site. A one-way loop of about 5 km links the enclosures and can be walked, cycled, driven or covered by golf cart.

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A free zoo in Woodley Park, Washington, D.C., run by the Smithsonian Institution. Giant pandas, Asian elephants and a walk through aviary sit on hilly grounds that need most of a day.

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A zoo in the middle of Copenhagen with polar bears, giraffes, leopards and elephants. A wooden tower with a view over the city sets it apart.

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A zoo in New Orleans on about 58 acres, with a Louisiana swamp exhibit and an orangutan habitat. The white alligators in the swamp and the nocturnal animal area are the main draws.

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A park style zoo in central Odense, with wide green paths and enclosures set among trees. The penguin house, the treetop walkway and the tropical hall are the main draws.

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Chattanooga's aquarium fills two buildings, one for river life and one for ocean life, joined by a walk indoors. Touch tanks with sturgeon and stingrays, a butterfly garden and a penguin exhibit with keeper talks set it apart.

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A zoo in Rotterdam with the Oceanium aquarium and themed areas for each continent. Polar bears, penguins and large enclosures set it apart from other Dutch zoos.

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A privately run zoo in Kernhof, Lower Austria, with many white animals such as tigers, kangaroos and owls. A camel theatre show, a keeper talk on the white tigers and a lookout tower on the hillside set it apart.

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A wildlife park in Grünau im Almtal in Austria, set in forest and mountain scenery. Its large natural enclosures, with wolves, bears and lynx along a circular path, set it apart.

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A zoo in Les Mathes with shaded grounds, a sea lion show and a parrot show. Its giraffe and otter feedings set it apart.

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An aquarium on Cannery Row in Monterey with a kelp forest, jellyfish galleries and an Open Sea tank on the bay. The sea otters and the feedings are its main draws.

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A nature park in a former iron mine in Obregón, Cantabria, where animals live in large enclosures. Cars drive between the enclosures on a route through the park, with cable cars above.

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Aquarium in Baltimore with a spiral walkway around a large central shark tank. Rainforest, touch pools and a 4D theatre sit among the exhibits.

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A large zoo in the Bronx, New York City, with a monorail and the Congo Gorilla Forest. Tigers, elephants and lions are among the animals, and the grounds take most of a day to cover.

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A wildlife park and garden near Burford in Oxfordshire, with animals in large open enclosures. A walled garden and a train loop set it apart from a standard zoo.

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Private zoo in Santillana del Mar with orangutans, big cats, monkeys and a butterfly garden. Footprints on the ground mark the route through shaded grounds.

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A zoo in Singapore's Mandai area where moats and glass replace cages, with a rainforest walkway and a tram between zones. The Fragile Forest, the orangutan canopy and the sea lion show set it apart.

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A zoo in Cali with animals from Colombia and other countries, set in lush vegetation. A butterfly garden and a circular trail set it apart.

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A zoo in Phoenix Park, Dublin, with large enclosures and an African Plains section where giraffes, rhinos and zebras share open savanna. Lego animal sculptures are spread around the grounds.

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A zoo in Paignton, Devon, under new owners who are rebuilding enclosures and adding animals. The grounds are split into themed zones, with planted enclosures for the animals.

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Marine park in Valencia with zones for different oceans, belugas, penguins, sharks and a dolphin show. An underwater tunnel passes through the shark tank.

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A hillside zoo in Bedfordshire run by ZSL, with large enclosures across open parkland. An electric bus and a steam train carry visitors around the grounds.

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A small zoo in Gulf Breeze, Florida, near Pensacola. Feed sold at the entrance lets people give giraffes, goats and budgies food by hand.

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A zoo in a rocky, wooded landscape on the edge of Nuremberg, with paths that climb a hill. The dolphin lagoon, with an underwater viewing window, and the manatee house set it apart.

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A wildlife park on a mountainside in Argelès-Gazost, with a shaded path that climbs the slope. Walk-in enclosures for goats and marmots, and overnight lodges beside wolves, bears and red pandas, set it apart.

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A large zoo on the Isar floodplain in Munich, with animals arranged largely by continent. A marked red route leads through the enclosures in order.

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Memphis's zoo is a large park with an Egyptian style entrance and a splash pad for children. Cat Country and a giraffe feeding deck are the main animal areas, and indoor enclosures give shade in summer.

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Zoo and botanical garden in Palm Desert with desert wildlife and animals from Africa and Australia. Giraffe feeding, a splash pad and walking trails through cacti sit beside the enclosures.

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A zoo in Cape May County, New Jersey, on a park with trails, playgrounds and a wooden boardwalk through trees. Admission is free with a donation box, and giraffes and zebras live in an African safari area.

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The aquarium in Scottsdale, Arizona, has a rotating viewing theater that moves past the tanks, shark and ray tanks, and touch pools. It is AZA accredited, with penguins, sharks, rays and turtles among the animals.

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A wildlife and botanical park in wooded grounds, where many animals roam semi free and few are behind fences. The bird show and the trampolines in the trees set it apart.

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A zoo in the Oliwa forest in Gdańsk with lions, monkey houses and many species in large enclosures. The forest setting and the size of the grounds set it apart.

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A zoo in Cologne, with elephant and giraffe enclosures, paths through its grounds, playgrounds, and an aquarium near the entrance. The dinosaur exhibit and the China Lights lantern show set it apart.

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Park on a hillside in Saikai where animals roam with few fences or cages. Capybaras, kangaroos and squirrel monkeys can be fed and petted by hand.

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The zoo in Calgary, Alberta, is split into four zones with polar bears, penguins, lemurs and a butterfly house. Its penguin exhibit has a sky dome, and the polar bear enclosure includes an underwater viewing tunnel.

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A rescue centre for animals confiscated from illegal trafficking, set in a holm oak forest in Castellar de la Frontera. Most animals can be fed with food sold at the entrance, and many can be touched.

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Zoo in Nashville with kangaroos, giraffes and clouded leopards across a large shaded site. A zip line, carousel and 4D theatre sit among the animal areas.

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A wildlife park in the Reinhardswald forest in northern Hesse, with European wild species and domestic breeds in large enclosures. Old oaks line the paths, and Sababurg Castle, the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale setting, overlooks the grounds.

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An animal park on Port Island in Kobe, with mostly indoor areas and few fences between people and the animals. Shoebills, Pallas's cats, sloths and capybaras can be seen at close range, and feeding and petting sessions set it apart.

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A wildlife park on a mountainside in the Auvergne, focused on endangered species in large natural enclosures. Immersive enclosures for lemurs, sika deer and mouflon line a hillside trail, and a small train climbs to the top.

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A zoo in Minocqua with deer, goats and other animals that roam free among people. A tram safari drives through the larger enclosures, and the grounds take about three hours to walk.

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The zoo lies at the foot of Mount Omuro in Ito, Japan, beside a large cactus garden. Peacocks and squirrel monkeys roam free, and most animals can be fed by hand.

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