Did you ever wonder which are the largest zoos in the world? Thousands of people around the globe go to their local zoo to satisfy their curiosity and witness firsthand some of the amazing creatures that can be found scattered around the world. In addition, they can enjoy attractions and staged events, and acquire first-hand knowledge about the animal kingdom.
Regardless of the personal interest that could motivate your visit to the zoo, the fact is that almost all of us have been to a menagerie a time or two in our lives. Safari parks, aquariums, petting zoos, zoological gardens…there’s a type of zoo for every potential visitor, and today we’ve compiled a list of the largest ones in the world. If you enjoy lists showcasing this type of immensity, you should also check out our countdown on The Ocean’s 10 Biggest Shipping Companies and get blown away by the ten tsunamis of transportation.
Coming back to our present countdown, in ranking the zoos we decided to dismiss the acreage (though we did state it, together with the number of animals housed by each zoo, to show the density of animal population in each establishment). Instead, we considered the number of species and listed the 10 most immense zoos from the ones with the lowest number of species in our top ten, to the ones with the most comprehensive collection of animal species worldwide.
Let’s take a look at the countdown and find out which are the largest zoos in the world, starting with Canada’s entry on the list!
10. The Toronto Zoo
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Number of Animal Species: 500
Number of Animals: 5,000
Notable Species: Mandarin ducks, orangutans, Sumatran tigers, hyenas, olive baboons, sable antelopes, elks, bison, moose, grizzly bears, lynx, emus, black cockatoos, camels and alpacas.
Opening: 1974
Features: It has one of the most taxonomically diverse collections of animals on display, and the world’s largest indoor gorilla exhibit; it aids in the conservation of endangered species.
Size: 710 acres
A California zoo occupies the next spot on our countdown of the largest zoos in the world, continued on the next page. Can you guess which one?
