Zoo Rating: Colchester Zoo

Colchester Zoo

Colchester, United Kingdom

About the zoo

Colchester Zoo is a 60 acres big zoo that houses over 260 species of animals. The zoo opened in 1963 as the Stanway Hall Zoo Park. Later, it became Colchester Zoo, now one of the most well-known zoos in the United Kingdom.

 

 

 

 1. Species

Colchester Zoo houses many rare species, including gelada baboons, smooth-coated otters, pileated gibbons, southern tamandua, red-backed beared sakis, lesser Malayan chevrotain and more. Next to that, there are also the well-known zoo animals. This all together makes Colchester Zoo a nice species list.

Score: 8

2. Animal Welfare

Most of the rare kept animals have been breeding in Colchester Zoo. Besides, all animals have enclosures which are perfectly adapted to their needs, and they're big enough aswell. Not many bad things to say about Colchesters animal welfare.

Score: 8

3. Construction

The whole zoo is themed very nice, bringing you home in the habitat of the animals. Colchester isn't like the regular zoo that has animals in (nice) cages, but the zoo really did its best to make it look beautiful outside the enclosures as well.

Score: 8.5

4. Accommodations

Around almost each corner you will find yourself a place to buy a drink or a snack. There is a big difference in the food you can buy at the stands, so you'll most definitely find something you'll like.

Score: 8.5 

 5. Education

Colchester zoo has been on TV for some weeks, but in the zoo itself you can't find much about that. There are a lot signs around the zoo, and there are some feeding presentations which are educative aswell.

Score: 7.5

6. Interaction

Apart from some walkthrough enclosures, there isn't that much interaction with the animals.

Score: 7

 

 

Total Score: 7.9

Colchester zoo is one zoo you should definitely visit. It has a big variety of animals, has a great atmosphere and makes a great daytrip.

Gerben, 24/05/2014.

 

Zoo Rating: Bournemouth Oceanium

Bournemouth Oceanarium

Bournemouth, United Kingdom

 

About the Zoo

The Bournemouth Oceanarium is an aquarium located right next to the pier of Bournemouth, England. The Oceanarium contains over 500,000 liters of water housing over 300 species of animals. Although having a ground and a first floor, it isn’t too big.

1. Species

Since it’s completely an indoors, the Oceanarium doesn’t contain any large species; the largest being their sharks, moray eels and sea turtles. They have some interesting species of certain fish and a wide variety of them, but if you’re not really into fish they probably won’t really interest you. Although to make it some more interesting visitors like this they also house otters and some reptiles.

 Score: 7

2. Animal Welfare

The tanks are of a fine size, not being too large but big enough for the fish it houses. Some artificial coral patches are struggling with brown aquarium algae, but except for displaying the coral colors a bit dull this doesn’t have much influence on the health of the animals.

 Score: 7

3. Construction

The route through the aquarium first leads you upstairs, to the river habitats. With the rivers you will go down to the shore. Then you will go through the reefs leading you to the Abyss, which will bring you to the coast again. It’s not a very long journey but it really has been thought through.

 Score: 7.5

4. Accommodations

Being an indoor aquarium there isn’t much need for much facilities. The entrance contains an medium-sized restaurant and a gift shop; just enough for your visit.

 Score: 6.5

5. Education

At the smaller tanks you will only find signs telling you about the fish species living in it. But having 9 feeding/talk presentations per day you will sure get some information. An employee will tell you everything about their otters, sharks, piranhas, octopus and much more. This of course depends on which feeding presentation you visit. But since they are all at different times you won’t have to miss any of them.

 Score: 8

6. Interaction

You wouldn’t expect much interaction in an aquarium but in this one there certainly is. You can face your fears and hold one of their Royal Pythons or pet one of their other reptiles. If you want something else you can jump into their virtual Dive Cage which gives you a 270-degree continuous view of the ocean. The large touch screens bring you up close with various animals such as a Great White Shark or a Blue Whale. While observing them you can learn anything about their feeding habits and much more. If this all seems too thrilling for you, you can visit their Puffer fish tank and interact with them since these are very curious fish, unlike any other fish you saw before.

 Score:8

Total Score: 7.3

The Bournemouth Aquarium is a place you should really consider visiting when you are in that area. If you’re not a real fish lover you’ll probably only visit once, but if you are you may want to come back when you’re near Bournemouth again. Since it is only an aquarium it will not take much time to visit but you will sure enjoy yourself when you are inside; especially when you visit a presentation.

Kevin, 07/05/14

Zoo Rating: Blue Planet Aquarium

Blue Planet Aquarium

Ellesmere Port, United Kingdom

About the Zoo

Henk The Blue Planet Aquarium opened its doors in 1998. By then, it was the biggest aquarium in the United Kingdom. The main tnak holds 4 million liters of water and contains a 71 meter long underwater tunnel. The aquarium has more than 100 displays and has one of the biggest shark collections in Europe.

1. Species

The zoo houses one of Europe’s biggest shark collections, has a big diversity of fish and a small amount of other animals. It might not be the most spectacular collection, but the great variety of different fish and the shark collection still makes it a nice species collection.

Score: 7

2. Animal welfare

Most of the tanks are quite big, none of them being too small for the amount of animals in it.

Score: 7

3. Construction

Beautiful. Every area in the aquarium is themed very well and it makes the aquarium a lot more interesting.

Score: 8

4. Accommodations

The aquarium has just one restaurant, while it is quite big. This does mean that if you want to have a drink or a snack, you have to walk a bit.

Score: 6

5. Education

Nothing major, just the standard exhibit signs.

Score: 6

6. Interaction/

The aquarium gives you the opportunity to dive with sharks. This is a special tour though, for which you need to pay seperately. Other than that, the aquarium has a big underwater tunnel, that lets you come real close to the animals.

Score: 6.5

Total Score: 6.8

The Blue Planet Aquarium is one of the more different aquariums, also one where you’ll spend more than 1-1.5 hours. The whole subtropical atmosphere they created makes visitting it much more interesting. Altogether the aquarium definitly makes a nice day trip that you’ll enjoy for sure.

Gerben, 16/05/2014