These zoos are great places for many animals that people can watch and learn from. A zoo may be a perfect place to see animals native to and captured in the wild. For others, these institutions evoke memories of childhood excursions as locations to see species from all over the world. They may also spark debate. Perhaps, identifying the zoos and animal parks where visitors are explained about the importance of all animals together with the conservation processes and research for the rescue of endangered species and decreasing habitats can make the eco-conscious tourists feel good about staying there. This article will help you find the best zoos in the United States to have fun.

It should be understood that not all zoos are equal, that is why the editors of the U. S. News invested a lot of effort in creating this list of American zoos. All sites have been noted by post-visit visitors to benefit from positive ratings on multiple websites. Are certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums whose primary objective is to ensure that animals’ welfare is well taken care of and the sites have been scrutinized by competent vets and animal care experts.

What to Know Before You Go

‘Even while designing ethically developed zoological gardens and aquariums, there are a small number of considerations which make them stand out’ – states Dan Ashe, the current president and chief executive of the AZA. He says that AZA certification is one of the most significant differentiators for zoo visitors to consider. As for the accreditation of AZA, the association can pride itself on quite strict and multifaceted procedures that guarantee the zoos’ and aquariums’ ability to offer the highest level of animal care and well-being.

Ashe recommends that one should research a facility’s website to understand its protocols on animal care, its education programs, conservation practices, and its stance on equal opportunities related to diversity. These facts supplemented by traveling through the behind-the-scenes and appreciating the educational shows will assist the visitors to make the right decision of whether to visit a certain zoo or not. But not forget this article primarily objective is to find the best zoos in the United States.

1. Oakland Zoo: Oakland, California

The Oakland Zoo is located approximately 20 miles east of San Francisco some of the programs offered by the zoo include animal care and rescue, confrontation, and more. It was in 1991 that the Oakland Zoo launched what has come to be known as the ’ protected contact’ mode of handling animals. The innovative approach (now employed by animal behaviorists worldwide) separates zookeepers and elephants with barriers and incentivizes. The animals via incentives rather than discipline.

The Oakland Zoo is home to over 850 native and exotic species. Visitors may observe African lions, American alligators, and grizzly bears in their natural environments. Take the Express Train to Wild Australia, where emus, wallabies, and wallaroos roam. Zoogoers loved the hillside setting and the gondola-style Sky Ride, which gives aerial views of the animals.

Many animals here are rescued, and the zoo engages in local and worldwide conservation efforts. Such as California condor and mountain lion rehabilitation and veterinary care. The Oakland Zoo where the Conservation Society of California operates has partnered with conservation organizations, engaged with 25 of them. It donated over $1m to captivity and wild animals.

2. Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute: Washington, D.C.

National Zoo or the National Zoological Park is in the Rock Creek, about 2+miles northwest of the metropolitan Washington D. C and was established in 1889 by President Grover Cleveland.  Visitors love the free entrance and the opportunity to see over 2,100 creatures on show. Including Andean bear cubs, Bennett’s wallabies, and California sea lions.

Here visitors can observe lions and their cubs, orangutans, meerkats, and seals and thus listen to the stories from the zookeepers. Likewise, the mission of the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute also pertinent to the other regions of the nation and worldwide. Through scientific research for breeding endangered species and again in the process of rehabilitating the animals. Then releasing them in the wild.

3. Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska

At the moment, it is the only center that has the program rehabilitation of live stranded marine animals recognized and approved by the state government.  The technical tour enables the visitors to be knowledgeable about marine life in Alaska. At the same time will assist the center’s wildlife response and scientific work. 

While there are a variety of exhibits about the importance of marine life, tourists at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Which may include sea lions, seals, king crabs, horned puffins, giant Pacific octopuses, and many others. The care and education teams are available to provide the visitors with behind-the-scenes tours of the center’s wildlife programs.

The organization is involved in the Alaska Wildlife Response Program, which deals with living and dead marine wildlife that is abandoned, stranded, or in distress and similarly for oil spills or any other occurrence of any nature in Alaska. According to Nancy Deel, the communications director of The Alaska SeaLife Center. 

”Regarding the education programs that are offered at the Alaska SeaLife Center, she says that the center works towards developing ocean literacy as well as fostering stewardship among all age groups of people.

Besides promoting education at local and international levels the main mission of the center is to improve. The understanding of various issues through the formation and dissemination of scientific knowledge the Chiswell Island Steller Sea Lion Remote Video Monitoring Project, according to Deel, is one of the facility’s primary conservation initiatives. Scientists have been monitoring endangered animals since 1998, and the 25-year experiment has yielded long-term insights and several scholarly papers. 

4. Saint Louis Zoo: St. Louis

The attraction that can be observed for free is the Saint Louis Zoo that has no entrance fees. It participates in the programs of conservation and research. The establishment has been recognized by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums through endorsing the establishment of the Worldwide Conservation Award in 2022. For its attempt of researching as well as conserving in the United States of America, particularly in the Galápagos Islands.

Furthermore, zookeepers recently produced and released hundreds of almost extinct snail species into the wilds of French Polynesia. The facility’s Ozark and eastern hellbenders program is one of the world’s largest amphibian reintroduction programs.

The animal park houses around 16,000 species, which zoo visitors claim are kept in clean and large natural settings. The Saint Louis Zoo is an open year-round zoo free for the public to access and part of it houses Andean bears, black rhinoceros, polar bears, and Sumatran orangutans.

5. Fort Worth Zoo – Fort Worth, Texas

Entertaining and educating tourists since 1909, the Fort Worth Zoo is considered to be the oldest continuously operating zoo located in the state of Texas. This Fort Worth attraction is one of just a few zoos in the United States that houses bonobos (one of the four great ape species) and two rhino species. The building also includes the Museum of Living Art, which is packed with reptiles and amphibians. 

Recent visitors are delighted with the cleanliness and design of the enclosures. They recommend using the Yellow Rose Express train. Furthermore, the zoo is a pioneer in Asian elephant conservation and has the world’s most successful lesser flamingo breeding colony.

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