Columbus Zoo Columbus, OH |
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|---|---|---|---|
Rating |
Excellent |
Age |
1 and up |
Lockers |
Available |
Restrooms |
Adequate |
Food |
Readily available |
Closest Coffee |
Starbucks available inside the front gate |
Recommendation |
We highly recommend the Columbus Zoo. Make the trip to Columbus, Ohio. | ||
Review: by Mom
For years we've heard that this is a terrific zoo, but now, having seen it firsthand, I know why. If you have to keep animals in captivity, this is how to do it. The zoo was CLEAN. It was obvious that the employees take pride in their work. The animals all appeared to be in excellent health. Best of all, there were numerous opportunities for the public to interact with the animals, most notably in the lorikeet and kangaroo enclosures. (We did not get to every exhibit in the zoo, so there may be other interactive exhibits we left unexplored.) For $1 you can get a dish of nectar to feed the lorikeets, which are green, parakeet-type birds native to Australia. Inside their enclosure, the birds would lean off their perches to drink from your dish. If you were patient and held your dish just so (handlers showed you how willingly,) the birds would perch on your hand to drink. The kangaroo enclosure is a fenced area with entry and exit doors. Inside is an asphalt path that visitors are required to stay on. The kangaroos, however, have free rein and can cross the path whenever they wish. We were fortunate enough to be within range when one stopped on the path. Sam and Will got to stand within 18 inches of it!
Use the link above to explore the zoo's web site. Try to plan your visit for "Enrichment Day", when the handlers demonstrate how they provide mental stimulation and variety for the caged animals. It was very entertaining and informative. We saw a scarlet macaw painting original artwork, purchased a piece of gorilla art, and witnessed orangutans foraging for popsicles and melon balls in a box of hay (and wearing the boxes when they were empty!). We also saw a display of the equipment manatees use for stimulation--large balls, pvc pipe "tunnels" with brushes attached so they can scratch their backs, and many more. It gave us a whole new perspective on the lives of zoo creatures.
Additional Reviews:
Will: You should look for Fluffy, the reticulated python. He is the largest snake in captivity--31 kids long! They also have flying foxes, which are the biggest bats in the world. They might look big on TV, but they're even bigger in real life! The albino alligator was incredible. It wasn't the regular color of an alligator; it was pearly white, and it had red eyes that were really freaky. (Don't look directly into them.) It gave me good luck for a year!
Sam: They have 2 very active Komodo dragons.
Dad: This is the one of the only places outside of Florida where you can see living Manatees. For this reason alone I think this is a must-see zoo. The Australian animal exhibit is also very good.