SHANGHAI ZOO

My guidebook says that the Shanghai Zoo is as good as zoo as you will find in China.   Compared to the zoos in Seattle and San Diego (the two I know), the Shanghai Zoo is a half century behind. . . well, decades at least.  Woodland Park has been periodically remodeled or updated over the past thirty to forty years with many best exhibit awards.   In contrast, many of the Shanghai Zoo exhibits remind me of the displays I recall from the 60s and 70s in Seattle.  Still there are some captivating displays.   For example, the bird display of swans and pelicans in an open water section of the zoo provides a great setting for viewing the birds.   The rhinoceros display allowed a clear view of the animal as it moved through its area. And the grounds are beautiful    I spent three hours at the zoo, did a lot of walking, and tired my feet out.

Cost to enter the zoo was around 30 to 40 Y with a special price for kids and those  between 60 and 70.  I tried to pay, but they "waived" me through.  Too old to pay.  What a concept!

Layout of the Zoo

 

When I told Ding Yaping I was planning to go to the zoo, she said, "Go there in the morning.  If you go there in the afternoon the animals will all be asleep.  They are Chinese animals."   I got there before noon, and the mammals were passed out.  Pandas, tigers, lions--most of the big animals were out of sight, or barely visible in their reclining positions.   I found the only mammals awake to stand, much less visible while reclining, were the cattle, deer and antelope, zebras, the "vegetarians."

When I first got to the zoo I took the electric tram around the park to get the layout, and saw the swans.  I wanted to get back here, but it took almost 2 hours to find my way back since I trekked through the middle of the zoo instead of following the outer road. 

Pelicans

I see some online reviews have called for closing the zoo because of the state of some exhibits, primarily the sea lion exhibit, which I didn't see. 

This fella has a pretty big schnoz..   Can a Toucan get to close?   Yes, a Toucan can!







This big fella came up and started biting the fencing and making a big ruckus with his beak.   He was literally this close.  By the time I got the video going he had calmed down a bit.

Hippo harassing hippo.

Emu

On my way out of the zoo, I passed by a patio with a series of large clear cylinders that served as vertical outdoor fish tanks holding various gold fish

Three hours of steady walking and a metro ride back to the hotel!