Animal theme park

An animal theme park, also known as a zoological theme park, is a combination of a theme park and a zoo, mainly for entertainment, amusement, and commercial purposes. Many animal theme parks combine classic theme park elements, such as themed entertainment and amusement rides, with classic zoo elements such as live animals confined within enclosures for display. Many times, live animals are utilized and featured as part of amusement rides and attractions found at animal theme parks.

Disney's Animal Kingdom, Bay Lake, Florida, United States

A black-handed spider monkey in the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, Jerusalem, Israel

Two examples of animal theme parks are Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida (580 acres or 2.3 square kilometres) and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida (335 acres or 1.36 square kilometres). These commercial parks are similar to open-range zoos and safari parks according to size, but different in intention and appearance, containing more entertainment and amusement elements (stage shows, amusement rides, etc.).

The term "animal theme park" can also be used to describe certain marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and more elaborate dolphinariums, such as SeaWorld, which offers amusement rides and additional entertainment attractions, and are also where marine animals such as whales are kept, contained, put on display, and are sometimes trained to perform in shows.

In 2010 the practice of keeping animals as trained show performers in theme parks was heavily criticized when a trainer was killed by an orca whale at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida.[1]

List of animal theme parks

Zoological theme parks

• Bellewaerde in Zonnebeke, Belgium
• Busch Gardens Tampa in Tampa Bay, Florida
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia
• Chessington World Of Adventures in Surrey, England
• Disney's Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
• Dreamworld in Gold Coast, Australia
• Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire, England
• Gatorland in Orlando, Florida
• Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose, California
• Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania
• Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky, Ohio
• Knoebels in Elysburg, Pennsylvania
• Le Pal in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre, France
• Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Florida
• Parc Safari in Hemmingford, Quebec
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California
• Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey
• Taman Safari in Bogor, Indonesia
• Tayto Park in Curraha, Ireland
• Tobu Zoo in Miyashiro, Saitama
• Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia
• Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen in Emmen, Netherlands
• Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, Arizona
• York's Wild Kingdom in York Beach, Maine

Marine theme parks (marine mammal parks and oceanariums)

Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia

• Aquatica in Orlando, Florida, Chula Vista, California and San Antonio, Texas
• Boudewijn Seapark in Sint-Michiels, Bruges, Belgium
• Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida
• Epcot in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
• Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
• Ocean Park Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China
• Sea World in Gold Coast, Australia
• SeaWorld San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas
• SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, California
• SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida
• Bali Safari and Marine Park in Bali, Indonesia

Zoos with amusement attractions

Bronx Zoo, New York City, United States

Most zoos have a carousel and/or Safari Train, but some zoos have more amusement attractions than that.

• Bronx Zoo in New York City
  • Features a monorail attraction, bug carousel, zip-line course, and obstacle course for children
• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio
  • Features a carousel, boat ride (like an Old Mill ride but entirely outside), North American Wilderness Train, 3D cinema, camel ride, pony ride, three children's playgrounds, and it is combined with Zoombezi Bay and Rides At Adventure Cove
• Drusillas Zoo Park near Alfriston, in East Sussex, UK
  • Features the Eden's Eye maze, The Flying Cheetahs ride, the Hippopotobus ride, a Hello Kitty car ride, a tea cup ride, a "reach for the sky" hopper ride, an adventure play area separated for different age groups, an indoor soft play centre, and the Safari Express train ride
• Fort Wayne Children's Zoo in Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • Features jungle carousel, safari train, log ride (like a log flume but with no lift hills or splash drops), and safari sky ride
• Granby Zoo in Granby, Quebec
  • Features a pony ride, camel ride, monorail, 3D cinema, carousel, Ferris wheel, roller coaster, pirate ship, bumper cars, indoor kids' playground, and water park
• Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Features a Jungle Carousel, Safari Train, family roller coaster, and Safari Sky Ride
• Metro Richmond Zoo in Chesterfield County, Virginia
  • Features a Safari Sky Ride, Jungle Carousel, Safari Train, kids' playground, and zip line
• Oakland Zoo in Oakland, California
  • Features a Jungle Carousel, doughnut ride, plane ride, safari jeep ride, sky ride, Outback Train, family roller coaster, and kids' playground
• Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Features a carousel, log ride (like a log flume but with no lift hills or splash drops), safari train, and kids' playground
• San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California
  • Features a "Sky Safari" attraction, motion simulator experience, and double decker bus tour
• San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California
  • Features a safari vehicular tour, hot air balloon experience, jungle carousel, and zip line adventure
• Singapore Zoo in Singapore
  • Features a vehicular tour, jungle carousel, pony ride, horse carriage ride, and water park
• Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio
  • Features a Jungle Carousel, Safari Train, kids' playground, splash pad, and obstacle course
• ZooTampa at Lowry Park in Tampa, Florida
  • Features a log flume, a jungle carousel, family roller coaster, bus tour, and miscellaneous rides for small children

See also

• Marine mammal park
• List of amusement parks

References

1. "Limited Understanding Of Animals In Theme Parks".