Arizona, also called the Great Canyon state, is one of the states in the southwest of the United States. The state is the country’s sixth-largest and fourteenth-most populous state and is best known for the Great Canyon carved by the Colorado River.
1. About Arizona
The temperature in Arizona is usually hot and humid; it hardly snows in Arizona. The place has too many mountain points attracting visitors for hiking and trekking; Great Canyon and Monument Valley are some of them. Arizona is famous for many things, including its beautiful scenery and rich history. But the best part is its sunsets; you will fall in love with the sunsets in Arizona, which also holds a rich cultural heritage.
Not only does Arizona hold cultural values and history, but the place is also home to many students, as the state has around 57 universities and colleges. With great heritage and history comes the great responsibility of protecting the past and showing it to future generations.
With great heritage and history, they have some amazingly rare and unique animals; some of them are even almost extinct, like the white Bengal tiger. The largest mammal in Arizona is Bison. Arizona has quite a few fascinating zoos for both kids and adults. In this article, we will read about five famous Arizona zoos.
2. Introduction to Zoos
Usually, the Zoo spaces are very large, and animals are way farther than humans to avoid any mishaps in the zoo. Zoos are very popular among kids as they get to see the animals who are in their storybooks. Toddlers love Zoo as they not only get to encounter the animals in real life but also understand who are wild beasts we shall be scared of and who are the loveable petting animals. That way, it’s a learning lesson, too.
2.1 Famous Zoo in Arizona
2.1.1 Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix Zoo, when it started, was the largest and most diverse zoo in the southeast corner. A large portion of the zoo is devoted to Arizona’s native wildlife. From animals as large as mountain lions and bighorn sheep to creatures as small and secretive as scorpions and mice, all have exhibits in Arizona’s biggest zoo.
Some petting animals are also available at the zoo, like the giraffe, and Stingray Bay, allowing visitors to touch the friendly animals and get a close-up personal experience. The zoo offers unique and new opportunities to view animals from all around the world.
Popular sights in the zoo include huge one-teethed elephants, rhinos, and giraffes that have their natural habitat. With over 3000 animals of various species, the zoo allows visitors to have a close-up and personal experience with animals. You can easily spend your entire day looking at and appreciating them for their beauty and natural habitat.
- Address – 455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008
2.1.2 Bearizona
Well, if you are looking for the best zoo, visit my favorite one in Arizona, Bearizona, located among the pines of William, about 30 minutes west of Flagstaff. The park has two sections: a drive-thru portion and a walk-thru area.
In the drive-thru section, you see wolves, bears, bison, and deer at extremely close range but in a safe environment. You can drive your car slowly through the separate enclosures, and animals are free roaming in these large fenced areas. They can even walk up to your car but remember to close your windows and lock it.
Classic zoo experience is in the walk-in area section of Bearizona, which is growing and constantly adding wild reduced animals from different parts of the world. Here you can explore animals like jaguars, foxes, javelina, and other native Arizona species.
Bearizona is one of the best kid-friendly and wheelchair-accessible zoos for families. You must visit the zoo in the morning as the animals are the most active in the morning, for an exciting experience with them.
- Address – 1500 E Rte 66, Williams, AZ 86046
2.1.3 Out of Africa Wildlife Park
As the name tells about the park, the majority of the animals located in the zoo are from the exotic country of Africa. In fact, Out of Africa Park, you can explore animals like American Black Bears, Black Leopard, Burmese Python, Grant’s Zebra, Grey Wolf, Ring-Talied Lemur, and many more.
You can enjoy the African Bush Safari tour, where you can get an amazing opportunity to pet the long-necked giraffe and see other African animals close up, giving you a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are other exciting things like the Tiger Splash Show, the daily creature feature, and a giant snake show for those brave enough to touch a giant anaconda and pythons.
The Africa Zoo stands out on the list of zoos due to the special bonds between the tiger and their handlers, and the other rescued animals that live very comfortably are well taken off. This is a must-visit zoo for any family who wants to have a different zoo experience.
- Address – 3505 W SR-260, Camp Verde, AZ 86322
2.1.4 Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium, and Safari Park
This amazing zoo is in Litchfield Park, Arizona, and combines a zoo, aquarium, and safari park all into one place. There are even a couple of roller coaster rides and amusement park rides in the Adventure Land section of the park.
The aquarium is within four buildings and even has a long clear tunnel that takes you into one of the huge tanks, giving you a close-up look at some sea creatures who live inside the tank. The aquarium is home to sea lions and Arizona’s firstborn baby sea lion. The visitors can watch them during feeding times and perform tricks during daily shows.
The zoo section called the Wildlife World Zoo has some special exhibits for viewing the baby animals, a space where visitors walk among the kangaroos, and an enclosure for the rare white rhinoceros. Well, Wildlife World Zoo has a distinction from other zoos for being a park that has all species of big cats from all over the world.
The safari section is filled up with several African animals, and it has been recently expanded to allow even more room for all the animals to roam freely as they do in their natural habitat.
Well, one day might not be enough for the visitors to visit the three sections in one day. But a day’s trip to the zoo and you’ll make the best of your weekend.
- Address – 16501 W Northern Avenue, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
2.1.5 Desert Breeze Hummingbird Habitat
The beautiful habitat in Chandler is called the Desert Breeze Hummingbird Habitat. This park is truly unique and special as the hummingbird here are completely wild and free, and come and go. There are more than 50 species of desert plants here that hummingbirds love.
This place is a great stop for those interested in bird watching. Not only will you see dozens of hummingbirds on a good day, but you’ll also see different species of doves, sparrows, and other native birds.
The playground and parks nearby make the place perfect for families to have a perfect afternoon and enjoy a little picnic. The hummingbirds are most active during the cool spring days when most plants are still blooming. There is some beautiful metal artwork scattered throughout the park.
The Desert Hummingbird Habitat is a small refuge perfect for bird-watching enthusiasts and a great place to spend a peaceful morning and evening.
- Address – 4700 W Desert Street, Chandler, AZ 85226
Conclusion
Visitors to Arizona usually take in the national parks, hikes, and gardens but shouldn’t overlook the zoos and wildlife parks scattered across the state. From the largest zoo in the state in Phoenix to the quaint hummingbird habitat in Chandler, there is a place for everyone to enjoy looking at and even interacting with the animals.
Well, as much as we appreciate these five zoos and their animals, someone who need more appreciation is the animal handlers and the cleaning staff. It is often noticed that people leave some wrappers behind in zoos or throw stones at animals. This behavior is completely inappropriate towards the animals, and they might get brutally hurt; this is also a punishable offense that might lead to jail.
Animal handlers for small animals might seem easy from a distance, but it is way harder to catch them, feed them, give them necessary medicines, or do their other chores like cutting their nails, maintaining their looks, etc. And for the big animals, it is hard to explain well. Giant ones like elephants and giraffes are usually very vulnerable and playful with their handlers but have mood swings.
But for the Wild big cats the handlers are risking their life by jumping into their territory and caring for them they can get vicious at any moment. There have been many cases where tigers have attacked their handlers Well this is quite a rare case as sometimes the handler nurses the tigers or baby cubs from their birth so that the wild beasts could trust them for the rest of their life.
This relationship between the handlers and animals is amazing, and the way the cleaning staff contributes to the zoo is remarkable.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
