Legacy gets the Scoop on ‘Nation’s #1 Zoo’

Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has long been a staple to our area’s tourism activity and was recently named the best in the nation by USA Today. But to those who grew up with the zoo it is more than just a tourism attraction, as Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is constantly growing and changing so is the zoo experience. With a focus on conservation and education, exhibits reflect a clear representation of an animals natural habitat, signs and postage around the zoo aim to educate and influence the public.

Gorilla Valley

Review by Tony McGill, photo by V Hall

Rating: 8.5/10

Favorite Animal: Young gorillas

Gorilla Valley was a well put-together exhibit. There was enough room in the enclosure that each gorilla or other primate could have their own area, and some animals could relax while others played. Unfortunately, most of the animals weren’t doing much, including the one I came to see, the silverback gorilla. There were, however, two younger gorillas chasing and wrestling each other across the exhibit. The energy those two gorillas brought to the table was truly remarkable, but the other animals weren’t doing much to help them out.

Desert Dome

Review by Cale Murphy, photo by V Hall

Rating: 9/10

Favorite Animal: Tawny Frogmouth

I had chose the Desert Dome because it fascinates me how animals can inhabit a desolate wasteland. It also interested me how many different types of animals can exist in a habitat like that. I was surprised at how different types of animals had adapted to the environments, such as with camouflage.

Butterfly and Insect Pavillion

Review and photo by Caitlyn Ybarra

Rating: 7/10    

Favorite Animal: Blue Clipper Butterfly

     The part with the butterflies was really pretty and calming. Unfortunately due to the Nebraska weather it was pretty cold, so I feel like there weren’t as many butterflies as there would be in the summer. You get to walk through a chrysalis lab where you can learn how the conservatory obtains the butterflies and learn more about the insects themselves. When you go through the part with the insects there’s various facts scattered along the exhibits which was interesting as well.  

Expedition Madagascar

Review and photos by V Hall

Rating: 8/10  

Favorite Animal: Ring Tailed Lemur

     Expedition Madagascar is an easy exhibit to overlook because of its location; however, it’s definitely worth visiting. Going through the exhibit, I could easily find an animal in every enclosure, many of which were adorable lemurs. There was hardly any foot traffic and the darkness of the exhibit made it a somewhat eerie but immersive experience. I also got to talk to two of the keepers about an injured lemur and learn a little about lemur care.

African Grasslands

Review by Makayla Vaughn, photo by V Hall

Rating: 9/10                 

Favorite Animal: Giraffes

     It was a fun exhibit, just very large and a lot of walking. It also felt like not a lot of animals were actually outdoors, because it was a little colder out, but these animals are best adapted to heat. The herd rooms were the hotspot because that’s where a majority of the animals hang out. It’s definitely a good exhibit for a nicer day and for when you have the time to explore and look at all the animals that are in the area.

Wild Kingdom Pavillion

Review and photo by Michael Stamps

Rating: 8/10                 

Favorite Animal: Rhino Rat Snake

     This exhibit is very relaxing – it’s a nice change of pace compared to others, where there is a lot of action and animals moving around. The animals, ranging from snakes to fish to mice, are small and fun to watch. Some are adorable, and some are scary, like the Prehensile-tailed skink. I liked the layout and design on the inside. There is a structure in the middle with trees and various fish and other aquatic animals, as well as a stage toward the back where training is done.  

Sea Lion Shores

Review and photo by Leo Lopez

Rating: 10/10                 

Favorite Animal: Sea Lion

     Overall the whole exhibit was amazing, it gave you great views of the sea lions and it included a show during the sea lions’ feeding times. It was fun to see the sea lions jump and roar during the show, I also got to learn a lot about the different sea lions the zoo has. The exhibit was well-organized, and it really set the setting with all the details they put into it, such as the big rocks and the seashells in the ground.  

Aquarium

Review by Kennedy Petersen, photo by V Hall

Rating: 9.5/10                 

Favorite Animal: Jellyfish

     The aquarium has always been a favorite exhibit of mine, it’s always a nice escape from the weather and it’s always so cool to look at all the animals, and all the things that they have in there. I could watch the jellyfish for hours. They’re super calming to watch, and I really like learning about all the different types of them. There’s such a variety of colorful fish and different things, and sea creatures a lot of the time give me inspiration for art. 

Lied Jungle

Review and photo by V Hall

Rating: 9/10                 

Favorite Animal: Tapir

     The Lied Jungle has been closed to the public for repairs for several months, but there is a possibility it will open over the summer. From my past experiences in the jungle, which were always worth it, I can give the exhibit a solid 9/10. I know that there’s been question about the re-opening, but it’s important to recall all the effort, time and consideration and put into making the exhibit realistic to visitors and suitable for the animals.

Asian Highlands

Review and photo by V Hall

Rating: 10/10                 

Favorite Animal: Sloth Bear

     There’s a reason the exhibit was voted #1 Best Zoo Exhibit by USA Today. The animals in the exhibit are clearly comfortable and at home in the enclosures the zoo staff have put together. The design completely immerses you into the mountains of Asia and offers a face to face experience with some amazing animals. In my opinion this exhibit holds some of the best animals in the zoo, the Sloth Bear, Snow Leopard, Amur Tiger and the underrated Takin all in one scenic area.  

Kingdom of the Night

Review and photo by Kinley Harris     

Rating: 7.5/10      

Favorite Animal: Caiman Alligator

     In Kingdom of the Night, the cave design came complete with unique structures like stalagmites, stalactites, and underground rivers that made even the walk itself interesting. The second section threw visitors directly into the classic American bayou with bridges that took you through the animal enclosures. Overall, the amazing environmental design and the alligators give this a higher rating from me, but it does lose some points because of how hard it is to see some of the animals.