Five Stars: The Best of Yelp's Zoo Reviews

Reputation is everything. We’ve known this since middle school. That’s why it’s important to carefully monitor your public perception, especially if you are an institution supported primarily through admissions and tax support.  With the instant feedback available 24-7 on internet review websites, there is simply no excuse for any zoo or aquarium to not be aware of public sentiment. Interested in what the general populace was thinking and inspired by my favorite podcast, How Did This Get Made?’s “Second Opinion” segment, I wandered the lonely streets of Yelp.com to find the best 5 Star Reviews of “top 5” Zoos around the country.  What I uncovered was by and large disappointing: well-conceived, coherent, thoughtful reviews of zoos that are deeply cherished by unwavering, supporting communities.

But then there were these.

San Diego Zoo

1. Numismatics rejoice!
2. Sybil likes the camels. 
3. Sexy, sexy pigs and delicious signs 

St. Louis Zoo

1. Cheap food brought to you by…. 
2. Meh. *Shrugs* Five Stars. 
3. The first cut is the deepest. We’ve all been there. 
4. Direct from the conversion van parked in the McDonald’s parking lot.  (Free Wi-Fi.)  

Henry Doorly Zoo

1. We all know zoos are for the 1%. 
2. Who says literature is dead? 
3. Did you say DEDICATED GIFT SHOP?!?!?!? 

Columbus Zoo

1. We’ve discussed this many times in new exhibit meetings. 
2. Just don’t “make” them or have them at the zoo, please.  Unless you’re part of #1.

Bronx Zoo

1. Oh thank god.  (Read til the end) 
2. Can’t argue with that. 
3. From the owner of Comfortable Binoculars & Just-A-Little-Bit-Better-Than-Terrible Box Lunches located conveniently on Bronx Park South & Southern Boulevard, The Bronx. 
4. Wait…what?