National Polar Bear Day is February 27. That makes this the perfect time for us to rank our best polar bear exhibits!
As mentioned in previous articles, we’ve visited several zoos that have recently redone their polar bear exhibits. This is arguably one of the strongest habitat categories that we’ve seen. Although many articles exist citing the decline of polar bears, we’ve seen these exhibits to the on the rise. Not only are zoos expanding their exhibits, but they are also breeding polar bears. Both Columbus and Cincinnati Zoo have had cubs in the past two years.
Top 5 Polar Bear Exhibits
5. Brookfield Zoo – When the Brookfield Zoo opened their exhibit about 10 years ago, it was supposed to be the best out there – and truth is that it is very good. There are two sides to the exhibit, and the other has brown bears. The large glass walls allow you to see the polar bears in the water. There’s an indoor viewing area with stadium seating. The indoor viewing rivals that of all others on this list.
4. St. Louis Zoo – There was a lot of hype in 2015 when the St. Louis Zoo re-opened their renovated polar bear exhibit. But I have to be honest – this one isn’t overly special to me. It does have a good amount of room for the polar bear, but that’s not unusual these days. The extra room also includes many barricades that make the polar bear invisible to viewers.
3. Pittsburgh Zoo – The polar bear exhibit in Pittsburgh is very similar to the setup in Detroit. The seals are located next to the polar bears, and they are interchanged to give them swimming access. Pittsburgh also has a bleacher type of setup for keeper chats, or for just sitting and enjoying the exhibit.
2. Detroit Zoo – The main draw at the Detroit Zoo is the penguin building in the front. However, if you do journey to the back of the zoo, you’ll find the polar bear and seal exhibit. This exhibit felt like a series of tunnels, as you wind down the ramp and through an under water tube where the seals or polar bears can swim over the top of you. On our visit the seals were occupying the space instead of the polar bears. In 2015, this exhibit took 2nd in the voting for “Best Zoo Exhibit” in the USA Today Reader’s Best Poll.
1.Columbus Zoo – This zoo is one of the best in the country, and in our opinion contains one of the best polar bear exhibits as well. We don’t feel it often gets the credit it should. This exhibit was nominated for the 2018 USA Today Reader’s Best Poll for “Best Zoo Exhibit”. However, it did not place in the top 10. This exhibit features both an outdoor and indoor viewing area. The highlight to me is the underwater viewing area. This spot has glass curved in a way that allows you to be directly beneath the polar bears swimming above. Polar Frontier can be the backdrop for some amazing polar bear photos.
Honorable Mention:
Louisville Zoo – Our experience in 2015 at the Louisville Zoo was sub-par. It was a 100 degree July day, and we spent most of our time at the splash pad. But the one bright spot of the day was Glacier Run, the home of their polar bears. This area now also includes brown bears and seals as well. This has become a very popular attraction.
Henry Vilas Zoo – This small zoo in Madison, Wisconsin has received national recognition for their Artic Passage exhibit. The area has much more than just polar bears. It also includes a lifesize polar bear statue and children’s play area, grizzly bears, and seals. The highlight is the exhibit’s use of solar panels and rainwater catchment to ensure it is environmentally friendly. In a 2018 USA Today Reader’s Best Poll, this exhibit placed 8th (out of a list of 20 nominated exhibits nationwide) for the category of “Best Zoo Exhibit”.
Toledo Zoo – This one doesn’t get much hype, but they have a huge see-through window to view the polar bear in the water. When we visited, the bear was VERY active, playing with a large blue barrel. It seemed like this was a pretty regular occurrence. There was also a lot of room to view so that you weren’t crowded.
Want to read more about polar bears? Here’s a 2018 blog article about the current state of polar bears in U.S. Zoos.
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