点评:Although called a zoo, the facility’s focus is a captive breeding program for endangered species, with many animals released back into the wild. Moreover, it doesn’t really look like a traditional zoo because there are so few cages, and those that exist are generally discreet and filled with lush island greenery, which includes such temperate trees as bamboo and palms. Interestingly, some species dwell onsite with no visible means of confinement. Red-breasted geese wander the green, and a colony of Silver Marmosets lives in the trees (they are presumably tied to the zoo by the lure of free room and board). Talks on various animals are available throughout the day, the life and work of the zoo founder Gerald Durrell is featured, and there are regular special exhibitions (a breathtaking Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit was in-house when we visited). All told, we found our zoo experience fascinating. As for practicalities: although there is a large parking lot, we found it just as easy to get there by bus (service on the island is excellent). The zoo’s many paths are well maintained and seem to accommodate wheelchairs easily, but navigating from enclosure to enclosure can sometimes be challenging (more signposts at junctions would be welcome, the large map boards throughout the area would benefit from being exact rather than artistic, and the zoo map app available on entry seems to be more capable of describing what one is seeing rather than providing succinct details on how best to get to it). The gift shop is large and well stocked, the restaurant menu comprehensive, and there are numerous picnic tables and benches on the property. The best advice, though is to budget enough time to visit. Although one reviewer advised 4-5 hours onsite. We arrived early and before we knew it staff members were shutting the doors behind us after a seven hour visit!
翻译:虽然名为动物园,但该机构的重点是濒危物种的圈养繁殖项目,许多动物最终都会被放归野外。此外,它看起来并不像传统意义上的动物园,因为笼舍很少,而且即使有,也都十分隐蔽,周围环绕着郁郁葱葱的岛屿植物,包括竹子和棕榈树等温带树木。有趣的是,有些物种生活在园内,没有任何可见的圈养设施。红胸雁在绿地上漫步,一群银狨猴则栖息在树上(它们大概是被免费的食宿吸引才留在了这里)。园内全天都有关于各种动物的讲解,还会介绍动物园创始人杰拉尔德·杜雷尔的生平和工作,并定期举办特别展览(我们参观时正值令人叹为观止的“年度野生动物摄影师”展览)。总而言之,我们觉得这次动物园之旅非常有趣。至于交通方面:虽然有一个大型停车场,但我们发现乘坐公交车前往也同样方便(岛上的公交系统非常完善)。动物园内的道路维护良好,轮椅通行似乎也很方便,但从一个展区走到另一个展区有时会有些困难(如果路口能多设些路标就更好了;园内各处的大型地图板如果能更精确一些,而不是过于艺术化就更好了;入口处提供的动物园地图应用程序似乎更擅长描述眼前的景象,而不是提供简洁明了的路线指引)。礼品店很大,商品种类齐全;餐厅菜单也很丰富;园内还有许多野餐桌和长椅。不过,最好的建议是预留充足的时间游览。虽然有一位评论者建议游览4-5个小时,但我们到得很早,结果还没反应过来,工作人员就已经在我们游览了7个小时后关门了!