The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha NE
The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a zoo located in Omaha Nebraska. It is authorized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Henry Doorly Zoo
Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a well-known attraction not just in Omaha, but in the United States as well. It is synonymous with animal preservation and studies.
The main objective of Henry Doorly Zoo is to protect wildlife, carry out research and serve as a recreational venue for families. Based on visitor reviews, the zoo has been voted as the best zoo in the world, even surpassing San Diego Zoo in the process.
When it was established in 1894, the zoo was called Riverview Park Zoo. More than a century later, the rechristened Henry Doorly Zoo is still going strong. It boasts several fascinating exhibits as well. For example, it is home to the largest cat compound on the continent. The zoo also contains Kingdoms of the Night, which counts as the biggest nocturnal exhibit and indoor swamp.
Furthermore, the Lied Jungle at Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium qualifies as one of the largest indoor rainforests in the world, while the Desert Dome is also one of the biggest indoor deserts worldwide. The zoo is one of the premier settings in Omaha NE. In fact, Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is the best attended venue in the state, with over twenty-five million tickets sold in the last four years.
Main Attractions
Lied Jungle
The aforementioned Lied Jungle was unveiled in 1992 and reportedly cost fifteen million dollars to create. It features an impressive eighty-foot tall building which is spread over 1.5 acres. Visitors can also enjoy the enthralling view of a fifteen-foot waterfall.
Once you enter the jungle, there is nearly three acres of space. This area consists of 1.4 acres of space dedicated to plantation, 0.8 acres are attributed to displays while a quarter acres of space is allocated to an educational area.
That’s not all that Lied Jungle has to offer. Visitors can enjoy a wonderful walk along the trails and on a walkway above the animals too. The grand complex holds ninety species, including the Blue Monkey, Pygmy Hippopotamus, Baird’s Tapir, Indian Crested Porcupine and the Philippine Crocodile as well.
Scott Kingdom of the Seas Aquarium
Another excellent attraction at Henry Doorly Zoo is the Walter and Suzanna Scott Aquarium. It was opened to the public in 1995 and cost sixteen million dollars. It is comprised of more than 1.2 million gallons of water, which contains marine life from the polar region, Amazon rainforest and coral reefs respectively.
Desert Dome
The dome was revealed in 2002 and organizers had spent a whopping 31.5 million dollars to build it. It covers forty-two thousand square feet and is right above the Kingdoms of the Night. The Desert Dome in Omaha consists of attributes from various prominent deserts of the world such as Namib Desert (Southern Africa) and Red Center (Australia).
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