An animal theme park, also known as a zoological theme park, is a combination of an amusement park and a zoo, mainly for entertainment, amusement, and commercial purposes. Many animal theme parks combine classic theme park elements, such as themed entertainment and amusement rides, with classic zoo elements such as live animals confined within enclosures for display. Many times, live animals are utilized and featured as part of amusement rides and attractions found at animal theme parks.
Two examples of animal theme parks are Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida () and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida (). These commercial parks are similar to open-range zoos and safari parks according to size, but different in intention and appearance, containing more entertainment and amusement elements (stage shows, amusement rides, etc.).
The term "animal theme park" can also be used to describe certain marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and more elaborate dolphinariums, such as SeaWorld, which offers amusement rides and additional entertainment attractions, and are also where marine animals such as whales are kept, contained, put on display, and are sometimes trained to perform in shows.
In 2010 the practice of keeping animals as trained show performers in theme parks was heavily criticized when a trainer was killed by an orca whale at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida.
List of animal theme parks
Zoological theme parks Adventure World in Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan Bayern Park, Reisbach, Bavaria, Germany Bali Safari and Marine Park in Bali, Indonesia Beto Carrero World in Santa Catarina, Brazil Bellewaerde in Zonnebeke, Belgium Big Rivers Waterpark & Adventures, in New Caney, Texas Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa Bay, Florida Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, England Clark's Bears in Lincoln, New Hampshire Conny-Land in Lipperswil, Thurgau, Switzerland Debrecen Zoo and Amusement Park in Debrecen, Hungary Disney's Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida Dreamworld in Gold Coast, Australia Drusillas Zoo Park in Alfriston, England Eifelpark, Gondorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Emerald Park in County Meath, Ireland Erlebnispark Tripsdrill in Cleebronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire, England Fun Spot America in Orlando, Florida Gatorland in Orlando, Florida Granby Zoo in Granby, Quebec Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose, California Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan Jaderpark in Wesermarsch, Lower Saxony, Germany Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky, Ohio Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, Texas Knoebels in Elysburg, Pennsylvania Le Pal in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre, France Leofoo Village Theme Park in Guanxi, Hsinchu, Taiwan Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Florida Öland Zoo and Amusement Park in Färjestaden, Öland, Sweden Panorama-Park Sauerland Wildpark in Rinsecke, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Parc Safari in Hemmingford, Quebec Safariland Stukenbrock in Stukenbrock, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Santa's Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire Seregeti Park in Hodenhagen, Lower Saxony, Germany Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey Taman Safari in Bogor, Indonesia Tier- und Freizeitpark Thüle near Friesoythe, Lower Saxony, Germany Tobu Zoo in Miyashiro, Saitama, Japan Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen in Emmen, Netherlands Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, Arizona Wild- und Freizeitpark Klotten in Klotten, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Wild- und Freizeitpark Willingen in Willingen (Upland), Hesse, Germany York's Wild Kingdom in York Beach, Maine
Marine theme parks (marine mammal parks and oceanariums)
Adventure World in Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan Aquatica in Orlando, Florida and San Antonio, Texas Bali Safari and Marine Park in Bali, Indonesia Boudewijn Seapark in Sint-Michiels, Bruges, Belgium Conny-Land in Lipperswil, Thurgau, Switzerland Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida Dolfinarium Harderwijk in Harderwijk, Netherlands Epcot in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, Texas Legoland Deutschland in Günzburg, Germany Ocean Park Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China Sea World in Gold Coast, Australia SeaWorld San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, California SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Zoos with amusement attractions
Most zoos have a carousel and/or Safari Train, but some zoos have more amusement attractions than that. Affen- und Vogelpark Eckenhagen in Reichshof, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Features an indoor hall with playgrounds, carousels, trampolines, swing boats and a climbing wall Bronx Zoo in New York City Features a monorail attraction, bug carousel, zip-line course, and obstacle course for children Chester Zoo in Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, England Features a tow boat ride Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio Features a carousel, boat ride (like an Old Mill ride but entirely outside), North American Wilderness Train, 3D cinema, two children's playgrounds, and it is combined with Zoombezi Bay and Rides At Adventure Cove Fort Wayne Children's Zoo in Fort Wayne, Indiana Features a jungle carousel, safari train, log ride (like a log flume but with no lift hills or splash drops), and safari sky ride Granby Zoo in Granby, Quebec Features a pony ride, camel ride, monorail, 3D cinema, carousel, Ferris wheel, roller coaster, pirate ship, bumper cars, indoor kids' playground, and water park Hanover Zoo in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany Features a tow boat ride Hovatter's Wildlife Zoo in Kingwood, West Virginia Features a kiddie roller coaster, kiddie ferris wheel, and a kids' playground Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park Combined with Funland amusement park Kolmården Wildlife Park in Norrköping, Östergötland County, Sweden Features three roller coasters, an aerial lift and a little amusement park themed after the cartoon character Bamse Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain Features a kiddie roller coaster Metro Richmond Zoo in Chesterfield County, Virginia Features a Safari Sky Ride, Jungle Carousel, Safari Train, kids' playground, and zip line Natur- und Tierpark Brüggen in Brüggen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Features a big playground with a monorail, a summer toboggan, a mini golf course and an electric horse riding track Oakland Zoo in Oakland, California Features a Jungle Carousel, doughnut ride, plane ride, safari jeep ride, sky ride, Outback Train, family roller coaster, and kids' playground San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California Features a "Sky Safari" attraction, motion simulator experience, and double decker bus tour San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California Features a safari vehicular tour, hot air balloon experience, jungle carousel, and zip line course Singapore Zoo in Singapore Features a vehicular tour, jungle carousel, pony ride, horse carriage ride, kids' playground, and water park Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio Features a Jungle Carousel, Safari Train, kids' playground, splash pad, and obstacle course Wild- & Erlebnispark Daun in Daun, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Features an summer toboggan and a playground Wild- und Freizeitpark Ostrittrum in Ostrittrum, Lower Saxony, Germany Features a fairytale forest, two playgrounds, a lake with paddle boats and a local museum Zoo Miami in Miami, Florida Features a camel ride, kids’ playground, splash pad, monorail, and flume ride.
ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Features a simulator ride, a tow boat ride and a huge indoor playground ZooTampa at Lowry Park in Tampa, Florida Features a Shoot the Chute, jungle carousel, family roller coaster, bus tour, Outback Train, and miscellaneous rides for young children
See also Marine mammal park List of amusement parks
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