1. Caves of Sea Lions
Oregon’s Sea Lion Caves are the only known mainland rookery and wintering home of the Stellar Sea Lion.
The system of sea-level caves also provide sanctuary for the California Sea Lion and serve as a resting place for a variety of birds, from Tufted Puffins to Bald Eagles.
There’s even a whale watching deck from which visitors can see Gray Whales and migrating orcas.
The caves were discovered by Captain William Cox in 1880, but have only been open to the public since 1932, as the cliffs and lack of roads made it difficult to access the caves by land.
Today, visitors can access the caves via their gift shop off of U.S. 101.
2. The High-Altitude Zoo
The only specialized zoo in India and the largest high-altitude zoo in India, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (a.k.a. Darjeeling Zoo), specializes in breeding animals for alpine conditions, including Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolves, Red Pandas, and Himalayan Newts.
The zoo is also home to Blue Sheep, Blood Pheasants and Bhutan Grey Peacock Pheasants, Satyr Tragopans, and Himalayan Monals.
The zoo was established in 1958 as the Himalayan Zoological Park.
It was renamed in 1975 when then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi dedicated the zoo to the memory of Padmaja Naidu, the former governor of West Bengal.
3. The Biblical Zoo
The Tisch Family Zoological Gardens in Jerusalem, also known as Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, highlights a collection of animals featured in the Hebrew Bible.
The narrow focus has been difficult for the zoo to maintain, since many of the Bible’s animals are now extinct in Israel.
The terms used in the Bible to name animals are also somewhat ambiguous, leading to some uncertainty over which animals are actually discussed.
The zoo now includes a variety of endangered species in addition to the biblical animals, and it has become known for its breeding programs, which have enabled it to reintroduce at least 11 species to Israel’s nature reserves.
Since its inception in 1940, the zoo has moved several times, but today it resides in the Malha valley.
The two-level park includes trees and shrubs mentioned in the Bible, an artificial wall called Moses’ Rock, and a “two-story, boat-shaped wooden visitor’s center meant to resemble Noah’s Ark.”
4. Old MacDonald’s Farm
In 1966, a public park and petting zoo called Old MacDonald’s Farm opened in Hampton, Virginia.
Designed like a working farm, the park showcases farm animals and fowl as well as Virginia-native wild animals.
Now known as Bluebird Gap Farm, the park intends to expose kids to animals in a farm setting, to which they would otherwise have very little exposure.
In addition to the animals, the park showcases both modern and antique farm equipment, the original Hampton train station, a family cemetery, a demonstration garden, and an Azalea Trail featuring rare azaleas.
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