A Zoo Review: The Como Zoo
I had the pleasure of visiting the Como Zoo in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this past weekend. The second free zoo I’ve visited since documenting my trips to them in 2022. This was the 15th different zoo I’ve been to since 2022 and was one I knew the least about going into the visit. I was pleasantly surprised by the zoo, with very few misfires.
We will start with the criticisms that I do have. The Large Cat building is very much showing its age. The inside has indoor viewing for mountain lions and Snow Leopards and a small enclosure for what was signed as a Porcupine. The area is like Big Cat Country at the Saint Louis Zoo with mesh-topped viewing for the mountain lion and snow leopards and large empty yards for the tigers.
Both the African and North American hoof stock have flat dirt yards with minimal enrichment. Once again very similar to Saint Louis in that regard, minus the rock work. Very barren.
Como Harbor and the Aquatics building are conjoined together, and while Como Harbor was built in 2021, it feels more like it was built in 1971. An amphitheater for shows, which, unlike Omaha, Saint Louis, or even Blank Park, is a bland, soulless, concrete creation. The Aquatics building, built in 1982, is small and cramped. There is a holding area for the sea lions that is way too small.
Now for the positives: Tropical Encounters is beautiful. It is lush and well-signed and planted. While some may knock the lack of animals, I have no issue with it, as I saw plenty of free-flying birds, fish, turtles, tortoises, and a sloth. For a zoo that has its focus on the bigger picture, Tropical Encounters is the perfect example of doing the little things right.
The Primate House was the first real area I set foot in, and I was blown away. For a building 41 years old, it holds up well, and the newer expansion for the gorillas is fantastic. The primates have room to roam and play. The gorillas and orangutans have ample outdoor access. One of the best primate houses I’ve been to and the first one in a while where I didn’t feel sorry for any of the primates inside.
The Arctic Fox enclosure. While not the largest exhibit at the zoo, it was much like Tropical Encounters, very lush and dense with vegetation. I was also able to get up close with the foxes, something I have not been able to do before.
The side harbor of Como Harbor. By a country mile, the side harbor of Como Harbor trounces the amphitheater. Looking like a smaller version of Omaha or Saint Louis with the rocky shores and outcroppings. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen one part of an enclosure completely raise an entire area more. Also, harbor seals came up to say hi to me while I was over there.
Polar Bear Odyssey is by far the crown jewel of the Como Zoo: indoor and outdoor viewing, two viewable yards with underwater viewing, and large, expansive planted exhibits. By my count, I saw four polar bears, which is by far the most I have ever seen at one zoo. Words do not do justice to how fantastic Polar Bear Odyssey truly is.
As I said at the start, the Como Zoo surprised me as to how good it was. It takes a lot for me to be blown away by a zoo. Now, it could be because I had low expectations going in, but out of the 15 zoos I’ve been to since 2022, Como gets the number 6 ranking, bumping Sedgwick County from its spot. Denver stayed just ahead of Como due to quality and quantity. Como was not the only zoo I visited that same weekend, however, and that zoo deserves something more than just an article.
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