Metro Richmond Zoo

8300 Beaver Bridge Road, Moseley, VA 23120, USA

Address:	8300 Beaver Bridge Road, Moseley, VA 23120, USA
Phone:	+1 804-739-5666
Site:	metrorichmondzoo.com
Rating:	4.2
Working:	9AM–5PM 9:30AM–5PM 9:30AM–5PM 9:30AM–5PM 9:30AM–5PM 9:30AM–5PM Closed

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 4

Chuck Gates

This is a wonderful small zoo that makes you feel like you have stepped inside the movie "We Bought a Zoo." The zoo has plenty of animals (lions, tigers, rhinos, giraffes, camels, zebras, chimpanzees, orangutans, and much more) but it is a small zoo, so it doesnt have the big ones that require more work (elephants, hippos) Our favorite part of this zoo is that it is one of the rare opportunities where you can feed giraffes right out of the palm of your hand. Plus, it is extremely inexpensive ($2 for a huge cup of food). Another great treat is the zoo train, which will take you VERY up close and personal with lots of animals, including ostriches. A previous reviewer recommends traveling to the National Zoo in Washington DC instead. If you are looking for one of the top zoos in the nation (aka "National Zoo"), then yes, you should spend three hours fighting traffic to travel to the extremely crowded zoo in DC. If you are looking for a quaint, fun, relaxing time close to home, then the Richmond Zoo is awesome. A previous reviewer says they dont have a family pass for one price. That is not true. We bought a family pass for one low price (hint: Matthew 7:7). We had a family pass to the San Diego Zoo when we lived there in 2007, and although San Diego had more animals, weve enjoyed our trips to the Metro Richmond Zoo more. Bigger Zoos require much more walking and arent designed for the visitor. The Richmond Zoos animal enclosures are designed to provide adequate space for the animals, but with one small portion always near the visitor walkways. A previous reviewer complained about service. We have found the employees to be extremely friendly. Many are young high school and college students, but all are gracious. The full-time zoo personnel are great to talk to and will take the time to answer all sorts of questions. A previous reviewer complained about the time schedule. Well, if you are a Northern Virginian stuck to an uber-strict time regimen, then yes, the Richmond Zoo may be a few minutes off schedule (but never more than 5). Just relax and enjoy yourself in a southern atmosphere that puts attentiveness ahead of harsh timeliness. I do wish there were more bathrooms, but it isnt too difficult. I do wish the skyride took you to see more animals, instead of just a birds eye view of the same ones you see on the walking path. I do wish the wart hogs werent right next to the snack bar because wart hogs smell sometimes.

Greg Pfister

For the past three years, we have purchased passes for everyone in the family. The zoo is a great place to educate YOUR children on the different animals that God has made. The animals are obviously well cared for, showing that the owners and keepers are committed to them, and the public. Considering this is a PRIVATE facility where the government does not subsidize or GIVE government money, they are good stewards of what they do receive. Some have said "pens are dirty" - To this, I reply that ITS A ZOO with ANIMALS. These are not dogs or house cats! Wild animals do not use toilets, showers, nor hair dryers. Things to look for; Are the animals "clean", matted fur on monkeys, bears, tigers, lions, etc.. However, some animals will have mud on them because its NORMAL (rhino, giraffe, camel, Warthog,, etc.) Some have said "its too expensive" - Again, this is a PRIVATE zoo. Not paid for by a government that prints money (money off trees, literally). Tell me, what private zoo do you know that performs a live nativity every year, for free? 16 of the 108 animals are endangered, were this zoo takes GREAT care of them (take a look at the cheetah cam) Some have said outright lies - "Tiger pen 15x20" try again. The width is at least 60. The length looks more like 150 or larger. Some have said "no one to talk to" - Yet they list feeding times for the animals for "keeper talks" Some have said "they dont care about the animals" - Yet they do not provide straws or drink tops so that the animals (which you can get really close too) will not consume dangerous items. The staff has always been pleasant and helpful. The problems that I see are more of a conundrum that happen due to large amounts of people in a rural area while attempting to maintain an area thats really for the animals; - Bees. There are allot of Bees around the concession areas. - Beverages - There are about four drink machines throughout the zoo, however, on warm/hot days they are usually empty. However, its evident that the staff are watering the animals. So, uncomfortable for the humans, but good for the animals - Im ok with that. Bring drinks on warm/hot days. There are two concessions, and always full on warm/hot days.

Jennie Jamison

Do not pay to visit this zoo. My comments here are specific to problems with the enclosures of the big cats. The zoo violates the natural behaviors of big cats. Although the enclosures are larger than you might see at some places with the exception of the far too small snow leopard enclosure, the cats have no place to hide, which is natural behavior, and they all must sleep in night houses after closing. This violates the nocturnal behavior of roaming at night. Zoos often use this practice to make sure the cats are active for the paying public each morning. In addition, a big cats brain is hard-wired to seek prey, cull the herds and keep them moving and they cannot do this in these enclosures. The tiger enclosure does not have platforms, toys, or a water pool (tigers like water) and the tiger was just pacing back and forth in front of the viewing window. This zoo does not have adequate space for the tigers and snow leopards. One tiger and the male snow leopard had to stay in a tiny cage behind the regular enclosure and in the night house respectively on the day I visited. The keepers said the cats took turns being outside. Each cat should have its own enclosure. The cheetahs and zebras are separated only by a chain link fence and could touch each other. This may cause anxiety for the zebras to be so close to a predator. If you are someone who makes decisions about where to take your family based on an owners social ethics consider that this zoo has an aggressive breeding program. The keepers say cubs are often sold to other zoos. I figured from the website that this zoo has at least 15 cheetahs but just four adults are on display. The keeper said the others are at another site and the public cannot see them.

A Private User

First off let me state that this is a review from a vet student/devoted animal lovers perspective. On that note I was very depressed by this zoo. The animal enclosures for the most part were either too small for the amount of animals in them or too small for the size of the animal. There where predator animals enclosed next to prey animals with nothing to block their sight, so the predator animals would do nothing but pace the fence. The tiger cubs were kept in a tiny enclosure that I could only assume was constructed to house birds. The gift shop was bigger then where the cubs were housed. For some of the exhibits I couldnt see available water sources, however they could be placed just in an area people cant see. Most of the animals enclosures were not adjusted to that animals natural habitats conditions. Meaning most of them were housed in an environment that just has different amounts of Virginias natural foliage. I am not saying every animal should have an enclosure as an exact replica of their natural environment, but at least make an effort to house them in their proper environment. A couple enclosures didnt have enough separation between the public and the animal, at least not for my liking. For example a family broke some branches off a tree and attempted to feed it to the near by emu. They just walked up to the four foot high wooden fence right next to the path and shoved the branch in the emus face. Overall this zoo made me a little depressed and mostly concerned for the animals. It seems like the zoo is trying to do too much and can not maintain their idea.