Orlando's Animal Kingdom is not just the fifth Walt Disney World theme park; it's also one of the best animal parks in the world. Visitors can view elephants, giraffes, lions and monkeys as though they are actually out on safari, with no bars separating them from these wild beasts. Of course, the animals are kept in their designated areas through a complex array of invisible barricades, masked by foliage, trenches and walls. In addition to the animal exhibit attractions, Walt Disney World also has a number of rides, shows, restaurants and gift shops to entertain guests, so it's no surprise this park dominates most lists of the "World's Best Zoos."<br /><br />It should come as no surprise that America houses many of the world's best animal habitats. In New York City, the 265-acre Bronx Zoo is home to over 6,000 animals, many of which are on the endangered species list. The Bronx has been operating its animal center since 1889 as the largest of the metropolitan animal parks and was the first place to house (and breed) rare snow leopards. Additionally, it's the first park to house a predator-prey animal exhibit, where lions and gazelles are separated merely by dry moats, and it was also the first zoological center to host an educational program. Visitors love the Wild Asia tramway monorail, the indoor JungleWorld display and the 6.5-acre Congo Monkey Forest, which is the largest man-made rainforest in the world. Guests will also see a number of babies at this bustling breeding facility, including dwarf mongoose, lemur, okapi, sea lion, rhino, lion and pit viper species. <br /><br />Another one of the best animal parks in the world is right in our nation's capital. Each year, 2 million visitors come to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington DC, home to 2,000 animals and 400 diverse species. The first Komodo dragon hatched outside of Indonesia at the National Zoo and many people come to the 163-acre park to see endangered animals like giant pandas, oryx, Mexican wolves and Grevy's zebras. Animal exhibit areas include the 15,000 square foot Amazonia rain forest, Beaver Valley, Cheetah Conservation Station, Fuji Film Giant Panda Habitat, Great Ape House, Invertebrate Exhibit, Lemur Island, Small Mammal House, Asia Trail, Bird House, Elephant House, Gibbon Ridge, Great Cats, Kids' Farm, Reptile Discovery Center and the monkey Think Tank.<br /><br />There are also a number of European animal parks that make the list of the world's best foreign zoos. The Basel Zoo in Switzerland hosts more than 6,000 animals and 600 species, including the dwarf hippopotami, scarab beetles and Nile crocodiles, as well as a number of baby animals born at their breeding program, such as cheetahs, Indian rhinoceros, pygmy hippos and Somali wild asses. Beauval Zoo in France began in 1980 as an aviary with 2,000 birds but later introduced over 4,000 exotic animals like red kangaroos, West Indian manatees, tarsiers, toucans, white lions, white leopards and gorillas.<br /><br />As a leading expert in the field of anxiety disorders and panic attacks, Beth Kaminski is always on the lookout for how to <a href="http://www.anxietydisordercure.com" target='_blank'>anxiety therapy</a>. Visit her site for more information on her <a href="http://www.anxietydisordercure.com/articlesdirectory/" target='_blank'>how to deal with panic attacks</a> and much more.
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