Every zoo has their headline animals. They eyecatchers, the big and bold ones. However, the strengths of the zoo lie far beyond these celebrity animals. We all can think about which animals catch the eye of a crowd and have the constant flow of visitors pointing their cameras and gasping, but do you remember ever looking into an enclosure and seeing an animal looking all alone with no one to impress? It is important to give underrated animals attention as well.
Before talking about overrated vs. underrated animals, it is important to remember what zoos are really about. Modern zoos focus on the conservation, education, and research of the animals that inhabit it. A lot of these animals are a part of breeding programs that help for conservation of species and to help promote a long lasting, generational impact on these species. There are also programs that rehabilitate animals in zoos for hurt animals that need help surviving on their own until they can be released. In some cases animals are too hurt to survive in the wild, so putting them in captivity gives them the ability to not only survive, but thrive.

That being said, the first overrated animal are the lions. Okay, sure, they are the “King of the Jungle”, but so what? Every time I have been to the zoo the only thing I experience with these animals are some lazy lion naps. Lions are impressive to see in the wild, which means conservation efforts are important for the survival of the species, and lions are crucial additions to the circle of life as shown in the Lion King, but in terms of the excitement they bring to the zoo? I have seen better.
Then, there are the giraffes. These tall, elegant, photogenic animals are fascinating to look at off the bat. Once you admire their height, gorgeous eyelashes, what else do you have left to see? Standing around. Chewing leaves. Slowly moving. More eating. In the wild the height of these animals provides a huge advantage for these animals, allowing them to reach food that other animals cannot reach. With the damage that is being done to the ecosystem, this advantage is shrinking dramatically. Trees are not as tall anymore, which takes away a large food supply for these animals. This is why zoos are doing great work for these animals to allow them a happy and full life. Yes, they are beautiful animals, but the most entertaining is a different question.
Finally an overrated animal that gets more hype than deserved are the zebras. I will give it to them, the stripes are iconic, but that is the only thing people know or talk about. Zebras are the background animals. The ones you color in your safari coloring book. The stereotypical zoo animal, but can you think about anything special you see zebras do? I sure cannot. Not to say they are waste of space animals, because they are still super cool and amazing to look at, but they should not be treated as the main attraction taking away the attention from other animals.
Now onto the good stuff. The underrated zoo animals. There are so many hidden gems of the zoo that deserve to be recognized. These animals are the ones that do not get too many visitors, but are just as special and in my opinion the coolest at the zoo.
First off are the penguins. I have never been bored watching the penguins. They might be small but they have nonstop energy and are always causing mishap which makes them so fun to watch. They are always socializing with each other and waddling about their enclosure. They may not be majestical creatures, but they sure are a joy to spend time watching.
Secondly are the gorillas. These creatures are just the most fascinating. Their human-like qualities make them so funny to pay attention to. They are so intelligent and can communicate the most with humans through facial expressions and body language which creates a new experience when visiting the zoo.
Finally the most underrated zoo animals are the reptiles. These are the snakes, lizards, and crocodiles. The uniqueness of all the different creatures in the reptile house create an experience that is different every time you go to a new zoo. The variety of animals makes them special and they always have the coolest enclosures. They may not have the cuddly fur, but they still deserve all the love and attention.
In the end, the goal of zoos is for animal conservation and to give knowledge to people about the importance of wildlife. Whether it roars, waddles, or slithers every animal at the zoo are equally important and exciting to see. So next time you visit your local zoo, do not forget to pay attention to the animals that might not be surrounded by the huge crowds. You may just find a new favorite animal.