And the world’s best zoo is …

Chuck Thompson, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 4:24 AM EDT, Wed August 13, 2014
Number five on TripAdvisor's list of top world zoos, Singapore Zoo gets visitors close to a variety of animals.
TripAdvisor top zoos: 5. Singapore Zoo —
Number five on TripAdvisor's list of top world zoos, Singapore Zoo gets visitors close to a variety of animals.
courtesy Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Zebras, giraffes and tigers are featured at the St. Louis Zoo -- #4 on the TripAdvisor list of top world zoos -- which says it receives 3 million visitors annually.
4. St. Louis Zoo (St. Louis) —
Zebras, giraffes and tigers are featured at the St. Louis Zoo -- #4 on the TripAdvisor list of top world zoos -- which says it receives 3 million visitors annually.
Ray Meibaum/St Louis Zoo
In Puerto de la Cruz on the Spanish resort island of Tenerife, Loro Parque (#3 on the top zoos list) has been home to killer whales.
3. Loro Parque (Spain) —
In Puerto de la Cruz on the Spanish resort island of Tenerife, Loro Parque (#3 on the top zoos list) has been home to killer whales.
JAN KANNING/EPA/LANDOV
Giant pandas are one of the chief attractions at the San Diego Zoo, which TripAdvisor readers named the #2 zoo in the world. The zoo also recently welcomed a newborn baby gorilla.
2. San Diego Zoo (California) —
Giant pandas are one of the chief attractions at the San Diego Zoo, which TripAdvisor readers named the #2 zoo in the world. The zoo also recently welcomed a newborn baby gorilla.
San Diego Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo claims TripAdvisor's top spot among zoos. It also claims to have the world's largest indoor desert, recreating Australian, African and North American landscapes beneath its 13-story-tall glass dome.
1. Henry Doorly Zoo (Nebraska) —
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo claims TripAdvisor's top spot among zoos. It also claims to have the world's largest indoor desert, recreating Australian, African and North American landscapes beneath its 13-story-tall glass dome.
Courtesy Henry Doorly Zoo
Number five on the TripAdvisor list of world aquariums, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, features a 340-foot-long moving walkway beneath a lagoon containing turtles, stingrays and sharks.
Top aquariums: 5. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies —
Number five on the TripAdvisor list of world aquariums, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, features a 340-foot-long moving walkway beneath a lagoon containing turtles, stingrays and sharks.
Courtesy of Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Two Tennessee aquariums among the world's top five? TripAdvisor users say so, picking the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga as number four overall.
4. Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga) —
Two Tennessee aquariums among the world's top five? TripAdvisor users say so, picking the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga as number four overall.
Courtesy Tennessee Aquarium
Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium (#3 overall) features whale sharks and beluga whales.
3. Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta) —
Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium (#3 overall) features whale sharks and beluga whales.
AFP/Getty Images
Sea otters, sharks, penguins and octopuses can be seen at the Oceanario de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal, the second-ranked aquarium on the TripAdvisor list.
2. Oceanario de Lisboa (Lisbon) —
Sea otters, sharks, penguins and octopuses can be seen at the Oceanario de Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal, the second-ranked aquarium on the TripAdvisor list.
Iontra Carla Martins/Oceanario de Lisboa
TripAdvisor's top aquarium in the world, the Monterey Bay Aquarium features an array of exotic underwater creatures in its "Jellies Experience" attraction.
1. Monterey Bay Aquarium (California) —
TripAdvisor's top aquarium in the world, the Monterey Bay Aquarium features an array of exotic underwater creatures in its "Jellies Experience" attraction.
AFP/Getty Images
Travelers' Choice: World's best zoos, aquariums

Story highlights

TripAdvisor announces awards for world's best zoos and aquariums

U.S. dominates with nine of top 25 zoos and 10 of top 25 aquariums

Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, is picked as world's best zoo

Awards based on "millions" of reviews from TripAdvisor users

CNN  — 

What makes a zoo or aquarium outstanding?

Exotic animals?

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03:35 - Source: CNN