An OK Experience (Amazon World Zoo Park (Isle of Wight))

Member Name: JJJJ

Product:	Amazon World Zoo Park (Isle of Wight)
Date:	04/08/08 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Selection of Animals

Disadvantages: Badly Presented

"The largest exotic animal attraction on the Isle of Wight"

Firstly, I would like to say that I agree completely with what was said by cmh4135 in her previous review of the same attraction.

Amazon World is an indoor wildlife park based on the Isle of Wight. The venue has a fairly good selection of animals, but the presentation of the place isn't up to much. Glass on fish / reptile tanks is often dirty, making viewing the animals quite difficult, and some of the information around enclosures is missing. In some cases, what information there is often consists of scruffy bits of paper stuck to the walls. Also, in bits like the terrapin pond, you can see electrical wires and pumps sticking out of the water, which ruins the escapism a bit. In a place like the excellent 'Tropical World' in Leeds, these things are well hidden in the environment. As a popular tourist attraction, you would think that with the turnover this place must make, they would be able to spend more time making viewing the animals a more pleasant experience.

On a positive note, the way tropical birds fly around the hothouses unhindered is very good, and many of these are freindly and will come over and to investigate.

There is quite a bad smell around the place, especially in the desert section, which makes you wonder whether the animals are being cared for as best they can - also in many of the enclosures there seems to be very little for the animals to do. This was especially aparent with the armadillos, which were basically running around in circles - quite sad to see.

There is a section where you can learn about conservation and rainforests - although these bits are badly presented, and an area which has models of humans in the Amazon looks incredibly tacky.

Amazon World could be so much better, and I would probably recommend Seaview Wildlife Encounter instead, which always makes for an entertaining day out.

ADULTS: £6.99
CHILDREN (3-14 years old): £5.50
SENIOR CITIZENS: £5.99
FAMILY TICKET (2 adults + 2 children): £24.00

For more information, see www.amazonworld.co.uk
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Update as of 17/01/09

I visited Amazon World recently, and it had definitely improved as a venue. The bad smell I described in the dessert section had gone, and although there is still little for the animals to do in some cages, most seem in good health.

Summary: Could be Better