BestZOO is a small zoo in Best, North Brabant, Netherlands. It opened in 1930 as Vleut the Zoo, and was owned and operated by the van Laarhoven family until purchased by Zodiac Zoos in 2007. Zodiac Zoos upgraded many of the old exhibits to more naturalistic settings, but sold them to Jos Nooren in 2010 before all upgrades were completed.

The zoo participates in several European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP) programs, including Edwards's pheasant, black-and-white ruffed lemur, Colombian spider monkey and Sri Lankan leopard.^[4]

History

BestZOO was opened in 1930 by Mr. van Laarhoven senior as Vleut the Zoo. At this time the zoo was home to primates, carnivores, and birds, including both native and exotic species. In 1982, van Laarhoven's two sons took over the zoo and ultimately expanded it to include about 70 species. By 2007, the zoo had been renamed BestZOO, and was taken over by Zodiac Zoos.

In July 2010, Zodiac Zoos decided that the park did not fit into its current holdings, and sold the zoo to Jos Nooren. Zodiac Zoos had planned to move the zoo, but these plans fell through and for now the zoo will remain in its current location. While owned by Zodiac Zoos, many of the exhibits were updated to more naturalistic settings.^[3][8] The new owner plans to continue improvements to the zoo.

Animals

Animals at BestZOO include jaguar, cougar, Sri Lankan leopard, European lynx, serval, Oriental small-clawed otter, banded mongoose, yellow-throated marten, striped skunk, six-banded armadillo, southern tamandua, squirrel monkeys, black howler monkeys, rhesus monkeys, tufted capuchin, Colombian spider monkey, cottontop tamarin, red-handed tamarin, ring-tailed lemur, Japanese squirrel, chacoan mara, binturongs, raccoons, coati, llama, alpaca, Reeves's muntjac, Bactrian camel, sitatunga, Parma wallabies, eastern wallaroo, black stork, scarlet ibis, puna ibis, grey-winged trumpeter, snowy owl, great grey owl, Eurasian eagle owl, little owl, Eurasian kestrel, crested caracara, black vulture, demoiselle crane, grey crowned crane, spotted thick-knee, lilac-breasted roller, southern ground hornbill, kookaburra, African spurred tortoise and dwarf crocodile.^[3][8]

Notes