Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has again dominated the annual USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards with 3 separate top awards, including being named the best zoo in the nation for the second year in a row. \\
The Lee G Simmons Wildlife Safari Park captured the safari park category for the 4th straight year and the Desert Dome was voted the best zoo exhibit for the first time after 4 straight wins by the Doorly’s Asian Highlands exhibit
The nominees for the USA Today awards are chosen by a panel of travel experts, which selects zoos that excel in animal care and enrichment and facilitate “meaningful interactions between animals and human visitors.” The winners come from a public vote
Zoo President and CEO Luis Padilla says it’s “humbling” to win all 3 categories for the second year in a row, calling it “not only a huge recognition for our zoo but a big win for Omaha and for our entire community.”
Padilla says the public voting provides a forum for people to really express their opinions and support for the zoos they’re passionate about – with the awards celebrating the “quality of programs and the work that we do for animals and wild places every day.”
Padilla adds that the awards tell the world the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has “really unique exhibits” and that the zoo finds “different and more creative ways of connecting with people.”
Visit Omaha executive director Deb Ward says the USA Today awards brings Omaha to the attention of a national and world audience – inspiring even more people to visit. Research shows 42% of last year’s Doorly visitors came from over 60 miles away.