Covering more than 500 acres, Animal Kingdom is the largest Disney theme park in the world and the first to focus entirely on animal conservation. White rhinos, gerenuks (thin-necked antelopes), naked mole rats—they're all here. Visitors can wander through the seven themed areas starting with the Oasis entrance before making their way onto Discovery Island, home to the Tree of Life, an iconic 14 story tall artificial tree carved with images of 325 animals among which lies a hidden Mickey.

Simply known as "Zolli" by the Bebbies (the people of Basel), the Basel Zoo welcomes about a million visitors yearly, making it the second most popular attraction in Switzerland after the Rhine Fall in Schaffhausen. Opened in 1874, it hosts over 6,000 animals from over 600 species, such as dwarf hippopotami, scarab beetles and Somalian wild donkeys. Not to be missed is the unique vivarium which takes guests around the globe to follow the evolutionary trail of life on earth.

Beauval Zoo started off in 1980 as an aviary, home exclusively to some 2000 birds of all kinds. The arrival of exotic animals such as giraffes and monkeys a decade later turned it into a proper zoo. These days, the park showcases over 4,000 animals of various species, from the white tigers couple, Gorby and Raisa to twin manatees, Quito and Luna. Precede or follow your visit with an excursion to Chambord or Chenonceaux, two of the numerous Loire Valley chateaus nearby.

Boasting the largest animal collection worldwide—13,900 animals from 1,440 species on an 86-acre site, the Berlin Zoological Garden is internationally renowned for its zoological rarities and successful breeding. Opened since 1844, it is also of historical interest for having survived World War II, during which it was razed to the ground and then rebuilt into its current glory.

The largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, the Bronx Zoo comprises 265 acres of parklands and naturalistic habitats, home to over 4,000 animals, many of which are endangered or threatened species. Especially known for its Wild Asia tramway, a monorail which allows spectators to observe Asian species, and Jungleworld, an indoor exhibit on plants and animals from tropical rain forests, the zoo also features the Congo Monkey Forest, which at 6.5 acres is said to be the largest human-made rainforest in the world.

What do the coati, the guanaco and the tuatara all have in common? If you said that they are all animal inhabitants of the 110-acre Chester Zoo, you'd be correct. Founded in 1934 by George Mottershead (who dreamed of a zoo without bars) and currently operated by the registered charity of North England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo is staying true to its conservation mission with an ever increasing number of animal exhibits such as the Realm of the Red Ape (the largest orangutan enclosure in Europe) and Elephants of the Asian Forest. Chester is the U.K.'s most popular zoo.

Despite its relatively modest size—111 acres housing 4,600 animals representing 630 species—the Prague Zoo was for many years the biggest breeder of species worldwide. Last year alone, it was the birth place of komodo dragons, a southern pudu (the smallest deer in the world), Rothschild's giraffes, and several leopard tortoises.

You would expect a wildlife-rich country like South Africa to have a world-class zoo, and Pretoria's doesn't disappoint. The 198-acre National Zoological Gardens of South Africa houses 2,568 specimens, 99 percent of which were born on site at the game breeding center. For adventurous spirits, the zoo also offers overnight camping tours on which visitors can fall asleep to sounds of lions roaring (at a distance).

Reputed as one of the largest and most progressive zoos in the world, the San Diego Zoo is extremely active in its conservation and species-preservation efforts. It currently has the largest population of Giant Pandas outside of mainland China, as featured prominently in the 2004 movie Anchorman. The San Diego Zoo also operates the legendary San Diego Wild Animal Park which displays animals in more expansive conditions: as you gawk at the roaming lions, giraffes and elephants, you won't believe you are in Southern California and not the Serengeti.

Founded as an imperial menagerie in 1752, Schönbrunner Zoo is the oldest zoo in the world. Attractions include a simulated Rainforest House with Borneo jungle landscape as well as the new Arctic Polarium, where visitors can give Eskimo kisses to friendly seals and penguins. For a behind-the-scenes look, drop in during the feeding and care hours of African elephants, Southern sea lions or lovely Egyptian vultures.

Over 1.4 million visitors come yearly to Singapore's open concept zoo where animals live in spacious and landscaped enclosures simulating that of their natural habitats. Among various attractions, the main highlights include "Breakfast with Orangutans" (and if you've never sat opposite an orangutan as she's tucked into a stack of pancakes, you don't know what you're missing) and "Lunch with Lions" during which you can share a bite (behind a glass panel, rest assured) with kings of the jungle.

Commonly known as the National Zoo (and no, we don't mean Congress), this free admission Smithsonian institution is dedicated to public education as well as animal conservation. Home to 2,000 individual animals of nearly 400 different species, the Zoo is one of Washington's and the Smithsonian's most popular tourist destinations, attracting over two million visitors yearly to its 163-acre zoological park set amid Rock Creek Park.

In 1916, the Taronga Zoo made its humble debut with 35 animals from six countries. Today, has over 2,600 different species from about 340 species while its sister Western Plains Zoo primarily caters for open range animals housed in a large variety of exhibits, including Wild Australia, African Waterholes and Cats of Asia. To see it all, take the scenic Sky Safari cable car which runs from the bottom of the park to the top end of the zoo.

Set in beautiful Rouge Valley, Canada's premier zoo has over 5,000 animals representing 460 species as well as six miles of walking trails among its 710 acres, making it one of the largest zoos worldwide. Must sees include the award-winning African Savanna as well as the Indo-Malaya exhibit, home to baby orangutans and Sumatran tiger cubs.

Easily accessible from anywhere within Tokyo, Ueno is Japan's oldest and most famous zoo. On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, one can expect upwards of 20,000 Japanese clamoring to see the resident giant pandas Tong Tong and Ling Ling. For a more Zen vibe, shun the crowds and head instead to the five-story pagoda and the tea ceremony house built in 17th century.