Hologram zoos around the world are paving the way to a kinder, more ethical way to connect with wildlife while traveling.
For travelers seeking the wonder of wildlife without the cruelty of captivity, hologram zoos around the world are transforming animal tourism. A decade ago I wrote an article titled For the Animals, the Zoo Is the Unhappiest Place on Earth, exposing the grim reality of life for wild animals in captivity. In their natural habitats elephants live more than 70 years, yet in captivity many don’t survive past 20. In that same piece, I reported how officials at Copenhagen Zoo killed a perfectly healthy baby giraffe named Marius in front of children, then fed his remains to captive lions. Disturbingly, incidents like this continue today. This month a Nuremberg Zoo in Germany killed 12 baboons due to overcrowding and dismembered six of them before feeding them to predators. This triggered widespread upset and legal complaints. While a zoo in Denmark asked the public for donations of unwanted small pets or horses to feed its captive predators.
The reality is that even the so-called best zoos with top-notch conditions still confine animals behind bars for life. In the wild, many species roam vast distances, explore diverse habitats, hunt, raise their young, and form complex social bonds.
“If you’ve ever been to a zoo and seen polar bears swimming in circles compulsively for hours, or seen tigers pacing back and forth endlessly, or elephants swaying back and forth rhythmically, all with a blank look in their eyes, you’ve witnessed an animal suffering from zoochosis.”
While traditional zoos continue to spark controversy, innovative Hologram Zoos created by Axiom Holographics, an Australian company, offer a kinder, more ethical way to experience zoos. For travelers, it means discovering the thrill of wild animals in a way that’s ethical, immersive, and humane.
“Hologram Zoos are like normal zoos, except all of the animals are made out of laser light. They look real and act alive, but you can put your hand straight through them. These immersive hologram experiences are unlike anything you’ve seen before.”
Axiom’s Hologram Zoo was named one of the best inventions of 2023 when the first one opened in Australia. Their breakthrough innovations can potentially change the lives of animals around the world. Here are five destinations where you can see them for yourself.
Brisbane and Melbourne – Australia
Brisbane, Australia was the first Hologram Zoo and did so well that another opened in Melbourne.
“For years, zoos have played a crucial role in education and conservation, but they also come with ethical challenges. Our goal is to evolve the concept of zoos for the modern world—offering a magical, engaging, and responsible way to experience wildlife without captivity.”
Their zoo is ethical and sustainable because no live animals equal zero environmental footprint. Kids are inspired to love wildlife and learn about conservation through huge 3D holograms in incredible detail while exploring diverse ecosystems, learning facts about each species, and their behaviors. Guests wear high-tech polarised hologram glasses that also fit over regular glasses. In addition to viewing the magical sky roof, there are five laps of hologram encounters and a tunnel experience. Currently showing is the chilling snowy Arctic with penguins, polar bears, and a gigantic holographic whale – a creature you could never get this close to in the ocean.
Niagara Falls – Ontario, Canada
For generations travelers from around the world have journeyed to Niagara Falls to experience the thunderous roar of the falls and cascading waters. This natural wonder, straddling the border between Canada and the United States, has long captivated visitors with magical rainbows and roaring currents. Now guests visiting Niagara Falls can add Hologram Zoo Niagara to their sightseeing list. Recently opened in June, it may even become one of the top visited attractions in Niagara Falls. Current shows include Africa with lions, zebras, and giraffes; Australia with reptiles and koala bears; and dinosaurs – an exhibit perfect for Jurassic Park lovers.
Austin, Texas, United States
Head to a frozen arctic adventure in Austin, Texas at Zoocade, the first holographic zoo to open in the United States. This incredible attraction features a huge 60-foot holographic tunnel and there are three themed shows including Africa with lions, giraffes, and elephants. They also have a new interactive hologram room that you enter with special glasses and motion wands to interact with life-like hologram animals. When in Austin continue your love for animals with a delicious vegan meal at Next Level Burger, America’s first 100% plant-based burger joint chain.
Advances in technology and the rise of hologram zoos have the potential to revolutionize the way we see, visit, and connect with wild animals. We have the power to create a future where animal encounters inspire wonder without causing harm.
A variation of this article was published in my Forbes travel column.
Header Photo Credit: Axiom Holographics
miriam porter 