Largest indoor rainforest in a zoo

Opened in March 2016 after a three-year zoo-wide renovation project, the "Rimbula" rainforest exhibit at Wildlands Adventure Zoo in Emmen, Netherlands, has a total ground surface area of 16,764 square metres (180,446 square feet). Contained within a humidity-controlled greenhouse, the rainforest is comprised of more than 16,000 tropical plants of around 350 difference species and even includes a river upon which visitors can take a boat ride through the jungle. "Rimbula" is also home to more than 50 animal species, ranging from leafcutter ants right up to a herd of Asian elephants!

The temperature within the greenhouse varies through the year, just as in a real rainforest. In the summer, the day temperature is around 27°C (81°F) - with a humidity of 85%, whereas in the winter that drops to 19°C (66°F) - with a humidity of around 60%. During the summer, the rainforest receives 1.5 hours of water six days a week from the greenhouse's "raining system"; in winter, that is decreased to 15 minutes of rain three days a week.

The highest point of the greenhouse stands 23 m (75 ft) off the ground, and trees are able to grow up to 22 m (72 ft) within the exhibit.

Other species living in the exhibit include rainbow lorikeets, ring-tailed lemurs, brown-headed spider monkeys, pygmy marmosets, southern three-banded armadillos, white-handed gibbons and Rodrigues flying foxes.

A close second for this title is the 16,500-m2 (177,604-sq-ft) "Gondwanaland" exhibit at Zoo Leipzig in Germany, which houses around 24,000 plants (representing 500 species) and 140 animal species. In North America, one of the largest examples is the Lied Jungle at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Nebraska, USA, with a total area of 11,400 m2 (122,709 sq ft).

If including the adjoining Rimbula Restaurant, the size of the entire exhibit increases to 18,000 m2 (193,750 sq ft), however as this sits outside of the greenhouse, it has not been included as part of the rainforest area.