Ok, I have seen almost all of the elephant facilities mentioned here (exept Poznan).
These ratings of Mr. Sheridan can`t be taken seriously. He is obviously easily impressed by nice architecture and expensive facilities, but not in animal welfare.
It is ridiculous that Zurich, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Munster got into the "top 12" list. Munster has a new outdoor enclosure, but it`s rather ordinary and not that spacious. The female`s barn is outdated; too small and all concrete. Zurich and Copenhagen have both very new and expensive facilities, but as emntioned, the outdoor enclosures are way too small to be called "world-class". I don`t know what those respinsible for these enclosures were thinking when designing brand-new elephant enclosures with less then 3000 m² outdoor space!! Hamburg has a really nice barn for the females, but the bull facility is outdated and way too small (i`t doesn`t fulfill the new german minimum standards and needs to be rebuilt). The bull never has acess to the larger herd paddock and is bored to death. The larger paddock for the females is surrounded by a steep dry moat which is dangerous. The elephant management in Hagenbeck is truly outdated and awful, but that is another topic...
Cologne has a lot of space for the elephants, but it`s all greyish fake rock and looks not very attractive. No natural grazing and the outdoor yards are all surrounded by deep water moats which are dangerous for the elephants - there were serveral incidents of elephants almost dying in the water (mostly calves, but also an adult female who couldn`t find her way out). Not 6/6!
Prague - nice outdoor areas, but indoors too small, especially for a larger group with serveral breeding females. Not 6/6!
Rating Hannover as 5/6 is ridiculous too. Hannover`s elephant facility has so many weak points - it`s only 20 years old and already in serious need of an update to fulfill new german legislation. Works will hopefully start soon. The barns for both females and the bull have only concrete flooring, which is bad for an elephants feet and legs. The outdoor enclosures are too small and have dangerous, steep dry moats. The bull doesn`t have a pool. But it looks nice for the visitors. I guess that`s what is most important for Mr. Sheridan?!
Of the others mentioned, Cabarceno has by far the most beautiful, natural and best outdoor areas (20 hectares!). But the barn is very barren and way too small. So if you look at the overall picture, Cabarceno doesn`t make it into the top list. Same for Howletts and Beauval - very spacious and nice outdoor enclosures (I´d rate their outdoor habitats as no. 2 and 3 in Europe, after Cabarceno), but indoors small, barren and all concrete (Beauval`s indoor facilities are way more spacious then Howletts, though).
Amersfoort - outdoors too small to be considered as zop 6/6. But the barn is really good!
I don`t understand how some rate Rotterdam (Blijdorp) so highly - it was one of the top european facilites 25 years ago, but thankfully things have progressed since then. Barn - too small and all concrete. Outdoors way too small for the bull; area for the females isn`t that spacious neither. And worst - the enclosure for the females is not safe for the bull, so that he is bored to death in his small pen. Update is badly need.
Whipsnade - spacious but rather barren outdoor paddocks; sadly not safe for the bull. Indoors rather small and all concrete, but things will improve a lot as soon as the extension of the barn is ready. Management sadly awful (circus-style training).
Ok, and after so much complaining, here are the ones that I`d rate highest: Planckendael, Beekse Bergen, Dublin and Chester!
On a more serious note, I suppose you have brought about exactly what I was asking for. A couple of points, though: 1) I'm frustrated by the canonization of Sheridan's lists by those who perhaps don't know any better, and 2) I'm not sure whether individuals listing zoos constitutes "interesting discussion".
