Are you claiming that zoos that don't do elephant rides simply stuff their faces all day. Look at some of the zoos with relatively new elephant exhibits. National Zoo, for instance. In their elephant exhibit, the elephants are given plenty of room to walk around, at their own choosing, and in a more enriching fashion. Even Roger Williams, which has a smaller yard than National Zoo, gives elephants numerous enriching opportunities to allow them to exercise at their own will. And I am sure that if you weighed every animal at Southwicks, there will be some that are either overweight or underweight. Like how about some of the parrots kept on sticks with no opportunities to exercise? Do you believe that is the HEALTHY treatment of some of the most intelligent birds?
From what I've seen on Google Maps and ZooChat respectively, the greatest zoo in New England would be Roger Williams Park Zoo, with Franklin Park and Stone tied in my opinion (due to Treasures of the Sierra Madre, Himalayan Highlands, Yukon Creek and the new Caribbean exhibit at Stone along with the ambition of Franklin Park's Tropical Forest, its simple yet effective giraffe habitat, and the new children's zoo). Of course I would have to see these with objective eyes. I would understand why Southwick's would stray away from the AZA (going the Metro Richmond/Pittsburgh route of not wanting to be told what to do with their animals, for better or worse), but honestly Southwick's should advertise itself, if they don't already, as having an excellent collection in habitats that are objectively best suited for animal and guest needs. (And if not, a means to rectify that situation, perhaps a capital campaign.) A clear educational goal, a consistent, subtle design that presents the animals in the most natural context possible, (such as a pack of wolves looking down at guests from a steep hillside, rescued circus elephants enjoying a quiet retirement among a grassy meadow, or giraffes browsing in a quiet secluded woodland, etc.), and facilities that make any and all guests feel welcome and comfortable should be the goal of any good zoo, AZA or no. On a side note, from what I've seen in zoos myself and from documentaries and papers, protected contact is objectively the best system you can use for animals. Otherwise you get overworked, stressed animals that are seen as commodities and not as beings worthy of respect.
Southwick's was never AZA though. Southwick's owner was deeply involved in ZAA leadership and advocated for things like cub petting, elephant rides, and other practices banned in AZA. There is often a debate about the AZA over-reaching with rules, but no one ever provides me with a rule that they think meets that standard. Southwicks advertising themselves like that would be nicely put, lying. They do have a good mammal collection, but their bird and reptile collection are very standard stuff. The habitats generally seem to be average to below-average, with the reptiles being in what is essentially pet store displays. The night-houses for most species are extremely tiny. Also if you want a look the zoos on google street view, gives a good overview of the zoo, albeit its a few years old.
