This book has been compiled and written jointly by Anthony Sheridan, European zoo analyst and author of three previous books on this subject, and Dr Alex Rübel, Zürich's highly respected and successful zoo director (1990-2020). It is Sheridan's latest and most comprehensive analysis of the 126 leading zoos and includes a further 11 specialist zoos in Europe. It ranks zoos in terms of animal collection, enclosure quality, visitor attractiveness, education, research, conservation, management, and marketing.
Many examples in these areas enable the interested zoo enthusiast, sceptic, visitor, sponsor, donor, politician, conservationist and all those who work in zoos to obtain information and make comparisons among zoos. Each zoo described is presented. The first experiences with COVID-19 in the zoos are described.
The proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Gibbon conservation project in Vietnam organised through Stiftung Artenschutz.
Chapter 1. Why Zooming in on Europe's Zoos? 7
Chapter 2. Anthony Sheridan’s Evaluation of Zoos 9
Chapter 3. Plants in Zoological Gardens 15
Chapter 4. Enclosure and Landscape Design 19
Chapter 5. Zoo Directors 23
Chapter 6. Professional Animal Care 37
Chapter 7. Education and Educational Design 41
Chapter 8. Research 47
Chapter 9. Ex-situ Species Conservation 49
Chapter 10. In-situ Species and Habitat Conservation 56
Chapter 11. Friends of the Zoo 64
Chapter 12. Finance, Marketing, Communication and Service 74
Chapter 13. The Importance of lconic Species in Zoos 79
Chapter 14. Zoo Associations 85
Chapter 15. Europe's Three Best Zoos 98
Chapter 16. Developments in Eastern European Zoos 107
Chapter 17. Other European Specialist Zoos of Significance 111
Chapter 18. Zoo Profiles 118
Chapter 19. 2020 Ranking Lists 372
Chapter 20. Star Rating of lconic Species Table 382
Chapter 21. lnteresting Zoo Facts 397
Chapter 22. How Zoos Deal with Disasters 413
Chapter 23. Acknowledgements 417