British Expert Declares Vienna Zoo Best In Europe For Sixth Time
A famous British zoo expert has declared Vienna Zoo the best in Europe for the sixth time.
British zoo expert Anthony Sheridan has voted Schoenbrunn Zoo, the self-proclaimed world’s oldest zoo, the best in Europe after assessing 160 zoos in 29 countries.
Schoenbrunn Zoo said in a statement obtained by Newsflash that it had come out on top despite strict selection criteria, which included the number of animals and visitors, but also how well cared for the animals are.
The zoo said: “The preservation of the UNESCO World Heritage Site has always been given high priority. For zoo expert Anthony Sheridan, too, the symbiosis of culture and modern construction technology has been extremely successful.”
Sheridan said: “The outdoor facilities are optimally designed and at the same time fit harmoniously into the overall picture of the imperial Schoenbrunn.”
He added: “It’s unique and impressive. Information boards and the zoo’s many pedagogical offerings underline our commitment to education and to science.”
The zoos that were in the running only included ‘Category A’ zoos, which are ones that have over a million visitors a year, with Schoenbrunn Zoo saying: “Since the beginning of the ranking in 2008, Schoenbrunn Zoo has consistently been at the top.
“A total of 126 scientifically managed zoos from 29 European countries were examined. They were evaluated according to 40 criteria. These include animal husbandry, species protection, animal stocks, biodiversity, zoo education, research, visitor numbers, signage, animal keepers, marketing and gastronomy.”
Zoo director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said: “We want to get visitors interested in the world of animals and how to protect them.
“We can look back on many highlights in recent years: successful breeding of koalas, the opening of the new Barbary macaque and Barbary sheep enclosure, cheetah quadruplets and also polar bear offspring. The nomination as the best zoo in Europe is a valuable recognition of our work.”
Speaking about how the zoo cooperates with other facilities in Europe and internationally, he added: “One of our primary goals is to curb species extinction.”
And the Austrian Minister of the Economy, Margarete Schramboeck, said: “Due to the pandemic, the last two years have been very challenging for all of us. Above all, thanks to the uninterrupted commitment of everyone involved, I am still extremely proud of the Schoenbrunn Zoo attraction”.
