1.   When he went to the zoo he passed the elephant house quickly lest the irreverent onlooker should make comparisons.

2.   Chris Jones is building an elephant house at Knowsley Safari Park for seven arrivals from the doomed Windsor park and the three tuskers already at Knowsley.

3.   Hundreds of visitors applauded as mother and baby walked outside the elephant house for an afternoon feeding.

4.   Park Ranger Deniece Linton guarded the entry to the elephant night house, where the surgeons operated on Ruby, and prayed for the best.

5.   The elephant house, its exterior sculptures gloriously illuminated, had a large Christmas tree inside, along with piles of merchandise for sale.

6.   Zoo workers had been camped inside the elephant house with cots and blankets since Friday, zoo officials said.