Bridges in enclosures

animalszoos

animalszoos

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Does anyone know of any zoos that have mammals enclosures where visitors view the mammals from open topped bridges?
I can think of Scandinavian Wildlife park with bridges going through the bear and wolf enclosures.
How safe are these bridges in protecting the public? If a bridge was to go through a tiger or lion enclosure, I am not sure how safe it would be or what safety protection there is.
 
The Smithsonian National Zoo has a bridge over their main Asian elephant exhibit.
 
It's a little hard to explain, but the 'Bats bridge' at Chester goes over the Philippine spotted deer enclosures. There is a fence under the walkway, but there is a gate too, so sometimes you can see the deer on both sides. The bridge then passes over Flag Lane which is a public bridleway, fenced off from the zoo. On the other side it passes over the fence between the second and third cheetah enclosures - the male cheetahs are usually visible on one side or the other, but the gate in the fence is usually closed.
 
Antwerp Zoo lion exhibit

Minnesota Zoo tiger exhibit

They are all perfectly safe for visitors who are not stupid.
But they do not prevent accidents if visitors put small wriggling children on the railing or actively attempt to climb over the rail and drop into the exhibit.
Must zoos provide that level of "protection"?
 
Kesingland/Africa Alive zoo has a high balcony over the lion enclosure; its built right over their indoor section and extends over a part of their outdoor; which is in turn an old pit so they are quite a good distance down but not too far.

I know there's one other zoo in the Norfolk area which had a bridge over their tiger pen and I don't recall hearing of any problems.

In general so long as its high enough and the surroundings don't offer any high purchase; it works well for cats and other animals. Much the same as moat based enclosures where you are on the same level but there's a moat/pit between you and the animals as part of the enclosure.
 
Also,
Minnesota Zoo tiger (already mentioned)
Fort Worth Zoo cheetah
Houston Zoo tropical aviary (birds, not mammals)
 
Highland wildlife park has a large bridge/walkway through it's entrance reserve as an option of foot traffic only entering the park.

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Indianapolis has a bridge over the cheetah exhibit, but it may be fully netted also.
 
San Antonio Zoo has a bridge where you can view rhinos, and I think another exhibit but I don't remember.

I dunno if it's still like this, but when I was a kid, the Gladys Porter Zoo had a bridge where you could see hippos.

I don't think bridges are particularly unsafe so long as the railing is sufficiently high and doesn't have large gaps. I guess people can still climb over, (unless you put extra money for covered bridges with windows or mesh over the viewing spots) but that's the case for most exhibits, really. You have to trust the guests not to be TOO stupid.
 
Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand has a bridge over a White Rhino enclosure.
In Australia, I've seen bridges over wombat enclosures and often waterfowl ponds, and even Leopard Seal pools (at Taronga, although very high glass walls (and floor)).
Bridges through aviaries are extremely common, sometimes with more unusual species, e.g. primates, but not usually large mammals.
 
The San Diego Zoo had a bridge over it's sea lion exhibit in the 1970s. I don't know if that lead to any grief. The exhibit is long gone.
 
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