Asiatic lion enclosure at Chessington Zoo, 6 February 2011

A very nice enclosure for lions, and good to see some platforms. Just all the logs lying just somewhere on the ground seem to be a bit useless.

Animal said:

A very nice enclosure for lions, and good to see some platforms. Just all the logs lying just somewhere on the ground seem to be a bit useless.

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I think food is hidden within the log piles, in order to make the lions work. Not bad, but I can't say I go a bundle on the 'distressed' brick-work.

I think both this and the Chessington Tiger enclosure are rather scruffy-looking, but still better than London's equivalent exhibits.

God!! it looks dreadful.

hadrada said:

God!! it looks dreadful.

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This is a statement that I agree with 100%. It's not just the haphazard pile of logs, but the entire enclosure is a mish-mash of exhibit techniques and is rather bizarre in appearance.

I wouldn't term it dreadful. Its a bit scruffy and the attempt to give a 'temple' look to the background doesn't work that well (there aren't any abandoned temples in Gir Forest btw, its open thorn scrub forest in a semi-desert setting,more like the African bush and without the classic Indian jungle 'feel').

Despite the photo stretches the length, its roomy and, by Chessington standards, adequate, which is about the level of most of their animal exhibits.