Its a terrific idea but it doesnt seem like they've pulled it off that well. Firstly the enclosureseems rather barren (maybe it being so new has something to do with it) and the tunnel just seems rather 'plonked' in the middle. I would suggest a bit of clever landscpaing to make the enclosure seem less boring and to integrate the tunnel a bit more, e.g. the use of large natural boulders around the tunnel covering it inb a view places.
As they say you cant judge a book by its cover but,i can understand it being for a single speciemen but LWO say they hope to have a female too the enclosure looks awfully small though.
The area size on the other side of the tunnel is pretty much identicle to the front half. Although, there is mock rock structure at the back, with a small cave. The Snow Leopard spent the whole day in this 'cave' during my visit.
As they say you cant judge a book by its cover but,i can understand it being for a single speciemen but LWO say they hope to have a female too the enclosure looks awfully small though.
I have seen Snow Leopard enclosures alot smaller than this,that hold breeding pairs in them in fact a couple of them still hold Snow Leopards today!!As long as the enclosure is designed so that the animals can get away from each another and the public then size is really an issue to me!!
Is the other side of the enclosure just as barren as this side? On a side note, there seems to have been a lot of new leopard (snow, Amur, etc) exhibits that have been built in the U.K. during the past couple of years.
Is the other side of the enclosure just as barren as this side? On a side note, there seems to have been a lot of new leopard (snow, Amur, etc) exhibits that have been built in the U.K. during the past couple of years.
Pretty much so yes. Also remembered that there is a small pond right at the front of the exhibit, although this picture cuts it out. I think it may be visible from one of my other photos.
