This was used for the Tigers from 1930s until 1989/1990 when the current Tiger enclosure was built on the site of a former Wolf Wood.
A similar Lion enclosure was demolished shortly before this photo was taken.
what happened to the tigers during the building of tige falls, it says here that it was used for tigers until 1989, and my historical london zoo guide book says that it opened in 91, were the tigers still kept here?
Although shut to to the public I think they were still there, Boris (Moscow) and Vanda (Prague) didnt arrive until 1997 and it is there offspring from their last litter that are there today (the remaining male having killed both parents)
Thanks for that Zebedee101 i didnt realise Mikeal killed both of his parents. I thought it was only Boris.
Great pic! - Considering its age it was a very good size.
It was quite an effective enclosure(as was the Lion one) with plenty of room and 'naturalistic' too with thorn trees and scrub. Being a sunken 'dell' would have given the tigers protection from wind etc as this is the very exposed North edge of the downs. The (Siberian) Tigers are now on the other side of the park which is much less exposed.
I remember these well, both the Lion and Tiger enclosures had quite a bit of room, they had a pair of Sumatran tigers there for some time, they produced many cubs from that pair.
The very same type of iron bars were used around the Polar bear enclosure but they had a all concrete floor
The current Tiger enclosure is better in some ways- visually you can see the Tigers without the thick bars of the old pits. The Serengeti Lions exhibit has a big viewing window but the lions often seem to be rather difficult to see despite that.
