Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo - Lion Exhibit

July 2008. Ghastly little cage that should have been demolished a couple of decades ago.

First of all, it should have never been built.

These kind of exhibits are normal throughout China, Japan and many other countries. Hard to believe, but sadly quite true.

what are the names of the lions?

Is this an indoor enclosure for the Winter, or do the lions spend all year in this little box?

The big cat complex at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is the largest of its kind in North America, but it is also one of the worst of its kind due to the many subpar enclosures. I believe that these lions, and several other species, have access to outdoor enclosures, but the majority of cats were all inside when I visited and there are some that live out their lives in these crappy boxes. Great list of subspecies (including Malaysian, Amur and Bengal tigers - some are also white) but the area badly needs to be updated.

It's completely unsuitable for lions, but this sort of enclosure's not bad for, say, an indoor holding for a smaller feline, or something like small birds or a type of marmoset. Definately not lions or other big cats tho

The lions at Omaha actually have an outdoor enclosure that other than having unattractive bars for a barrier(also have glass viewing), is actually a pretty decent size and very lush. This goes back to what I've been saying recently, why is Omaha being judged on its poor indoor part of its exhibit rather than or in addition to their outdoor exhibit while the indoor parts of some other exhibits are for the most part, if not totally ignored?

Didn't Omaha pump out the white tigers during the 80's and early 90's? Were they bred in these little tanks?

@mweb08: Omaha is rightly being judged on its indoor exhibits because when I was there in the summer of 2008 I saw countless big cats locked indoors with ZERO access to any outside grottoes. The sheer number of cats (over 40 now?) means that probably half of them are locked indoors for most of their lives. This complex is huge but badly outdated, and it will be interesting to see how many more decades the structure survives before being either demolished or extensively renovated. The outdoor yards are average at best, but the majority of cats were inside and unable to leave due to locked gates on my visit.