Yes, I saw the ocelot and I'm thankful as in 2008 there was a cougar in that narrow cage and the enclosure is more appropriately sized for a smaller feline.
Yes, I saw the ocelot and I'm thankful as in 2008 there was a cougar in that narrow cage and the enclosure is more appropriately sized for a smaller feline.
It is the zoo's great downfall, as the Cat Complex is the largest in North America and contains some great species but that 1970's relic will eventually be demolished. The bobcat, black-footed cat and ocelot exhibits in Desert Dome are all pretty bad, and I think that you might be right that the cheetahs are the only felines who prosper in a great enclosure.
Fortunately, it seems all the species in the Cat House and all the bear species should get new top-notch homes, as their exhibits are atrocious. If San Diego doesn't do something big now, it could lose its spot at #1 in the U.S.
Lions, tigers, mountain lions, leopards, jaguars, and snow leopards all have terrible exhibits in the Cat Complex. There are two fairly good outdoor exhibits there for Amur tiger and lions. There is also fairly spacious, but concrete, exhibit for fishing cats.
Bobcats, servals, ocelot, and now black-footed cats all now have pretty poor exhibits in the desert dome. The Lied Jungle used to keep clouded leopards in a pretty small exhibit, but are now out of it. Cheetahs have a basic, and fenced-in yard, that is pretty good. I think that is all of their extensive cat collection.