There is a need to keep them in open exhibits if you want to make it a big exhibit. As I recall from my visit (many years ago) the walls were quite high and were straight cement. The yard slopes down on the edges, so the distance from bottom to wall is more than it appears in some photos (because you see the raised part of the yard but not how it slopes down behind).
There are 3 large, open-topped exhibits for jaguars, lions and tigers and the walls are massive. Big cats have been in these enclosures for more than 30 years and the walls are far too high for any of them to leap out. I'd be more afraid of a visitor leaning over or stepping over the railing and then falling into one of the exhibits.
I mean, it is a very high risk to keep jaguars in open exhibits. A few years ago, a jaguar excaped from such an exhibit at Doue'la Fontaine,France, and killed a young girl and her father.Nevertheless the height of the sourounding walls( on that pic-these walls seems not to high ) and electrices fence, I wouldn't do that.Jaguars are excellent, powerful jumpers and climbers, and there is no need to keep keep them in an open exhibit, accepting the risk of it..
Actually, in this case - in 1998 - two jaguars escaped under (not over) a fence. A boy (not a girl) was killed; his father was seriously injured (but not killed).
None of this alters the fact that this was a truly awful incident, however.
Actually, in this case - in 1998 - two jaguars escaped under (not over) a fence. A boy (not a girl) was killed; his father was seriously injured (but not killed).
None of this alters the fact that this was a truly awful incident, however.
