Ok, I agree it's barren but we can't see all of it. And why is it being netted a problem? Surely that gives them more scope to add climbing logs without them worrying about the lions jumping out.
It was said that the jaguar enclosure was 2500 square feet, not the lion. While the lion enclosure may be small and barren, the jaguar enclosure is certainly a major improvement over the canyon enclosure. The new exhibit has a fish launcher and is actually larger than the two jaguar exhibits in the 50 million dollar Amazon & Beyond at the Miami Metrozoo.
Also, what is your problem with netted enclosures? They maximize the usage of the space for the inhabitants. Without nets more of the area is spent on moats which means less space for the animals.
Netted enclosures are fine--if anything is put in them to take advantage of all the additional cubic footage. This is mostly air that does nothing for the lions. Their world here is the dust, scrawny grass clumps and ugly fake rock cave, period.
