No and no. The first water surface is a creek that runs through the zoo, the second one is a water moat. There is no visitor area behind the artificial rock, there are night dens for the lions.
There are electric fences on the bank of course (the same system as the lion island in Plzen). Lions are excellent swimmers, I would never pass a gate of a zoo, that would have only water moats between me and the lions.
I have read and heard stories of the significant height and length animals can jump in moments of stress and or under threat and yes I would assume its a matter of when!
However in saying all of that evidence would suggest that the lions both here and at Plzen are not escaping! Territory abundance and abundance of food available is keeping them in not the barrier??
I have read and heard stories of the significant height and length animals can jump in moments of stress and or under threat and yes I would assume its a matter of when!
Most moated exhibits that I've seen for lions have a low electric fence along the inside of the moat. This probably prevents the lions from getting a run up and jumping to their maximum potential.
