how big was this exhibit. the size doesn't look two bad (judging from these pictures) for a pair of jags (probably pushing 3, but still), it just seems a bit barren, not much climing of swimming stuff etc
how big was this exhibit. the size doesn't look two bad (judging from these pictures) for a pair of jags (probably pushing 3, but still), it just seems a bit barren, not much climing of swimming stuff etc
Oh, thankyou zoogiraffe. And I wasn't suggesting that this was a zoo exhibit, I was simply saying that, judging by the photo the enclosure dosent look to bad for size, but now I've since been proved wrong
It's amazing how attitudes towards the big cats (and most other animals) have changed. Could you imagine the uproar if a zoo in the UK started housing jaguars like this nowadays? Especially with Spirit Of The Jaguar in Chester which is probably the best exhibit for this species that I personally have seen
It's amazing how attitudes towards the big cats (and most other animals) have changed. Could you imagine the uproar if a zoo in the UK started housing jaguars like this nowadays? Especially with Spirit Of The Jaguar in Chester which is probably the best exhibit for this species that I personally have seen
And Brum, we could reverse the question, were people really less caring for big cats just over 20 years ago?
This really is an appalling cage.
I complained on this forum about London's lack of animals, but if this is a reason why they keep less bigger animals then I'm glad.
Sadly big cats are still kept in very substandard housing, you only need look at Berlin Tierpark (East Berlin Zoo), shocking housing for biig cats and so upsetting that even though the rest of the zoo is good, I did not feel able to visit this part of the zoo on my last visit.
I don't think people were less caring but I think that there's just a bit more awareness of the animals needs. This enclosure is a lot better than most of the ones at Tierpark Berlin but there's no place to hide, no shelter and the climbing oppurtunities are nil other than the platform which at least the cats in erlin get to some extent!
London kept both leopards and Jaguars at this time, although I would say these are Jaguars. They were usually held in what is currently the spider monkey enclosure, adjacent to the puma (which was kept where the servals are now).
Even just based on the look of the enclosure, I would say these are unlikely to be leopards, as the leopard block was adjacent to the lion house, and the height of the main leopard cage was taller.
These were jaguars, housed in what was probably the least satisfactory enclosure on the Lion Terraces. The latter opened in 1976, so obviously ideas have moved on.
Having said that, I seriously question the widely aired mantra of wholesale demolition that seems so popular on this site for this area. If the lion enclosure moat was drained, and the tiger enclosure expanded to incorporate Three Island Pond, two very fair sized enclosures would be created for animals which, let's be honest, spend a huge amount of theiir time fast asleep.
