Best UK Snow Leopard enclosure

Best UK Snow Leopard enclosure?

  • Total voters
    37
  • Poll closed .
B

britishzoofan

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
This is just a bit of fun to judge the general consensus on the best enclosure for Snow Leopards in the UK. I have added a few photos from the gallery to make it easier for members to compare the different exhibits. If anyone wants to make an argument for a particular enclosure, please feel free to do so. Also, I would encourage people to perhaps list the enclosures in order of what they determine to be the best.

If you want to vote for Big Cat Sanctuary, Paradise WP, Linton, Lakeland WO or Welsh Mountain, then please vote for other in the poll and specify in the thread which one in particular you are voting for.

Big Cat Sanctuary

full


Banham

full


Howletts

full


Paradise WP

Unfortunately, there are no photos in the gallery of this enclosure. It would be extremely useful if someone who has visited can describe the exhibit, give an evaluation on its quality and possibly provide a photo.

South Lakes

full


Dudley

full


Linton

full

full


Lakeland WO

full


Thrigby

full


Twycross

full


Marwell
full


Highland
full


Five Sisters

full


Welsh Mountain

full

 
TriUK said:
Welsh mountain looks like an aviary for medium sized birds!
Click to expand...

In the interests of fairness, it's worth pointing out that Welsh Mountain are halfway through building a completely new Snow Leopard enclosure, which looks like it will be much better (certainly much more attractive from a visitor point of view!).
 
Most members are probably aware of this.... But Dudley's exhibit is more than twice the size of what is shown above, after an extension in recent years. The exhibit at LWO is also larger, with a small extension into a woodland.
 
Last edited:
ThomasNotTom said:
Most members are probably aware of this.... But Dudley's exhibit is more than twice the size of what is shown above, after an extension in recent years. The exhibit at LWO is also larger, with a small extension into a woodland.
Click to expand...

Small is the word.

As for Dudley don't start me!
 
I do think a valid argument could be made for Twycross - it is a fantastic looking exhibit, with great viewing for visitors, and a nice habitat for the animals. The off show appears to to nice, and they've had successful breeding in the past. I've voted for Highland, but Twycross is a solid second.
 
ThomasNotTom said:
I do think a valid argument could be made for Twycross - it is a fantastic looking exhibit, with great viewing for visitors, and a nice habitat for the animals. The off show appears to to nice, and they've had successful breeding in the past. I've voted for Highland, but Twycross is a solid second.
Click to expand...
Funny, I was looking at the list and Twycross was the one that stood out
 
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ThomasNotTom said:
Most members are probably aware of this.... But Dudley's exhibit is more than twice the size of what is shown above, after an extension in recent years. The exhibit at LWO is also larger, with a small extension into a woodland.
Click to expand...

The exhibit at Highland Wildlife Park is also significantly larger than depicted, as not only does it extend further than visible in the photograph, but there is also another linked enclosure and housing at the top of the cliff-face.
 
I visited Highland several years ago and loved it - my favorite UK zoo of the half dozen or so I have visited. Unfortunately I was there before the snow leopard exhibit was built; I would love to go back and see it.
 
ThomasNotTom said:
I do think a valid argument could be made for Twycross - it is a fantastic looking exhibit, with great viewing for visitors, and a nice habitat for the animals. The off show appears to to nice, and they've had successful breeding in the past. I've voted for Highland, but Twycross is a solid second.
Click to expand...

I've never been to Highland, but Twycross is definitely the best Snow Leopard enclosure I've seen. I didn't vote though as I didn't have particularly strong feelings about it, and Highland certainly sounds/looks like the best as far as I can tell without actually seeing it in person!
 
Score update. Highland currently have a large lead with over 80% of the vote with their natural hilly terrain at the park allowing them to create an excellent Snow Leopard exhibit, just like with their Polar Bears. I would be interested to hear from those who have visited what the viewing opportunities are like as it is difficult to tell from the photo.
 
britishzoofan said:
Score update. Highland currently have a large lead with over 80% of the vote with their natural hilly terrain at the park allowing them to create an excellent Snow Leopard exhibit, just like with their Polar Bears. I would be interested to hear from those who have visited what the viewing opportunities are like as it is difficult to tell from the photo.
Click to expand...
Also Highland is high enough elevation that you can sometimes see them in snow. When I visited (before snow leopard exhibit was added) there were patches of snow on the surrounding hills.
 
Poll closed. Congratulations to Highland on easily winning the vote for Best UK Snow Leopard enclosure. This continues Highland's 100% record so far in these polls following its previous win in the Polar Bear category, with the natural terrain of the park already giving them an advantage in producing excellent exhibits for both species. Having achieved on average 70% of the vote so far in polls they are involved in Highland are top of all zoos taking part so far. It will be interesting to see if they can maintain this record when further species enclosures at the collection are put up to vote. A mention should also be given to Twycross who were the best of the rest.

Highland: 81.1%
Twycross: 10.8%
Howletts: 2.7%
Dudley: 2.7%
Marwell: 2.7%
 
The Welsh Mountain snow leopards moved into their new enclosure at the beginning of the year. I haven't seen it in person as yet, hoping to go either next weekend or the one after but if it does (and I really hope it does) look like the original plan then that looked good.
 
There’s been a new snow leopard enclosure opened at Northumberland Country Zoo since this poll was closed and I was quite impressed when I went up to see it a few weeks ago.
 
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