Chester Zoo Chester Zoo's Asian Lion Enclosure

taun

taun

Well-Known Member
This has been mentioned on a number of threads and photo's that is needs updating.

Am opening this thread to let people explain why they think it needs updating, as other than the indoor accommodation (although this is better than some I have seen) I feel this is one of the better enclosures in the UK.

Please feel free also if you feel its a good enclosure to explain why you believe so.
 
The only adjustments that i would suggest are possibly more platforms for the lions and possibly cat scratching posts, which would be interesting
 
I honestly think that the 'paddock' is very suitable for the lions.

It currently holds 1.1 and Asian Lions don't need the same pride numbers that African Lions do so I don't think size is an issue and it's as close to an established woodland as Chester Zoo is going to get (until the expansion)

It has long grass, climbing platforms, tall shady trees, dug-out dens. The only letdown is the indoor area, which as I said in the photo discussion, is probably no worse than any other zoo. Possibly another platform on the other side of the paddock or a post similar to London's tiger post might be useful

I've only seen Asian Lions at Twycross and London and Chester beats both of their enclosure's hands down (although London makes good use of the shady trees)
 
This is an interesting thread, because after a visit to Chester (my one and only), I was one of those who remarked in one of my photos that, in my opinion, the lion and tiger enclosures were disappointing.

I'm no expert on any sort of animal enclosure by any stretch of the imagination, and my therefore my reaction to them is often on a gut instinct basis ...... i.e. they seem to be small (for the size of animal, and/or for the number of animals it contains), or it contains little or no enrichment, or outside shelter. Other enclosures may seem to be inappropriately sited, so that ignorant visitors can easily torment an animal who has nowhere to hide.

I have to say that one of the benefits I've found of finding a truly interesting and informative forum like this is, on occasion, being reassured in a discussion that such and such enclosure, despite 1st impressions, is suitable and adequate, because the animal concerned would naturally live in similar surroundings and wouldn't actually require the stimulation that us (less well informed) humans might imagine they might.

Going back to Chester (and I've been analysing why I made that remark) my initial impression of both the lion and tiger enclosures were that they seemed comparartively small (for such large animals), very flat, and lacking in platforms and scratching posts. However, I also suspect that my feelings were probably influenced by the fact that I had visited the smaller big cats 1st ........ obviously, the jaguar area is very impressive and well landscaped, and the cheetah area also seemed sizeable. Moving on to the largest big cats, I couldn't help compare the respective enclosures and feel a bit bemused at the contradiction in size, given you (well, me) instinctively feel that larger animals should have most space.
 
Gill, the lion and tiger enclosures are much, much older than the Cheetah and Jaguar ones which were built in this decade. The lion one was originally built in the 50's/60's and the Tiger one was built a bit later (I think 80's).

To get a better view of the size of the lion paddock, have a look on google maps. It is quite a bit larger than the Jaguar outdoor enclosure and is roughly the same size as all of the cheetah ones combined. As I said, Asian Lions live in smaller prides than Africans so the exhibit does not need to be large enough to support a pride of Africans. I gave my opinion on the Lion exhibit earlier in this thread, and feel that it doesn't need a major improvement.

The Tiger one could be larger, however it is very densley planted, meaning the best chance of seeing them is if they are on their platform, in their pool or they are walking around the perimeter of the enclosure. If they stay in the centre of the enclosure, then it is very hard to spot (which I think is more important for a species which naturally lives in deep forest)

(Both species will probably recieve new enclosures with the expansion as neither fit in with any nearby theme)
 
i thought the lion enclosure at chester was excelelnt, i paricularly like the numerous mature trees which really makes this enclosure.

i thought although the tiger enclosure is narrow (i think so anyway) the dense plantings of mature trees, plants and well placed logs/rocks make the enclosure very good both for the visitors searching the vegetation for the stripey cat and for the tigers. i really got a jungle feel from the enclosure:)
 
Unless its changed in the last couple of years, this enclosure still looks very much as it did in the 1960's. Just grass and a platform?

I think spacewise its fine but I'm surprised they haven't landscaped it a bit more for the Asian lions- some bamboo and acacia trees perhaps and some big boulders and sandy areas? they have done this for the Tigers next door and its very effective.
 
I think that Asha gave birth and raised little charka (ar bless) in the outdoor pen maybe gives the enclosure the thumbs/paws up from her point of view?!

There certainly seems to be a good mix of open grass and shaded woodland, and from my selfish point of view, photographs of the animals always look 'natural' in there. Plus the open wire helps getting better photos than the fencing at blackpool (although blackpool had 3 good glass viewing areas, which were all covered). The indoor pens have limited viewing, which maybe for the best - but it was a shame when Tejas was around.

My only downside is there doesnt seem to be a 'natural' watering hole and the feeding doesn't seem to be very 'enriched'. Having seen lions get fed at knowsley, blackpool and south lakes, it seems a bit more energetic?!
 
beckiscott said:
My only downside is there doesnt seem to be a 'natural' watering hole and the feeding doesn't seem to be very 'enriched'. Having seen lions get fed at knowsley, blackpool and south lakes, it seems a bit more energetic?!
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I've seen Chester use both the "throw from the roof" and the scent trail method of feeding. I guess it depends on the day they are fed. When they were given a scent trail they were following it for ages and having a good investigation of their enclosure and it's hiding places
 
CZJimmy said:
Gill, the lion and tiger enclosures are much, much older than the Cheetah and Jaguar ones which were built in this decade. The lion one was originally built in the 50's/60's and the Tiger one was built a bit later (I think 80's).

To get a better view of the size of the lion paddock, have a look on google maps. It is quite a bit larger than the Jaguar outdoor enclosure and is roughly the same size as all of the cheetah ones combined. As I said, Asian Lions live in smaller prides than Africans so the exhibit does not need to be large enough to support a pride of Africans. I gave my opinion on the Lion exhibit earlier in this thread, and feel that it doesn't need a major improvement.
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You beat me too it CZjimmy. You can't compare an old exhibit with the newer big cat enclosures.

As point out the tiger enclosure is heavily planted and therefore makes up for the very thin enclosure. The lion enclosure is a good size with quite a few mature trees.
 
Both of these enclosures have been basically the same for at least 50 years - there aren't many enclosures in any zoo that you can say that about.
I think they are both pretty good, but I think that they could both be improved by going back to the way they were all those years ago: I would block off the paths that go along the sides of the old brick-walled courtyard (works yard) between the enclosures, so that you could only see the lions from two sides of the triangle and the tigers from the ends and front of the enclosure. I think that would make the tigers in particular feel more secure.

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
Both of these enclosures have been basically the same for at least 50 years - there aren't many enclosures in any zoo that you can say that about.
I think they are both pretty good, but I think that they could both be improved by going back to the way they were all those years ago: I would block off the paths that go along the sides of the old brick-walled courtyard (works yard) between the enclosures, so that you could only see the lions from two sides of the triangle and the tigers from the ends and front of the enclosure. I think that would make the tigers in particular feel more secure.

Alan
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Certainly would be better to switch it back that way or move the tigers to a new enclosure and use the tiger enclosure for leopards.
 
CZJimmy said:
Gill, the lion and tiger enclosures are much, much older than the Cheetah and Jaguar ones which were built in this decade. The lion one was originally built in the 50's/60's and the Tiger one was built a bit later (I think 80's).
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Taun said:
You beat me too it CZjimmy. You can't compare an old exhibit with the newer big cat enclosures
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Guys ...... I did realise that the jaguar and cheetah enclosures were far newer, and I guess it's probable that a lion enclosure (for example) built from scratch now would be quite different from one which is 40 or 50 years old.

But I couldn't help but instinctively compare the smaller big cats to the larger big cats. After all, they are living in the here and now !

Don't get me wrong, I would in no way describe the enclosures as appalling ......... maybe I'm being sentimental, and I know these things can't all be done at once (and will hopefully be addressed with expansion) but I suppose I always think of lions and tigers as "stars of the show" at zoos (along with other big cats, apes, elephants, rhinos, giraffes) and I think what I'm trying to say is that their areas appeared disappointing compared to those other animals were exhibited in.

I do totally agree that the dense jungle-like planting for the tigers was very good (the 3 Colchester tigers also have lots of bamboo, big shrubs etc). It's horrid to see tigers in flat grassed - and therefore unnatural - enclosures.
 
GillP said:
Don't get me wrong, I would in no way describe the enclosures as appalling ......... maybe I'm being sentimental, and I know these things can't all be done at once (and will hopefully be addressed with expansion) but I suppose I always think of lions and tigers as "stars of the show" at zoos (along with other big cats, apes, elephants, rhinos, giraffes) and I think what I'm trying to say is that their areas appeared disappointing compared to those other animals were exhibited in.
.
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The Orang house in 2005 was looking very dated, the chimp island pre 2001 was starting to look quite bare, the elephant house was quite basic and not particularly good in 2004. Therefore, on the list of priorities, in terms of a major renovation, the big cats come fairly low.

It's because for the most part, the big cat enclosures have aged very well and have only required minor improvements (bit of planting etc.)
 
There has been a slight reduction in size of the lion enclosure which is over 60 years old, but the tiger enclosure has more than doubled in size.
 
GillP said:
It's horrid to see tigers in flat grassed - and therefore unnatural - enclosures.
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Don't forget that Asiatic Lions live primarily in thorn forest in their natural surroundings, they aren't open plains dwellers either. That's why I said keeping them in a traditional grassy enclosure is a bit dated/unsatisfactory from the point of view of the quality of the exhibit (though I'm quite sure the Lions couldn't care less...;) )
 
I think the lion enclosure is good for its age. if it was for anymore than 2 lions then it would be much to small.
 
Dartboy said:
I think the lion enclosure is good for its age. if it was for anymore than 2 lions then it would be much to small.
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I think 1.2 (plus offspring) is more appropriate for the enclosure. As I said earlier, it is actually larger than it appears from the ground (check out the google map.)
 
Dartboy said:
I think the lion enclosure is good for its age. if it was for anymore than 2 lions then it would be much to small.
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Sorry but i couldn`t disagree with you more its one of the larger Zoo Lion enclosures and considering its age it gives some that are alot newer built ones a run for there money,as for it only been big enough for 2 rubbish i`ve seen it with at least 8 when that had Africans and they still had plenty of room,Now if you had said ******** *** was too small and could cope with no more than 2 then i would agree with you but over Chester NO CHANCE.
 
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