Hey
@Hix, hey with the old Jaguar exhibit(s) at bottom of Waterhole pathway and adjacent to the old Lion pit; you mentioned there were two adjoining exhibits yeah. Were the
main habitated interior of these exhibits at a lower elevation than the viewing spot into the exhibits (like the succeeding exhibit in its place for Asian Lions-then
Chester the Tiger-then Sun Bears etc) for both exhibits or even just for the Jaguar one; and with the exhibits, did they both have Jaguars in them for fair amounts of
time.
They were both on concrete and at the same level. The public was on the same level too. I'm guessing the slope of the zoo happened behind the exhibits. The later exhibit for Ali, and then the Dholes, Snow Leopards & Sun Bears was much larger and, because of the slope of the site, probably kept the sloping terrain to provide a better exhibit for the occupants.
If remembering correctly you said at other times one of them held the Dholes, and possibly the Snow Leopards for a few months in early 1990 before Snow Leopard
mountain exhibit opened in May 1990? I believe one of the exhibits was temporarily a Fishing Cat exhibit from 1991 until sometime in 1993 when the Jungle Cats exhibits
were completed for them and then work began on turning the (former Jaguar exhibit) site into the Asian Lions exhibit (from the looks of it too one of the exhibits may
have become the interior paved viewing area into the Asian Lion etc enclosure).
I think you are a bit confused here. Both the old exhibits were knocked down and the one much larger exhibit was built in their place. I think this was around 1983 when the Waterhole exhibit opened. I don't recall the exhibit having a Fishing Cat, and if it did you probably would have never seen it. This exhibit remained until the recent developments involving the former waterhole pathway. The fennec fox exhibit currently stands near where this enclosure was. It never was for the Lions, they always had a pit.
However, on the lower level, back in the 70's and early 80's, west of the Flamingo Pond, was two larger enclosures (originally all concrete with a mock rock back wall, but later with grass) that held lions - probably the Asian ones you mentioned, and a Spotted Hyena that at one time featured in a newspaper article as "the only animal at the zoo with no name". By 1978 a normal jaguar was installed in one of the enclosures. These two completely wired exhibits were replaced in the mid-80's by the Kodiak Bear enclosures (although I think they held Black bears for a time until the Kodiaks arrived).
steveroberts said:
Wondered if perhaps their introductions took place in the 'Jungle Cats' complex in late (Nov/Dec) 1997; or at least a latter attempt at re-introducing them, with poor Nonah understandeably terrified of Samar from prior attack by him.
I believe it happened in the circular enclosure between the Lion's and Chester's exhibits. Or in their off-display holding area which was above the public walkway.
In regards to Dog Row, when I first visited the zoo there were no Fennecs; the African Wild Dogs held two exhibits, Dingo's had one and the last open topped enclosure held the NG Wild Dogs. Then there was a keeper pathway between the dogs and the large cage that held mandrills that led to the backs of the exhibits and where the "Small mammals" keepers had their office (in the corridor behind the Mandrills). The figtree you mention is, in the image above, under the box that says
Next to the Mandrills was a narrower exhibit about 3-4 metres wide that held Red-fronted Lemurs, and two somewhat wider exhibits with Ring-tailed Lemurs and Squirrel Monkeys. These last two had large glass panes in the front so you could get good views of the lemurs and squizz without wire obstructing your view.
Next to the Squirrel Monkeys was the large, open-topped exhibit with Golden Agouti, and then an aviary that housed quite a number of New Guinea Ground Doves and Nicobar Pigeons. The pigeons and the agoutis were directly opposite Tahr Mountain.
Over time the Fennecs arrived, the dingos were moved to their new enclosure at the top of the zoo along from the Nocturnal House and opposite the Rainforest Aviary (and incorporated the site of the old otter enclosure) - this happened in 1982, the numbers of African Hunting Dogs and NG Wild Dogs diminished, and the last open topped enclosure on dog row (housing the Wild Dogs) at one held a pair of Cheetahs prior to their move to Western Plains Zoo. The Mandrill enclosure was repurposed for jaguars, and the agouti exhibit later held Meerkats.
Opposite dog row were four wooden structures housing small cats - a pair of servals, a pair of caracals, a pair of Jaguarundi and a trio of Mountain Lion (or Puma, or Cougar). These exhibits were eventually replaced by the larger Snow Leopard exhibit.
Hope this helps.
Hix
thanks for all the detail too.
