Safari Or Zoo

HuxleyPig said:
But the safari parks that I have visited, only speaking about Longleat and Blair Drummond here, are not just empty spaces. They are big paddocks, with waterholes, mud wallows, tree shelter, hilly areas, as well as enrichment items.

Longleat give their lions enrichment in the form of rope chew toys, scratching posts, elevated platforms etc. Also, the feeding method can vary so much more in a Safari Park. In mind, I have their feeding truck method. As well as hiding food in leaves, up trees, etc. As I say, I have yet to see a big cat pacing in a Safari Park. And yes, there are zoos that fantastically don't have this behaviour, but it is common in zoos.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to see the entire second pride of Lions at Longleat running around their full enclosure, having fantastic fun, play fighting and chasing each other. It was fantastic to see them running around and making use of the vast space they've been given. Often in zoos, you see the Lions sleeping under a shelter, and generally doing nothing. And I know they will do that most of the day in the wild, granted, but they don't have the opportunity to run great distances. Again, I'm only going on Lion enclosures I have seen myself.

The Tigers at Marwell, although impressive, will pace constantly. The Tigers at Longleat do not. I think this has something to do with enclosure space. I agree, a simple empty field will make a Tiger pace, if there's nothing else to do. (Although, I must say, I was impressed that Longleat had given their Tigers a 'Waterfall', but having seen it, it's kinda... well, pathetic, lol.) But they're not empty fields, and with a Safari Park, theres so much more potential for things to get the Tigers doing.
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I think you are over-playing Longleat's enclosure rather, it's pretty basic and consists of very open woodland, a small pool and not too much else. I have no doubt that it is good for them, just saying that at zoos space is utilised better. Also, I have been behind the scenes in both the tiger and lion houses at longleat and there is certainly no enrichment (or space) there.
 
Pertinax said:
And on average, how many hours of each 24, do the big Cats spend in there?:(
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A lot. I went in the morning and they were let out at around 8.30, and I would guess they are brought in shortly after closing time as keepers need to go home. So they spend the majority of their lives in an area of around 20sqm, certainly not ideal for a species which generally hunts at night.
 
i generally find most safari parks to have a very comercial nature and to be more of a gimmic then zoos , i think zoos probably contribute more to captive breeding then safari parks , plus safari parks usually keep very common species which isnt exactly something to see for me
 
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