Taronga Zoo Taronga: Lions and tigers swap enclosures for the day.

I

ibigmang

Member
I visited Taronga again today and the Lions and Sumatran tigers swapped enclosures for the day. Apparently this is the second time this has been trialed, the first time being last week.

This gives the cats a change of environment, new smells etc. The tiger enclosure is getting a bit cramped so this gives them a little more room, albeit temporarily. The lions are easier to see in the tiger enclosure as they lie on the platforms in the open instead of in their shelter on the right hand side of the exhibit. A keeper said it was all going well so they might continue it on a regular basis.

Cheers,
ibigmang
 
ibigmang said:
I visited Taronga again today and the Lions and Sumatran tigers swapped enclosures for the day. Apparently this is the second time this has been trialed, the first time being last week.

This gives the cats a change of environment, new smells etc. The tiger enclosure is getting a bit cramped so this gives them a little more room, albeit temporarily. The lions are easier to see in the tiger enclosure as they lie on the platforms in the open instead of in their shelter on the right hand side of the exhibit. A keeper said it was all going well so they might continue it on a regular basis.

Cheers,
ibigmang
Click to expand...

I thought changes in environment like that actually stressed out the animals?
 
Stress can be a form of enrichment, too.

:p

Hix
 
The big cats would love this kind of enrichment, especially considering the size of the tiger exhibit! Visited yesterday and they were in their usual exhibits.
 
Taronga Zoo has just mentioned this on their Facebook page:

"Well, you know a leopard can’t change its spots, but lions and tigers can change their exhibits! The big cats have lots of challenging activities, but recently keepers have been mixing things up by swapping their exhibits occasionally. The big cats have enjoyed the change of scenery, new smells and climbing challenges, plus all the different places to swim or hide from other family members. The youngest lion, Asali, really loves the thick Giant Bamboo, as it’s an ideal place to hide and pounce on the head of the pride, Bruiser. It’s a bit like taking your dog to a different park for a walk every now and then - It’s something they REALLY enjoy!"

http://www.facebook.com/tarongazoo
 
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