Designing a Zoo Exhibit
You said: Limit
the amount of space in the exhibit so the tiger is always close to visitors
That's a good goal. A zoo's primary goal is to educate people about animals and the natural world. By giving visitors a good view of the tiger, you are more likely to inspire them to learn and care about it.
However, you must not put the tiger in too small of an enclosure. That wouldn't be good for the tiger, and many visitors would become upset to see the tiger locked up in such a way. Visitors want to see healthy animals who appear content in their zoo homes.
On the other hand, even a very large exhibit is far smaller than a tiger's natural range. And such an exhibit will have many areas where visitors cannot see the tiger. Visitors to such an exhibit will be disappointed and perhaps even frustrated. They won't feel the same excitement about tigers if they glimpse it in the distance rather than up close --and they probably won't learn as much about tigers either. Such an exhibit would be considered unsuccessful.
Exhibit designers have to balance space and visibility when planning a tiger exhibit. Here are some things they must consider:
Size A tiger exhibit must be big enough to give the tiger ample room to move about. An exhibit with one tiger ought to be, at the very least, 30 meters by 50 meters (100 feet by 150 feet). That's about the size of two house lots. A large exhibit would be about 80 meters by 150 meters (250 feet by 475 feet). Zoo exhibits must also have night rooms next to the exhibit. Like all zoo animals, tigers are brought indoors every night for safety and care. They spend the night in a small room, which must be about three meters (10 feet) by four meters (12 feet). Every tiger in an exhibit must have its own night room. | |
| Visitors should be able to see the tiger from several vantage points. Ideally, the visitors should come nose-to-nose with the tigers for a thrilling, even mystical encounter. Some zoos give large cats the high ground so both tigers and visitors can see each other easily. Other zoos put the tiger in lower areas and allow visitors to view them from above. Some zoos have large enclosures but contain the tigers in a smaller area close to the visitors to ensure good viewing. "Hot wires" can be installed to keep the tiger in view. Hot wires are electrified with a harmless, low-voltage current to keep tigers out of certain areas of the enclosure. An exhibit can then appear larger and more natural without hiding the tigers from view. |
There are many ways to keep tigers from escaping the exhibit. Years ago, most zoo exhibits used metal bars. In some cases, bars are still used, but many zoos now try to build barriers of wire, glass, or water which do not block visitors' views of the animals. | |
| Wire fences are not as strong as bars but, if made of heavy-gauge welded wire, can be strong enough for tiger enclosures. They should be at least five meters (16 feet) high. At the top, the fence should be turned into the exhibit at a 45 degree angle. To prevent tigers from digging their way out of the exhibit, the base of the fence should be buried one meter (three feet) deep and turned into the exhibit at a 45 degree angle. |  |
 | Glass is aesthetically pleasing and gives visitors a good, nose-to-nose view of the tiger, but it requires more maintenance and expense, and may fracture. It also prevents visitors from fully experiencing the tiger exhibit, since they cannot hear or smell the animals. |
Moats can keep tigers in the exhibit while giving visitors a clear view of the tigers. They should be at least seven meters (23 feet) wide at the top and at least five meters high (16 feet) on the visitors side. A small ledge should be provided so cubs don't fall into the deep moat. Moats must have a large drain to carry away rain, seepage and wash water. In cold climates, moats may freeze over if not drained, allowing the tiger to walk across the ice and out of the exhibit. | Moat |
Large trees should be kept away from the perimeter. Adult tigers are unlikely to climb any vertical trees, but young tigers may climb them and escape the exhibit. A wind storm may also knock a tree down, offering an escape route out of the exhibit. | |
A tiger exhibit must also have off-exhibit night rooms where the tiger spends each night. By bringing the tigers in nightly, keepers can monitor the tigers' health closely and keep them safe at night. Zoos participating in an approved breeding program must have at least three off-exhibit night rooms: one for the adult male, another for the adult female, and a third for the cubs. | |
| A squeeze cage, shown here, offers a simple way to administer vaccinations, antibiotics, and other shots. As the tiger moves through the cage, it is briefly squeezed against the bars so the keeper can inject its shoulder with the medicine. This is a quicker, safer and less-stressful method than a dart gun, which might hit a bone or an eye, or total immobilization, which requires additional drugs. The tiger is freed before it realizes what has happened. |  |
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