Zurich Zoo has created a new haven of paradise for its breeds of snow leopards, lions and tigers with a new habitat called Panthera.
Panthera consists of four different yet connected areas, all of which are interconnected.
And the challenges presented to the animals are crucial to their development and wellbeing, as Zoo Director, Severin Dressen points out: “For the big cats, the rotation principle means constant reorientation and safety checks.”
Every time they change areas; they first have to check for potential competitors and re-mark their territory. The scent of their predecessor is everywhere.
“Animals that are rarely or only occasionally cognitively challenged have been shown to be less robust. So, what sounds paradoxical at first actually makes a lot of sense,” says Dressen.
Image: Zurich Zoo
