randuwa: Philadelphia Zoo, redux #7

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Philadelphia Zoo, redux #7

Highlighted the portion of the "Zoo360"
habitrail where I experienced the Pumas.

The Philadelphia Zoo is creating habitats without the confines of the set "cage" mentality by building these amazing "Habitrails" around and between exhibits. They are providing opportunities for certain species to expereince a larger and far richer exposure to the premises of this zoo with such a limited footprint. It's very exciting and the animals that are given the opportunity to explore and enjoy these "trails" are responding very enthusiastically to them.

On the day I visited, the main trail was open to the trio of Pumas from the Big Cat Falls exhibits.

The fully enclosed spaces allow animals a chance to see what's going on all around them in the same way they would experience a "territory" or "range" in the wild. The structure intertwines with trees and other plants to provide the most authentic exposure possible.

Look closely and you can see all three Puma, Puma concolor

The sighting of the zoo's three pumas in the overheat habi-trails, confirmed my inkling to check out the Big Cat Falls exhibit. I was not disappointed. Although the African Lions were replaced by the zoo's two sibling Amur Tigers, Dimitri and Whiz. Passing though the length of the exhibit's buildings, I arrived at the Tiger enclosure to discover it's female Amur Tiger, Koosaka. And one point she became very animated and gave her attention to an adjoining habitat, but all I could see there was a lone Amur Leopard snoozing in the sun, hardly a cause for Tiger excitement. I, however, was pleased to have an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this animal undisturbed. In all, the zoo is home to 8 species of wild cat.