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Whitmire PT 150: manufactured by Whitmire REFERENCES Research Laboratories. Inc.. 3568 Tree Court SETTLE. G. A. (1978): The quiddity of tiger quolls. Industrial Blvd. St Louis, MO 63122, USA. Aust. nut. Hisi . 19: 164-169.

RIDE. W L D. (1970): A guide to the nalive mammals Trade and brand names are used only for the qf Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. purpose of information and the National Zoological ParkSnithsonian Institution does not guarantee nor warrant the standard of the product nor does it imply approval of the product to the exclusion of others which may also be suitable. Manuscript submitted 3 June 1987

Inr. Zoo Yh. (1988) 27: 334-338 0 The Zoological Society of London

The new complex for big cats at Borisparken Zoo NILS-OVE HILLDEN Director. Animal Department, Bordsparken, PO Box 455, S-501 07, Sweden

Rodsparken Zoo is renowned in Sneden for its large pride of Lions Pantheru leo, magnificent specimens with dark manes extending along the whole of the ventral midline. Prior to 1984 the Lion exhibit consisted of a 1000 m2 outdoor area and a 45 m2 indoor enclosure. I t was in need of renovation. however, and was no longer considered satisfactory since larger indoor accommodation was required as well as a modern kitchen and storage area to replace the small downstairs room used for the preparation of food which had to be transported there from another building. Thus plans were made to enlarge the lion house and to incorporate an additional outdoor enclosure.

Construction took place in two phases. First. in the off season of 1983/1984 a new exhibit structure was built attached to the original one at an angle. It contained an 1800 m2 outdoor enclosure, 120 m2 indoor exhibit and 150 m2 public area decorated with plants and including a few small aquaria and roosts for free- flying birds. The Lions were moved in. During the next off season the old building was partly demolished and what

remained was completely refurbished and enlarged to include a 100 m2 indoor exhibit, with access to the old outdoor enclosure, a 100 m2 public area, decorated in a similar fashion to the new section, and a large storage room and kitchen. The two buildings now formed a single complex capable of housing and supporting two separate groups of animals. The whole facility was designed, as was the rest of the zoo, by architect Tage Hedlund.

During the second phase of construction the zoo was offered two adult 7 Tigers P . rigris, one with two cubs and the other in an advanced state of pregnancy. These animals were housed in the building which was still undergoing renovation and given access to the old Lion enclosure outside, to which further decoration in the form of tree trunks and live trees was added.

EXHIBIT AREAS Visitors enter the big cat exhibit along a pathway which takes them past the old outdoor enclosure, into the main building via an entrance in the newest part, then

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0 10 10 w

Fig. 1. Ground plan of the big cat complex at Borisparken Zoo. 1. Lion house (new building); 2. Tiger house (renovated); 3. outdoor enclosure for Lions; 4. outdoor enclosure for Tigers; 5. water-filled moat.

out and past the new outdoor enclosure (Fig. 1). The Tiger paddock contains two walled moats, which the occupants make full use of, separated near the public walkway by a fenced patch of ground on which grow a number of shrubs and small trees. The ground is uneven and planted with native Swedish trees which have been well-clawed and climbed; there is also a small rocky area towards one end.

The side of the Lion paddock which fronts onto the public walkway is surrounded by a moat 8 m wide and 3 m deep around which is a wall of stones 6 m high on the inside. A 5 m high concrete wall forms one end of the moat and the wall of the building forms the other. The ground rises unevenly from the water’s edge so that most of the exhibit is level with the walkway. The area is planted

336 N E W DEVELOPMENTS I N THE ZOO W O R L D

Fig. 2. Ground plan of the Lion and Tiger building at Boorisparken Zoo. 1. entrance and exit; 2. hallway; 3. indoor Lion enclosures (the two smaller dens are off exhibit); 4. indoor Tiger enclosures (the two at the rear are intended for c - during parturition); 5. corridor for animal movement; 6. service and storage areas; 7. plants; 8. outdoor Lion enclosure; 9. outdoor Tiger enclosure; 10. water-filled moat.

with trees which are protected from clawing by pieces of wooden board and the Lions have the opportunity to climb a large rock, tall and cliff-like in places. which dominates the centre front and gives the public a spectacular view of Lions from below.

The entrance to the cat house leads into a n open hall with nine 1 x 1.6 m windows facing into the indoor Lion exhibit. The most common public reaction is surprise at the animals' size. which is not obvious

when they are seen at a distance. Potted plants have been placed along the windows and at other strategic points in the public area; there is also a small waterfall with a pond and a small tree which acts as a roost and nesting area for a pair of free-flying Salmon-crested cockatoos Cacatuu moluccensis. The Lion area is divided into three enclosures (Fig. 2), a large exhibit containing built- up rockwork and a large tree trunk, and two smaller off-exhibit regions one of

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which is divided from the main area by easily removable iron bars while the other is a 6 mz room intended for 99 during parturition.

A small angled passage leads from the Lion exhibit to the Tigers; one corner is brightened by a 700 litre aquarium containing Malawi cichlids. The public area is also slightly angled (Fig. 2) and is decorated with plants, a tree for free- flying Amazon parrots Amazona spp and a small aviary housing a pair of parakeets. The main exhibit contains trees and rockwork and there is also a smaller room for temporary separations, for example, of mothers of either species with young.

SERVICE AREAS The main service areas are located adjacent to the Tiger exhibit, with two additional rooms behind the Lion enclosure (Fig. 2). The food preparation area is 40 m2 and there are two storage rooms, one maintained at - 20°C and the other, somewhat smaller, at 5°C. Meat is delivered in the form of halved carcasses which are hung up and transported into storage via a system of runners. The lack of service space for the Lions reflects the fact that they are fed outside; the Tigers are fed inside in order to encourage them to enter the building at night.

Behind the storage areas are two small rooms intended for 99 giving birth. These are connected to a corridor which runs behind, and opens onto, the exhibit areas and can also be linked to the off-exhibit Lion enclosures via a removable tunnel. The structure of one section of the corridor is particularly suitable for the administration of injections using a blow gun or stick syringe, although there is no squeeze box.

The basement under the Tiger quarters consists of three rooms, one for the storage of dry goods, one for use as a keepers’ office and the third acting as a clinic. Much surgical equipment, other medical instruments as well as a full set of tools for dental treatment have been

kindly donated by local hospitals and dentists. As a result we do not have to transport sick individuals to the animal hospital but can instead treat them on site, thus considerably shortening the period of sedation required. The dry- goods room can also act as excellent temporary accommodation for smaller convalescents.

DISCUSSION Reaction to the new complex, from visitors and keepers, has been extremely positive. The public receives a good view of the animals both inside and outdoors. Since the Tigers are fed inside and the Lions outside, visitors have the opportunity to study feeding behaviour at close hand as well as at a distance; both events, which take place in the after- noon, are popular. One problem we have found is that, although the attractive surroundings of the public area are much appreciated, quite a number of visitors tend to use the potted plants as stands in order to obtain a better view or as ashtrays.

The building has many advantages as a work site. Animals are easily transferred from one enclosure to another, whether inside or out. Food handling is also far easier than before since carcasses do not have to be carried for any distance, or up or down stairs, and there is a large preparation area. One inconvenience concerns the floor of the public area which is flushed with water every morning; because the surface is uneven puddles are left in places making it necessary to sweep as well as wash.

When the Lions were first introduced into their quarters they showed great interest in the public behind the windows and frequently placed their paws against the glass, making small scratches. To combat the problem it was our intention to place a small water ditch along the inside edge of the enclosure but before this was done the Lions lost their interest in visitors and stopped approaching the windows.

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All the animals appear to have settled well. No stereotyped behaviour patterns have been noted and. despite the inevitable disputes that arise when a ? is in oestrus, there have been few agonistic encounters. This may in part be due to the large outdoor enclosures where the broken ground and rocks give the animals the opportunity to move out of sight of one another i f necessary. The number of Lions held varies between ten and 15

while the group of Tigers is never greater than six individuals which we have found to be the maximum suitable for the area.

ACKNOWLEDGEMEN?

The Borkparken Zoo would like to thank the town council of Boris for their financial support of the complex.

Manuscript submitted 2 March 1987