Sumatran Tiger Exhibit--Heidelburg Zoo. Exhibit construction on the cheap.

The renovation of the tiger exhibit at the Heidelburg Zoo has increased the available area to five times that of the old enclosure. That enclosure was retained and now serves as a ‘tiger play room’. The landscape in the new exhibit contains bamboo, natural stone, and a stream planted with water plants and showcases the tigers in a naturalistic surrounding. The visitor can experience the animals up close through reinforced glass or through mesh.



Several items such as bamboo, elevation changes, natural stone, old tree roots and a stream are built into the enclosure in order to enrich the space for the animals.

A sandstone ledge offers the tigers an unobstructed view of the surrounding exhibits: the African steppe and the flamingo pond, (which we can assume is an additional effort at "naturalness!!!)

A tall locust tree stump with a pulley system is located in the center of the exhibit and allows meat or flesh to be hung at a height of 5 meters. Tigers are encouraged to climb in order to get at their prey, (these are the same folks who gag at the "unnaturalness" of a tiger rolling over, or jumping through a fire hoop for a piece of meat!!!!)


The visitor is offered several viewing opportunities into the exhibit. The first two views into the interior come from reed-covered huts that project into the enclosure itself. The tigers can be viewed up close through 3 cm thick glass panes. The third view into the old enclosure allows the visitor to see the contrast between the old and the new facility in the background. The fourth view is from within the Predator House. This view provides a new perspective of the tigers in the outdoor exhibit. In the Predator House the visitors experience the tigers in a different sound scape. The fifth view is from the bridge through the metal fence.

"In the Predator House the visitors experience the tigers in a different sound scape!!!" Boy, is that a creative addition for your entertainment/education dollar, or Euro as it were."