What for those who might step into the world of Amur tigers, Asiatic lions, and snow leopards? The newly revealed Panthera habitat at Zoo Zürich gives an immersive have a look at the lives of those Asiatic large cats.
Massive cats have at all times been a fascination for me. Again in my childhood, I keep in mind listening to the songs of „Mir gönd in Zoo“ by Schlieremer Chind, imagining these majestic creatures up shut.
Later, standing face-to-face with lions on the Lewa Savanna in Kenya was a life-changing second. And as of March 2025, Zoo Zürich has introduced that very same sense of awe and marvel near my dwelling.
On the realm of 1.5 soccer fields, the brand new habitat referred to as Panthera at Zoo Zürich gives a altering habitat to numerous wild cats thought-about endangered or susceptible. At random time intervals, the animals are pressured emigrate among the many 4 distinct dwelling areas.
This idea fairly actually retains them on their toes!
Panthera Habitat at Zoo Zürich
Think about being a tiger entering into a brand new territory the place the scent of a snow leopard lingers within the air. You pause, sniff, and assess: Is that this area secure? Who was right here earlier than me?
Expertise Panthera at Zoo Zürich the place tigers, lions & snow leopards rotate by way of habitats that simulate wild challenges.Due to the rotation precept, that is the truth for the massive cat residents at Panthera: Amur tigers, Asiatic lions, and snow leopards.
As an alternative of being confined to 1 enclosure, these predators rotate by way of 4 interconnected habitats at Panthera:
- Dry Forest (with pond and feeding tree)
- Clearing (with feeding wires)
- Mountains (with feeding wires to simulate hunt)
- Broad-Leaved Forest (with pond and feeding tree)
Every space gives distinctive terrain and options like ponds, feeding timber, and elevated commentary factors. The outcome? A always altering surroundings that retains their minds sharp and instincts alive.
Zoo Director Severin Dressen explains it finest: “Each time the animals swap areas, they have to reorient themselves – checking for rivals and marking their territory anew. It’s difficult however important for his or her well-being.”
In different phrases, this method goes past merely giving them more room. It actually creates an expertise that mirrors the unpredictability of life within the wild.
Catwalk Gives an Elevated Walkway for Apex Predators
For my part, one of the vital putting options is the Catwalk. This 17-meter-long elevated walkway is suspended 4.5 meters above us. For the massive cats, it serves as each a vantage level and an interactive playground.
Massive cats love excessive floor, and the Catwalk offers them loads of it. From right here, they will survey their environment similar to they’d within the wild. We’re part of that surrounding and it’s a thrilling expertise to see these majestic predators go overhead…
The walkway consists of huge tree trunks and branches that encourage climbing, scratching, and balancing – holding their our bodies lively and agile. It connects all 4 habitats talked about above. And through every rotation, the cat species can easily transfer between territories with out direct confrontation.
Feeding Traces Simulate the Wild
One other spotlight of Panthera at Zoo Zürich are the overhead feeding traces. The so-called scatter-feeding technique recreates the joys of looking in ways in which problem the animals bodily and mentally.
How does it work? At random instances, meat is suspended on cables that zip by way of the enclosures at speeds of as much as 40 km/h. The massive cats should chase it down or threat going hungry.
I discovered that in nature, predators reach solely about 10% of their hunts. Fasting, not feasting, is definitely the norm. Scatter-feeding the animals comes near actuality as meals is eliminated if it isn’t caught rapidly sufficient…
As for the “menu”, the zoo tries to feed whole animals from its personal inventory. This mirrors the pure eating regimen of those predators. So, when mixed, the sheer dynamics of this feeding technique train the cats resilience whereas holding them sharp.
Watching a tiger leap for its “prey” or a lion strategize its subsequent transfer is mesmerizing – and one thing you received’t neglect anytime quickly!
Which Animals Dwell on the Panthera Habitat?
The Panthera exhibit at Zoo Zürich is dwelling to endangered and susceptible species. Right here’s a breakdown of the animals you’ll encounter:
- Amur Tigers (Endangered)
- One feminine (new arrival)
- One male (new arrival)
- Asiatic Lions (Endangered)
- Two females (new arrivals)
- One male (anticipated summer time 2025)
- Snow Leopards (Endangered)
- One feminine (returning resident)
- One male (returning resident)
- Crimson Pandas (Endangered)
- One feminine (returning resident)
- One male (returning resident)
When to Go to Panthera for Most Motion
I’ve checked with my connections at Zoo Zürich, they usually gave me some insider recommendation on when to go to Panthera. If you wish to catch these unbelievable moments in motion, timing is every little thing:
New Insect Forest within the Former Lion Home
Panthera additionally highlights a few of nature’s smallest but most important creatures in its new Insect Forest, housed in what was as soon as a part of the lion home. This exhibit options over 1000 people from 11 insect species alongside spiders and millipedes – all displayed with out obstacles between us and them.
Why give attention to bugs? As a result of they’re important to our ecosystems – they usually’re disappearing quick. “With out bugs,” Dressen emphasizes, “our world as we all know it wouldn’t exist.”
By highlighting these often-overlooked creatures, Zoo Zürich educates us on biodiversity loss whereas showcasing unique species like velvet stick bugs and native ones like pollinators.
What It Takes to Create the Zoo of the Future
For this text, I’ve researched a bit what different zoos world wide are doing. The conservation of animal species in habitats that mimic nature but give privateness to the “residents” is a serious theme.
For the next causes, I imagine that Zoo Zürich is correct up there with different fashionable zoos with regards to setting new requirements:
- All three large cat species at Panthera are a part of European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP), guaranteeing genetic range whereas supporting breeding efforts.
- By way of partnerships like Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan conservation mission, Zoo Zürich helps to extend the inhabitants of untamed tigers.
- At Panthera, I can inform that animal welfare was extraordinarily necessary. One of many examples is the unpredictable feeding system with meals dangling on a cable.
Panthera at Zoo Zürich
Watching tigers leap for prey dangling from the feeding traces is mesmerizing. And seeing snow leopards navigate elevated walkways is really distinctive. These moments will certainly persist with you, and is likely to be a reminder for why it’s so necessary to protect these stunning animals for future generations.
Be part of me at Zoo Zürich – I’ll be the one staring on the Catwalk with binoculars in hand!
- Plan your Zoo Zürich go to and examine the every day actions
- Hearken to „Mir gönd in Zoo“ by Schlieremer Chind (Spotify)
Panthera at Zoo Zürich: An Immersive Habitat for Asiatic Massive Cats first appeared within the Newly Swissed On-line Journal
