A new home for the jaguar was originally conceived as part of the zoo's Tropical Rain Forest zone more than a decade ago. However, while insufficient funds delayed design for the jaguar exhibit, design and construction proceeded on the Tropical Rain Forest exhibit, which opened in 1992 and garnered a best new exhibit award. Thanks to generous gifts from foundations, individuals, and corporate donors, the zoo broke ground on a new exhibit for the jaguar in April 2002. The opening of the new exhibit marks another chapter in the history of Woodland Park Zoo as the top award-winning institution continues to fulfill its vision of replacing its remaining old-fashioned enclosures with enriched, naturalistic environments to more effectively support conservation and education goals.
Jaguar Cove quadruples the size of the former jaguar exhibit, making it one of the largest and most naturalistic exhibits dedicated to jaguars in any zoo. More than 1,500 plants inside and outside the jaguar enclosure, including trees, shrubs, grasses, vines and groundcovers, will mature and mimic the lush, tropical rain forests of Central and South America, the natural habitat of jaguars. It also may be one of the most complex exhibits currently designed for a jaguar anywhere. A blend of real and artificial fallen trees, simulated limestone cliffs, a 4_-foot-deep pool fed by a waterfall, a sandy shoreline, and uneven terrain make the naturalistic environment unique and stimulating for the jaguar. Visitors may observe the jaguar lounging on an extended tree branch, napping in a heated cave, drinking from a cool stream, or catching trout from a pool. And, visitors may experience the only underwater viewing opportunities of jaguars in a zoo anywhere.
The entrance to Jaguar Cove is punctuated by a simulation of a hollowed kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) that serves as a dramatic entry to the award-winning, 2.5-acre Tropical Rain Forest as a whole and sets the stage for the jaguar exhibit. The buttressed spire reaches approximately 28 feet at its highest point and, as in nature, the roots of the kapok spread along the ground for more than 30 feet through the entry landscape. Created with shotcrete (artificially sprayed concrete also known as gunite), the kapok appears as if it had been struck by lightning and portions of its interior burned away. Visitors will be able to walk through the upright, beautifully buttressed base of this tree. In addition, concealed audio speakers provide an appropriate tropical rain forest soundscape. In addition to rotting wood, burned wood, a cavity nest entrance, and jaguar tracks, visitors may also observe various plants growing from rotting ledges within the hollow, and replicated jaguar claw scratches on one or more of the buttresses outside the hollow. As visitors exit the hollow, they will walk through a naturalistic archway formed of simulated wood and bark as they continue their journey through the world of the jaguar.
Kapok is one of only a few large tree species that lives in both the Old World and New World tropics. One of the first things the Mayans did when establishing a new community was to plant a Ceiba pentandra. The community would grow around and under the shelter of the tree as its branches sometimes reached lengths of 150 feet. Mayans might also set up a community around an established tree if it grew where they wanted to live. Even today, kapok trees provide shade for many village plazas and help to ensure that weekly markets and community events are pleasant.
Or,"Donde esta el tigre?" Throughout Mexico and much of Central America, the jaguar is most often called "el tigre." A long viewing area, partitioned by glass, spans nearly the entire length of a simulated fallen tree, the exterior of which is constructed of shotcrete. While jaguars capture most of their prey on or near the forest floor, they also move gracefully above the ground; they are remarkably well adapted for walking along stout branches and the trunks of fallen trees. Looking up, visitors may see the jaguar walking or resting on an artificial broken tree. At times, only the paws and a tail may be visibly dangling from above and the jaguar may be peering down at them!
Enriching the Life of a Jaguar
Behavioral enrichment is offered to the zoo's wildlife residents through a variety of activities that stimulate animals' natural senses and promote natural behavior and overall good health. Jaguars are typically found near water and may wade or even swim to catch fish and turtles. As behavioral enrichment for the jaguar, live fish in a naturalistic pool is provided at the south side of the exhibit to engage the jaguar in natural hunting behavior. Additionally, various scents will be scattered through the exhibit to stimulate the cat's olfactory senses and overall curiosity. To help achieve a broad range of stimuli, behavioral choices and microclimates for the jaguar, some parts of the exhibit include concealed heating coils to provide warm resting areas. Other parts of the exhibit are shaded with a variety of plants and walking surfaces for the jaguar include tree trunks, loose sand and soil.
Limestone Cliff and Waterfall
A limestone cliff made of hand-sculpted and painted concrete forms the southern boundary of the jaguar enclosure. Here, a waterfall serves as both an aesthetic enhancement as well as a source of sensory stimulation for the jaguar, which is expected to interact occasionally with the falling water. Microphones on the animal side of the exhibit and speakers on the visitor side further immerse visitors in natural sounds such as the waterfall and jaguar vocalizations.
A Research Tent; Participation and Perspectives
Habitat destruction and habitat conversion are today's major threats to the jaguar. Saving the jaguar and its tropical rain forest habitats hinges on participation of researchers who bring different perspectives and types of expertise to a problem. A research tent opposite the jaguar enclosure is a powerful reminder to visitors that research and intercultural understanding, in combination with economic alternatives and incentives, are critical to change patterns of destructive land use or to stop poaching. The tent will represent the work station of a multidisciplinary team of botanists, entomologists, cultural anthropologists and researchers learning about jaguars and their habitat. It may contain equipment and everyday items that such teams may use in their fieldwork, as well as recordings, field notes and images. At times, educational presentations will be presented inside the tent. It is the zoo's hope that zoo-goers will walk away with an understanding that there really are people who are dedicating time and resources to help save jaguars and the tropical rain forests they inhabit.