Best UK Jaguar enclosure

This is just a bit of fun to judge the general consensus on the best enclosure for Jaguars in the UK. I have added a few photos from the gallery to make it easier for members to compare the different exhibits. If anyone wants to make an argument for a particular enclosure, please feel free to do so. Also, I would encourage people to perhaps list the enclosures in order of what they determine to be the best.

Big Cat Sanctuary



Paradise WP




Chester




Amazona



South Lakes



Dartmoor



Wingham

 

I don't believe the Jaguar are in this exhibit any more, new ones have been built and are shown on Facebook.

 

Not much debate on this one I'm afraid - quite straightforward.

For some of the ones where there is a clear winner it would be interesting to see how they fare against the best from other European countries or perhaps even worldwide, because I can think of a few where it would be quite a nice contest.

 

Are they much of an improvement?

 

I would say so, yes.

 

A few examples of the newer Jaguar exhibits at TBCS:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1975591105797971

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2910786065664388

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2131487023812641

 

Not that this would be a contender, as I know it's very small... but has anyone seen the completed Jag exhibit at Artis?

 

Yes, definitely potential for something like that in the future.

 

A disappointment if you do not love large Olive trees . Architecturally nicely done, but architecture is dominant and can't hide that it is basically 2 small-medium sized cages, nicely furnished and good looking, but too small for such a new development

If not for Chester there is awfully little competition with the rest of Europe when comparing enclosures between UK and the continent based on the pictures here (polar bears excepted). There doesn't seem to be too much designing being done in general with functional enclosures dominating.

 

I know, I agree, but just generally. I reckon Jacksonville would have a chance though if it were stretched to American zoos.

 

Do Dartmoor not still have the moated enclosure for their Jags? Or is that just a really poor picture to illustrate it?

 

The moat is just below the bottom of the image.

 

Thanks! In my head the enclosure was a lot bigger than it looked in the photo, so I was thinking maybe it was a different one. Its been a long time since I visited Dartmoor though and the first time I saw it I was smaller than I am now so maybe that explains it!

 

Chester currently miles ahead with over 95% of the vote the biggest lead in any competition so far. It would appear their exhibits is a step above its competitors with its excellent outdoors and perhaps even more impressive indoors. It has even been suggested to be the best in Europe let alone the UK.

 

I think the reason is that most of the others are 'basic' to say the least! Paradise is ok

 

I'd agree, the Paradise exhibit has some very dense foliage now (In comparison to what the photo shows), and the exhibit has some great height to it.

 

I actually think the main Paradise enclosure is good - the height, climbing opportunities and amount of foliage all being plus points. One thing that lets it down terribly is when the male and female have to be split (i.e. when the cub was born), the male is relegated to a very small seperate area. I don't know if they rotated the male / females between the two areas but even if they did I feel the smaller area is inadequate.

 

I would just like to say that Neither amazona or Wingham are terrible, just basic or acceptable!