The big cats at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo have a new place to stretch out and be themselves at the Rosebrough Tiger Passage, which opened on Friday.
We broke ground last September, says Christopher Kuhar, executive director of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This exhibit is going to provide an opportunity for our cats to do their natural behaviors. The visitors can view them in their natural surroundings and get a real close look at the cats. It’s a win-win.
Chriss Kmiecik, education manager at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, says it provides the cats opportunities to explore different pools, tunnels and much more.
The passage, located in the Wilderness Trek area, is five times larger than the old, moated, grotto-style exhibits, according to the zoo. It features four different, interconnected areas for the tigers to roam in and includes climbing poles, meadows, shallow streams and soaking pools.
The zoo’s Amur (Siberian) Tigers, Dasha, a female, was born in Cleveland in 2001 and Klechka, a 12-year-old male, born at the Toledo Zoo, can also walk high above visitors heads on the variety of trails that encompass the exhibit.
People who want to get a closer look at the tigers will be able to see them wading in the pools or playing on the grass area.
“Visitors can get nose-to-nose with the tigers (by looking through the viewing glass) and can experience (the cats’) natural behaviors,” Kmiecik says.
The larger exhibit space also allows for education programs, including talking to the public about conservation efforts and tiger issues.
Kmiecik says the education staff is planning to incorporate public presentations, along with zookeeper staff training opportunities.
“We are planning a behind-the-scenes (program), which will roll-out later this summer,” she adds.
“We’re excited for kids and adults alike to enjoy exploring and discovering the Amur Tiger in its naturalistic habitat at Rosebrough Tiger Passage,” Kuhar says. “We’re committed to securing a future for wildlife and to protecting the endangered Amur Tigers.”
The public can learn about the zoo’s conservation efforts with the tigers, including addressing issues such as poaching, illegal trade, tiger health and ecology, education and awareness, along with other wildlife at the zoo, by visiting futureforwildlife.org.
