New enclosure planned for tigers

New enclosure planned for tigers

UNION-TRIBUNE
December 8, 2008

NORTH COUNTY – The next big construction project at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park outside Escondido will be an easy-view den for Sumatran tigers.

Zoo officials are raising money to build a 5-acre enclosure that would bring guests virtually nose-to-nose with the park’s six Sumatrans, an endangered species that has lived at the park for many years, but in an area that was hard for guests to view.

The zoo wants to raise $20 million for Tiger Trail, which will include smaller enclosures for other animals and some support structures.

At points, visitors will be separated from the tigers only by a see-through wall. The new space also will boast a 14-foot-high overhead bridge so people can see tigers crossing from one side of the enclosure to the other.

Zoo officials want to begin construction as soon as they raise the money. They hope to open Tiger Trail in the spring of 2011.

For more information, go to http://sandiegozoo.org/tigertrail/

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20081208-9999-1m8tiger.html

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