Designing a Zoo Exhibit You said: Zoo exhibits should imitate the tiger's natural environment to make it feel at home. Zoo exhibits should include elements of the tiger's natural environment as much as possible. However, the reason is as much to educate visitors about that environment as to remind the tiger of its home. Nearly all zoo tigers were bred in captivity and have never lived in the wild. They are often called "ambassadors from nature" to humankind. Their mission is to help us learn about the natural world. Visitors will learn more about tigers if the exhibit is designed to allow tigers to act as they would in their wild environment. Of course, a fun and accurate environment will also be a more interesting and provocative home for the tiger. In this case, the two goals--educating visitors and satisfying the tiger--can work together. Exhibit designers employ a variety of things to develop a an environment that is good for the tiger and appealing to the visitor:   Water is very important to tigers. All tiger exhibits must have a source of clean drinking water, though in cold climates this is usually provided in the off-exhibit night rooms. Many exhibits also have a pool in which the tiger can bathe. Many zoos also include running water because it sounds pleasing and makes the exhibit more attractive and dynamic to the visitor. Plants add to the visual appeal of a tiger exhibit. They can also conceal fences or other features of the exhibit which may detract from its overall appearance. Tigers may dig up new plantings, so some zoos favor plants which tigers dislike. These include thorny barberry (Berberis sp.), locust (Robina sp.), hawthorne (Crataegus sp.), pampas grass (Cortaderia sellona), and smelly, bad tasting cedar (Cedrus sp.) and juniper (Juniperus sp.). Some plants, such as poison ivy and poison sumac, are toxic to tigers and should be avoided.   Hardy plants which can withstand a tiger's attention are also good choices. These include Mexican bamboo, morning glory, and mint. Furniture "Furniture" can stimulate the tiger's activity, making its life more interesting and offering interesting activity for visitors to observe. Boomer balls are very tough balls for tigers to play with. However, they disrupt the natural appearance of an exhibit.   Scratching logs encourage the natural behavior of scratching for claw wear and maintenance, helping tigers avoid ingrown claws Heat pads are warmed by hot water running through underground PVC pipes. The warmth of the pads attracts tigers in cold weather. They are usually placed near viewsheds to encourage tiger to be more visible and more active.   Heat pads attract tigers to specific areas of the exhibit   Scent trails can renew the tiger's interest in its surroundings by introducing new smells from time to time. These may include catnip, perfumes and spices. The scent trail may lead to a food reward and encourages the tiger to be more active, which is more fun for the visitor.   Back to Exhibit Design Introduction