Animal Enclosures

Fun Facts About Animal Enclosures

• Some of the oldest enclosures still used for its original purpose include the Giraffe House built at the London Zoo in 1837. There is also the Lion Castle in Hamburg, Germany which dates back to the zoo's 1907 opening. It's still home to big cats.
• Some modern gorilla enclosures use a barrier system referred to as "electric grass" or "hot grass". This technology uses a low-voltage electrical current that gorillas quickly learn to avoid, allowing keepers to safely maintain the exhibit without traditional fencing.
• Some penguin enclosures in Denmark and South Australia use fake icebergs made of fiberglass that are actually hollow. Zoo keepers store food and equipment inside them.
• The most expensive single animal enclosure is San Diego Zoo's Elephant Odyssey. It cost roughly $45 million for just 5.5 acres of habitat and a 137,000-gallon pool.
• One of the most visited single animal enclosures in history was when Japan received two pandas as a gift from China. The giant panda enclosure in Tokyo drew over 2 million visitors in just the first 6 months after Kang Kang and Lan Lan arrived back in 1972.
• Horses get individual stalls in a stable for safety, management and comfort. Separating horses prevents fighting, allows for precise feeding and monitoring of health in a controlled environment, and reduces anxiety for the horses.