Philadelphia Zoo Black Jaguar Walking Back and Forth (And Relaxing)

[Lionboy2011]

Wait one minute was this recording the same day it was uploaded? My field trip at the zoo was that same day, April 15, 2011.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@Lionboy2011 No, this video was recorded on April 10, 2011.

[phantompanther]

Nice video, as usual. His enclosure looks very nice. Do you happen to know how large it is? ( It's okay if you don't. ) It looks pretty big, for a jaguar. Jaguars don't usually get very large enclosures, from what I've heard.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@phantompanther I tried to post a reply here yesterday, but I see that for some reason it is not showing up. My reply said I think the enclosure is about twenty jaguar lengths by fifteen jaguar lengths. (I am not good at estimating sizes of areas that are not perfectly square, rectangular, or circular!) But the Zoo's jaguars and leopards all share several exhibit areas. So the jaguar might be in this exhibit one morning, and then be in a different exhibit later or the next day.

[phantompanther]

@ZooVisitorMM Aww, I'm sorry that you had issues with replying. It's okay that you could only give me an estimate! I don't mind! I had fun calculating it. The San Diego Zoo said jaguars were 3.8 to 6 feet, not including the tail. The average between those two is 4.9 feet. 4.9 x 20 = 98 and 4.9 x 15 = 73.5. 73.5 x 98 = 7,203 sq ft. I believe you told me that the zoo said the lion enclosure is about 6,600 sq ft. Would you say it's bigger than the lions'? ( This is fun! =D )

[ZooVisitorMM]

@phantompanther Actually, yes. I do think it is a little bigger than the lion area.  I will try to ask one of the keepers when I am at the Zoo to get a better estimate for you.

[phantompanther]

@ZooVisitorMM Neato, thanks! Whoa, that's weird. I would think the lions would get more room than the jaguars. I think the jaguar's enclosure looks good, as far as I can tell, and lions seem reasonably content in theirs. =)

[ZooVisitorMM]

@phantompanther The Philadelphia Zoo lions are all so old now that they probably need far less room than they have in their exhibit. But on occasion, they are switched to one of the other areas, too. Just not as often as the jaguars and leopards are. The Zoo keeper staff does a great job of enriching all the animals' lives. So space is not always the most significant factor.

[goldeneyesofafrica]

Thanks! It looks like Smokey a Jaguar at the L.A. Zoo a long time ago!