OPENED: 1977
Construction on the Cat Complex began in August 1975 and took two years to complete. This 37,000 square foot breeding facility is divided equally between public viewing and off-display management areas. There are a total of 11 inside public viewing areas and 10 outside enclosures, including two large grottos. Each display is backed up by its own behind-the-scenes area.
The Cats
The building is capable of holding up to 100 large cats, including three subspecies of tiger, lion, jaguar, snow leopard, clouded leopard and the North American puma. Currently, the Cat Complex houses 38 cats (as of September 2004). Many unique features ensure an extremely functional building for cats, keepers and viewing public. Large hallways make is easy for the public to get around to see the cats. Several behind-the-scenes chutes are provided to safely move animals from one part of the building to another. The building is the largest cat breeding and management facility in North America.
Management and Breeding
Omaha's Zoo has for decades been a leader in the preservation and management of the captive population of tigers in North America. Omaha's Zoo was recognized for these efforts in 1994 when the "Edward H. Bean Award" was awarded to the Zoo for tiger husbandry by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. The Zoo has been particularly successful in long term propagation of tigers through traditional zoo management techniques such as natural breeding.
Omaha's Zoo has also been a leader in developing innovative new management tools to help assure the survival of these species far into the future. This includes playing a key role in helping to develop and implement the Tiger Species Survival Plan and in innovating the tools of the future for conservation such as methods of assisted reproduction. The world's first test tube conceived tigers were born at the Zoo in 1990 and the first successful artificial insemination of a tiger was done at Omaha's Zoo in 1991. These programs continue today, pushing back the frontiers of science and enhancing the survival of these beautiful animals.
Enrichment
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo has extensive environmental and behavioral enrichment programs for most the species at the Zoo. Many of these enrichment programs are intended to promote natural behaviors of the animals or to encourage behaviors that improve their day to day care.
In the case of the big cats, some of the most basic enrichment includes training programs for management behaviors such as "shifting" or moving from one enclosure to another. Other enrichment programs include providing unique food items such as large bones for the cats to chew on, which occupies time, is interesting to the animal and has the added benefit of cleaning their teeth at the same time. Enclosure "furniture" is provided to create a more interesting environment and to promote natural behaviors. These items must be safe for the animals and durable enough to stand up to the animal so that they cannot injure themselves. Most cat enclosures include logs in which cats can use to sharpen their claws, encouraging natural behavior and contributing to their good health.
Other enrichment programs are less obvious. Omaha's Zoo regularly will place strong olfactory or sense of smell stimulants in enclosures after they are cleaned. Small amounts of spices, perfumes or colognes may be strategically placed in the enclosure. When the cat returns to the enclosure it detects these odors and investigates them. Many cats seem to interpret the odor as evidence that another animal has been in its "space" and scent marked it. Subsequently the cat will invest substantial time in "remarking" its territory with urine.