Tiger Terrace

As you continue down the pathway of Tiger Terrace, you’ll reach the Amur tiger exhibit. The exhibit is covered by netting. There are two large windows to the left and right. In the middle is a triangle-shaped entrance that allows you to experience the tigers without the netting. On the far left and right sides are large rock walls designed to look like mountains, with many ledges built in for climbing. There is also a large rock wall in the middle of the exhibit. On the left side is a large pool where the tigers can cool off when the weather is warm. A cable is strung across the exhibit with a large plastic ball attached for the tigers to play with. Imagine a cat playing with a toy on a string. There are also logs and bushes in the exhibit.

As you approach, you may hear sticks crunching under the tigers’ feet as they walk around exploring. You might also hear the clunk of a plastic barrel or ball as they play with enrichment toys. Tigers can roar, but our tigers don’t do it too often. If you’re lucky, you might hear them do a low growl as they move through their habitat.

Amur tigers are the largest of the big cats. They are about 7 to 10 feet long. They have large bodies, long tails, big heads with yellow eyes, medium-sized black ears and broad snouts. Their fur is mainly orange, but their bellies are white. The white markings are also on their tails and faces, around the eyes and cheeks. Covering their whole bodies are the classic black stripes.

Tiger stripes are important for camouflage. The pattern allows them to blend into tall grasses, and no two tigers have the same stripes. Just like fingerprints, every tiger’s stripes are unique.

Amur tigers live in Russia, China and North Korea. Their habitats are forests and mountains. They hunt large prey animals like deer, wild pigs and tapirs, which are similar to wild pigs. In areas near people, they have also been known to hunt domestic animals like cows and sheep.

Amur tigers are critically endangered in the wild, meaning there are very few left. The main challenge they face is habitat loss. The Toledo Zoo supports several organizations that work to help keep tiger populations stable.

Thank you for visiting the Tiger Exhibit at Tiger Terrace. We hope you enjoyed learning more about our Amur tigers. Enjoy the rest of your visit here at the Toledo Zoo.