The South Bend-based Potawatomi Zoo is working on its newest project: a state-of-the-art Amur tiger and leopard habitat titled Big Cat Tracks.
The project will incorporate two additional acres adjacent to the zoo’s current border recently acquired from the City of South Bend.
“We’re so excited about this project,” said Josh Sisk, Potawatomi Zoo executive director, in a press release. “Not only is this the first expansion of the zoo’s footprint in decades, it’s also another opportunity to get big cat species into larger, more naturalistic habitats, just like we did with the new lion habitat a few years ago.”
Big Cat Tracks will integrate the existing landscape of the park space into wooded, more naturalistic habitats for Amur leopards and Amur tigers. The habitats will also reflect the unique characteristics of each species. The tiger habitat will include a water feature, because tigers enjoy spending time in the water. The leopard habitat will include new climbing structures.
The zoo also plans to bring in new Eurasian species of animals such as Sika deer, tufted deer and white-naped cranes to create an immersive Eurasian experience.
The project is a $5.5 million part of Phase 3 of the zoo’s master plan, which also included the concessions lodge and Andean bear habitat that opened last year. Funding for Big Cat Tracks has come from private and public funding sources, individuals and organizations.
The zoo has raised about $3 million for the project so far. The Big Cat Tracks project will also have new amenities for visitors, including new bathrooms and a playground area.
Learn more about Big Cat Tracks project here.
