The seven Siberian tigers at the Bronx Zoo could never escape their 3-acre habitat because it is enclosed by three fences – two of which are electrified, zoo officials say.
The big cats live in Tiger Mountain, which re-creates the natural habitat of the Siberian tiger.
Tiger Mountain is surrounded by a moat about 10 feet wide and is enclosed by a fence that is 15 feet high and has a five-foot overhang. That means that the last five feet slant inward.
Inside the big fence is a smaller three- to five-foot electrified fence.
Foot-long green stakes are driven into the ground on the tigers’ side of the fence. Protruding from the tops of the stakes are silver wires that fold over and look like mushrooms.
The wires will give an inquisitive tiger a high-voltage zap.
“It won’t hurt the tiger, but it will make the animal back off,” a zookeeper said yesterday.
Surrounding the three-acre habitat is a moat 10 to 12 feet wide which by itself won’t keep the beasts penned in, since Siberian tigers can – and like to – swim.
However, one thing is certain. The moat keeps people away from the tigers.
Officials insisted the compound is escape-proof.
“There is no way these guys are getting out of here,” the zookeeper said of the big cats.
Though the zoo has seven Siberian tigers, only two were in the enclosure yesterday – Norma, 285 pounds, and Taurus, 264 pounds.
Visitors to the Bronx Zoo yesterday said they felt safe.
“I have confidence in our zoo,” said Dion Small of Brooklyn. “I know it couldn’t happen. I feel OK being here.”
A Bronx Zoo spokeswoman referred a reporter to an Association of Zoos and Aquariums statement that said the San Francisco zoo was an accredited member of the group and “AZA-accredited zoos are safe.”