This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Kazek, an Amur tiger, crouched silently, trying to beat the heat Monday on the hillside of his new habitat at Utah's Hogle Zoo.
"Hi good boy, hi Kazek," cooed Stephanie Natt, an animal care supervisor. "How ya' doin'? Are you mad your water got turned off? Did we take away your fun?"
The 363-pound, 2-year-old tiger stared back stoically, possibly wondering why a nearby sprinkler had stopped misting him. At the moment, Kazek had little interest in exploring anything beyond where he sat in the new tiger yard, part of the zoo's Asian Highlands exhibit that opens to the public Thursday.
All eight of Hogle's Asian cats now have larger outdoor habitats to prowl. Kazek, along with the others, first set paw in the exhibit less than a week ago, meaning there will be an adjustment period, Natt explained.
"Cats are very cautious animals," she said. "They need to feel secure and safe in their environment."
Early visitors may not see all the species on display, as the inhabitants need time to adjust.
Craig Dinsmore, the zoo's executive director, said the Asian Highlands exhibit, along with last year's Elephant Encounter, are part of a new way of thinking.
"Our philosophy is to build homes for our animals, not just exhibits," he said.
Zoo planners sought a more functional area to enhance the lives of the cats, as opposed to simply creating a minimal space to store a tiger for display. Plants and faux mountain streams help bring a more natural environment, Dinsmore said.
The Asian cat roster - three Siberian lynx, two snow leopards, two Amur tigers and an Amur leopard - will have more space to spend longer stretches outside year-round. All of these species come from highland terrain similar to that found in Utah. Many of the cats become more active in winter.
"We want to encourage people to come to the zoo in off-summer months," Dinsmore said.
The Elephant Encounter helped improve attendance in the warmer months. Dinsmore said this year's zoo attendance is ahead of where it was at the same date last year, with some days seeing an increase of 1,500 visitors over the same day a year ago.
Zoo officials are optimistic the Asian Highlands will also bring in more visitors. Both projects were paid for through a $10 million bond that Salt Lake City voters approved in 2003.
Doug Lund, associate director of capital projects, said the zoo sought green construction practices, such as using salvaged lumber and energy efficient lighting.
Planners wanted an organic-looking Asian village, one that looked like it has been added on to over the years. Each building has features from Nepal, Tibet, China and other areas where the endangered cats are normally found.
"One of the challenges was trying to achieve something that looks old using new material," he said.
The bricks may look like they have withstood decades of brutal winters, but they are new material with a special weathered finish.
Some of the more modern materials, such as glass-walled cat-viewing areas, were selected to give youngsters unobstructed views. Grandma's House, a rubber-floored hut with a low, kid-friendly window, has an interactive computer screen filled with cat facts.
Visitors can also learn about aspects of Asian culture through various exhibits and how consumers can avoid products that use wood reaped from Asian tiger habitat areas, she said.
glavine@sltrib.com" Target="_BLANK">glavine@sltrib.com