10 Years of Rosebrough Tiger Passage

Hector cooling off in the water.

Strolling the path through Rosebrough Tiger Passage, you might watch a tiger pass directly overhead on the elevated walkway, catch a big cat cooling off in the pool, and see how their massive paws compare to your own hands as one of them naps against the viewing glass. These awe-inspiring encounters have been happening every day for a decade thanks to the thoughtful design of Rosebrough Tiger Passage, which created an ideal habitat for tigers and their human visitors alike.

The numerous possibilities for tigers in this habitat also create an exciting variety of observation opportunities for Zoo visitors.

With spaces and features built to support tigers’ ecological needs and promote natural behaviors while affording Zoo guests opportunities to get close and experience the awe of these big cats, Rosebrough Tiger Passage does not just represent an upgrade. When it opened in 2016, it marked a new direction for Zoo habitats – one that continues today as the Zoo prepares to open Primate Forest.

BUILT FOR TIGER BEHAVIOR

Nine tigers have called Rosebrough Tiger Passage home in its first 10 years, including two sets of cubs born here and one foster cub. The space was designed for all phases of life, with flexible outdoor yards that include cub-safe elements and others that gradually increase topographical diversity with climbing elements.

Flexible outdoor space and overhead netting allows tigers to use the space 24/7.

“One of the most basic features we included in the design for this habitat is overhead netting, which has allowed us to give the tigers outdoor access around the clock,” said Animal Curator Travis Vineyard. “This is a huge improvement for a species that is largely nocturnal and crepuscular – they can be out in the habitat during their active periods of dawn, dusk, and nighttime.” Vineyard shared that the positive effects of the new space were immediately noticeable in the tigers through an increase in natural behaviors and use of vertical climbing space, pools, and heated rocks.

Vertical climbing space is important for tigers - and a fun observation opportunity for visitors.

No one is more thrilled with this habitat than the Animal Care team, who have experienced first-hand the difference it makes in the lives of the tigers. "This habitat has been wonderful in allowing us to set up different spaces for the animals and create a more complex environment for them,” said Animal Keeper Katie Dagostino. “It’s not just one yard, the same yard every day – we can connect all four yards through overhead chutes and sliding doors to create different configurations, keeping things creative, innovative, and exciting for the animals.”

This flexibility empowers the team to curate spaces for all phases of life; the first tigers to live in Rosebrough Tiger Passage were senior cats Dasha and Kletchka, whose needs were very different from cubs Sergei and Mila. It also allows the cats to be separated as needed to mirror their social structure in the wild. For example, adult males do not have a role in nurturing cubs, so when Sergei and Mila came along, they had a dedicated place to reach their first milestones in life while adult male Hector could enjoy his own, separate space. When all the tigers are old enough to use each yard, they can be rotated through them to create variety from day to day and allow the individuals to investigate scents left behind by the others.

“Sometimes we’ll have adult female Zoya in a yard one day, and then the next day we’ll put Hector in that yard so he’s able to get all the scents Zoya left behind, which is an enriching experience. This is what tigers will do in the wild – they'll scope out their territory and scent-mark different spots.”

The numerous possibilities for tigers in this habitat also create an exciting variety of observation opportunities for Zoo visitors. Where their previous home represented the outdated ‘diorama’ style that kept viewers at a distance and offered a single vantage point, Rosebrough Tiger Passage immerses visitors in the tigers’ green spaces and pathways, creating endless ways to watch – and get closer than ever before. Large viewing windows give Zoo-goers the opportunity to be right next to the tigers as they walk past, an unforgettable moment that connects people with the power and beauty of these big cats. Experiences like this are more than the stuff of core memories – they can inspire academic and career interests and spur action to protect threatened species in the wild.

Large viewing windows give Zoo-goers the opportunity to be right next to the tigers as they walk past, an unforgettable moment that connects people with the power and beauty of these big cats.

In this way, the innovative habitat design on display at Rosebrough Tiger Passage feeds into the Zoo’s mission of securing a future for wildlife. The feeling of being within inches of an apex predator like the Amur tiger stays with you – and makes the value of protecting endangered species tangible. This is the magic and intention behind the design of Rosebrough Tiger Passage, and other animal habitats at the Zoo that have been built or renovated since its opening in 2016.

CARING FOR CUBS

The indoor spaces for tigers were also built with big cat behavior – and breeding – in mind. A dedicated maternity den that offers visual barriers for privacy has been key to healthy mother-cub bonding time behind the scenes. Setting the tigers and their care team up for success in nurturing cubs has made Cleveland Metroparks Zoo a key contributor to the population of Amur tigers in AZA-accredited zoos through the Species Survival Plan (SSP).

Members and frequent visitors have gotten to see the tiger cubs grow from adorable furballs chasing their first milestones to impressive ambassadors for their species.

The SSP program brings together experts across AZA zoos and aquariums to sustain thriving populations of animals in human care. Currently, there are SSP programs for nearly 300 species; each is led by knowledgeable advisors who work with colleagues in other zoos to make informed decisions, all with the goal of supporting the long-term sustainability of the species. This includes maintaining a Studbook with detailed genetic records for each individual animal and following the SSP Breeding and Transfer Plan, which recommends breeding pairs and transfers between zoos. The result of all this work – and the measure of its success – is a population of animals that is biologically sound, genetically diverse, and demographically balanced.

Becoming an ideal location for Amur tiger cubs to spend their first years has brought joy and excitement to the Zoo and its community. In 2020, the Zoo welcomed its first tiger cubs in more than 20 years, Luka and Anya – and celebrated another litter of two in 2023, Sergei and Mila. Members and frequent visitors have gotten to see the tiger cubs grow from adorable furballs chasing their first milestones to impressive ambassadors for their species.

Rosebrough Tiger Passage was designed to support tigers in all phases of life.

Dagostino said, “Like most cats, tigers sleep most of the day, so the joy of having cubs is being able to watch them romp and play. Being part of their lives from the beginning and seeing them grow is probably the best part of this job – and this habitat makes it possible for us to do so many great things and provide such wonderful care.”

In addition to the cubs born here, the Zoo also had the unique opportunity to foster a Malayan tiger cub that was not being properly nurtured by its mother. In 2021, female cub Indrah joined Luka and Anya, who were right around the same age at the time. Rosebrough Tiger Passage’s dedicated cub yard made it an outstanding place for the three cubs to grow and learn to be tigers together, and the Zoo’s skilled Animal Care team stepped up to the plate to ensure they received the care they needed to thrive.

Sergei displaying a common tiger behavior: napping!

Stories like this illustrate what’s possible when animals at the Zoo – and their care teams – have a space that truly supports their needs. The Zoo has long been a leader in animal care and well-being, and Rosebrough Tiger Passage is a landmark representation of this leadership as well as the Zoo’s commitment to its community. Amid the celebration of this fantastic habitat’s first 10 years, we look forward to seeing the thoughtful design and intention of Primate Forest come to life with visitors this summer.