Spirit of the Jaguar

Famous actress and conservationist Stephanie Powers and the Managing Director of Jaguar cars, Jonathan Browning, officially opened Spirit of the Jaguar in September 2001, we believe it to be the biggest and best Jaguar enclosure in the world.

The wealth of interpretation in the exhibit certainly stimulates the mind. It addresses some of the problems these magnificent cats face and highlights their importance in ethnic folklore. The foresight and generosity of Jaguar Cars made all this possible. We are very grateful indeed.

The building is divided into two sections one savannah and one rainforest – we wanted our visitors to experience the Jaguar’s different habitats, and for the cats to feel at ease with their surroundings. Both sections have been landscaped and planted to be sympathetic to the different environments.


Typical Jaguars weigh 80-100 kilos, with a life span of up to 20-25 years. Litters of 2-3 cubs are born after a gestation period of 93-110 days. Whilst most Jaguars have the distinctive spot pattern on their coats, there are also black Jaguars.

Whatever their home range, Jaguars spend a considerable amount of time on the hunt, searching for its next meal. At the Zoo, we are simulating this by varying the method and time of presenting their food from day to day. Sometimes food is dragged around to lay scent trails that lead to the meal. The food is hidden from view by a loose covering of bark or leaves. Sometimes it is pushed into a crack in the rockwork or even buried. These methods of enrichment are a vital part of the daily routine.

It is a privilege to be involved with these animals and we all want to make sure that they have all they need. This includes their psychological well-being, allowing natural behaviour to be displayed.