VISITORS to Monarto Zoo will soon have an opportunity to enter the heart of the lion’s den, safe within a human cage constructed by local company Krueger Engineering.
The Lions 360 Experience will reverse the traditional zoo experience, putting visitors in a cage to observe 12 African lions as they roam their 10 hectare enclosure.
Krueger Engineering purchasing officer Adam Johnston said building the light bulb-shaped cage had been a unique undertaking.
“Monarto Zoo advertised they were building a new exhibit and we put in a tender at the start of the year and we were successful,” Mr Johnston said.
“Essentially an underground tunnel leads into the lion paddock and we have built a half light globe-shaped cage that people will stand in to see the lions up close.
“The project was part of the zoos 20-Year Master Plan update and it will be a state-of-the-art exhibit.”
Modelled on the popular shark diving experience, Mr Johnston said the Lions 360 Experience was the first of its kind in Australia.
“The cage is 10m across the bulb shape and 3m high,” he said.
“It took us one month to build with six people in the workshop and a couple of staff in the office doing the admin side of things.
“We purchased all the steel locally, we had the cage painted locally and it was transported by local business Williams Crane Hire on a 5.5m wide load.”
Mr Johnston said Krueger Engineering would install the cage on site.
“We are sending a few guys over to do the installation – it will be really exciting to see the cage in the lion’s den,” he said.
“Lions 360 will be a must-see when it opens later this year.”
Monarto Zoo expects the exhibit will be operational in mid-November this year.
