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Zoo enclosures for big cats and primates
Strong, climbable Webnet canopies on heavy primary ropes and masts, so leopards, tigers and primates live under open sky.
Acier projectOverviewWhat it is
Big cats and primates climb, so their enclosures need a full roof or an inward overhang at 60°, as the Central Zoo Authority specifies. A tensioned Webnet canopy gives them that roof without a cage: from a distance the mesh almost disappears, and trees grow inside.
The leopard enclosure at Mumbai Zoo covers 1,175 m² at an average height of 12 m with 2,132.76 m² of Webnet Ø2 / W 50 mm, carried on 30 primary ropes of Ø22 mm and 21 of Ø26 mm. It was the first leopard enclosure in India under a rope and mesh canopy.
Options
Plan itPlan your enclosure
Planner
MeshMesh for mammals and reptiles
Typical Webnet selection; we confirm it with your zoo team
| Animal | Mesh opening (mm) | Rope Ø (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small primates | 20 to 40 | 1.5 to 2.0 | Small hands and heads |
| Monkeys (macaques, langurs) | 38 to 60 | 1.6 to 2.0 | 50 × 50 is common |
| Great apes | about 50 | 3.2 | With stand-off barriers |
| Leopards | 50 to 76 | 3.0 to 3.2 | Fully roofed |
| Tigers, lions | 76 walls, 100 roof | 3.2 to 4 | Or fence with a 60° overhang |
| Bears | 50 to 76 | 3.2 to 4.0 | Bury or apron the base |
| Deer, antelope | 90 to 100 | 2.4 | Flexible mesh reduces injury |
| Snakes, small reptiles | 25 or finer | 1.2 to 1.6 | Seal every edge and drain |
PhotosIn use
What we useProducts
Webnet mesh
Stainless steel wire-rope mesh: strong, flexible and almost transparent.
Stainless wire ropes
Architectural stainless ropes from Ø1 to Ø26 mm, in three constructions.
End fittings and tensioners
Threads, forks, eyes, turnbuckles and anchors that hold at least 90% of the rope’s strength.
Chain-link fencing
Woven fencing for perimeters, pens, service yards and courts.
3D and welded mesh
Rigid flat and 3D-folded welded panels for walls, screens and planted boundaries.
ProjectsBuilt by Acier
QuestionsFrequently asked
What mesh is used for a tiger enclosure?
Typically 76 mm on the walls and 100 mm on the roof, in rope of Ø3.2 to 4 mm, on heavy primary ropes.
How are large enclosures supported?
On primary stainless ropes carried by masts, arches and anchors. The Mumbai Zoo leopard enclosure uses 30 ropes of Ø22 mm and 21 of Ø26 mm.
Can primates climb the mesh?
Yes, and they should. Webnet is climbable and flexible, so the canopy becomes part of the habitat. The openings are sized to the smallest heads and hands in the group.
Read moreGuides
Aviary and zoo mesh: choosing the size by species
How to size stainless steel mesh for every bird and animal you keep, from finches to tigers: mesh opening, rope diameter, the rules enclosures follow and what we used at Mumbai Zoo and Rajgir.
Webnet, welded mesh or chain-link: choosing a mesh
How flexible rope mesh, rigid welded panels and woven chain-link compare for safety, enclosures and fencing, and how to choose between them.