Facility: Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
Location: San Jose, California
Project Start-Completion: 1999-2001
It was a great deal of fun to create this unique space for the Zoo. The habitat is designed to offer the jaguar a more natural setting in multiple tiers to enable the cat to have vertical as well as horizontal motion. A backstage area, including a building behind the rock wall, serves as a night quarters and nursery for the habitat animals.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is a city owned property, fashioned after children's entertainment activities. It is unique in that its zoo serves as an educational experience for its young visitors. It accommodates many small animals, some of which are on the endangered species list, hence, the focus of this exhibit. This jaguar exhibit is funded by the Happy Hollow Corporation, a non-profit, volunteer organization, that dedicates many hours to the park and zoo's benefit.