When Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, based in Bristol, needed to convert an existing area into a secure tiger enclosure with access to an external space – safety, precision, and reliability were non-negotiable. The enclosure had to protect staff, visitors, and animals alike, while working seamlessly with the zoo’s existing infrastructure.
epark engineering was brought in to deliver a bespoke engineering solution after the project had been let down elsewhere. Following an initial enquiry, Tony and the engineering team visited the site to listen carefully to the client’s requirements and assess the existing enclosure, which included fencing panels, electric fence mounting brackets, and a gate. This site assessment identified critical gaps and limitations that needed to be addressed to meet the required safety standards.
To eliminate risk points, we designed and manufactured custom corner plates to block gaps between the gate and the building structure, removing potential escape or access vulnerabilities. We also produced compound-angled electric fence mounting corner brackets, allowing the electric fence to be securely and continuously installed around corners without compromising tension, alignment, or effectiveness.
A key element of the project was the design and manufacture of a new sliding guillotine gateway to allow the tiger-controlled access to the external area. The gate was engineered to be self-locking and operated via a cable and pulley system from a separate room, ensuring animal movement could be managed safely without placing staff at risk.
Following the site visit, the design was developed from initial concepts into a detailed CAD model, enabling the client to view and approve the solution in 3D before manufacture commenced. Once approved, epark engineering rapidly progressed into the manufacturing phase to meet the tight deadline ahead of the tiger’s arrival.
With all components delivered to site, the project was handed over to Frocester Security (epark’s sister company, part of the Frocester Group) and their Gates and Barriers department, where Jon Clifford installed the system exactly as
designed. After a small number of final adjustments, the system performed exceptionally well in operation.
Throughout the project, close collaboration between engineering, manufacturing, and installation teams ensured every component was fit for purpose, site-specific, and robust enough for a high-risk animal environment.
“epark engineering was recommended to us by a contractor who had high expectations over quality and service. They certainly lived up to his recommendation and provided a rapid, bespoke solution when we’d been let down elsewhere. Tony was fantastic, taking the time to gather all the details required, working with us through the design, and delivering just what was required – and most importantly, something that was tiger proof!”
~ Jon Jutsum, Site Manager
The completed enclosure delivered a secure, functional, and durable solution, purpose-built for one of the most demanding environments imaginable – and, most importantly, providing a safely secured tiger at the completion of the project.
