The trail leads up the hill from red pandas to Tiger Falls, the cornerstone of the Asian Highlands. Visitors will be transported to a temple ruin, which is adorned with multicolored prayer flags and includes sculptures of each animal species in the Asian Highlands.

Inside the tiger exhibit, cascading waterfalls form the headwaters of a stream that rushes throughout the area. The stream was built along the path of a decades-old limestone waterfall and stream that predate the zoo.

There’s abundant space to roam for lone Amur tiger Bronevik, who will someday be joined by a female mate.

“What a great place to raise cubs,” Pate said.

Amur tigers and snow leopards were the last two species living in the Cat Complex, which will close Friday. The zoo has not yet finalized plans on how to use the site, but redevelopment plans are being considered. The facility will be demolished this fall and will simply be a grassy patch until a new plan has been finalized at least a year from now.

Historically, the zoo has opened new exhibits on Memorial Day weekend, just in time for summer crowds. But Pate said he wanted to open the exhibit a week earlier to better manage the surge of visitors.