Taunting is relevant.
And the walls are to protect the four-legged animals from the two-legged animals.
Actually, the walls don’t do much to protect animals from visitors. If they used slingshots as some have suggested, they’d need much more than a wall. Cameras might have been useful in this situation—then we’d know the truth of it beyond doubt, and end all this bickering on FR.
It is irrelevant when it comes to building a fence. What IMO is important here is did the zoo believe this was an adequate enclosure though. Are there others like it? What happens if this year all are raised to 16 feet and another cat gets out.? Of course a zoo must be responsible but would it be negligence if they did the best they knew how? We the public have to acknowledge a little responsibility too here. We want big cats, in zoos, in natural environments for their “comfort” and our viewing. We would not be happy to see animals in cages. Do we scrap zoos (I hope not), put them in cages (probably the safest for the public but unacceptable)? No matter how well an outside enclosure is, a determined animal will eventually challenge it. Will people be complacent though that it’s 4 feet higher, so I’m safe” and can do what I want? My suggestion is yes raise the wall, but put up hot wires and an alarm system that will sound if a cat gets to close or a human tries to cross. Equipment can fail though so probably the safest is to have an armed, staff person stationed at the exhibit.