Bright Lights, Big Kitty

Apologies for the hiatus, due to unforeseen circumstances, I had been unable to post. But here we are again!

This week we are (finally) going to talk about tigers, which includes Saigon, the Siberian (Amur) Tiger that lives at Wildlife Safari.

Training with Sai; "lay down"

Unlike cheetahs, tigers are built for power. They are the largest of the big cats, and therefore can roar, but cannot purr. Cheetahs and mountain lions are the largest cats that can still purr. The ability to purr has to do with a series of bones in the throat and how high or low they are (close together or far apart) that creates the sound of a purr versus a roar. Tigers do make a variety of other sounds including a chuff (which sounds kind of like saying "vfvfvfvfvfvfvfvf"), which is a kind of greeting and basically says "I like you". However, if Saigon chuffs at you.... he might like you, but keep in mind he also chuffs at trees. Saigon is 18 years old, which may also contribute to some of his other vocalizations. While, I haven't personally heard him roar, I have heard him grumble and whine while I am training with him or giving him meds. He is a unique gentleman of a tiger, and I'm sure if I work with other tigers in the future, I will be surprised at their notably more aggressive mannerisms.

Training with Sai; "paw"

Of the five extant subspecies of tiger, Siberian/Amur is the largest, with individuals weighing between 300-700lbs! Saigon only weighs around 400lbs, but he is still huge! I had never really appreciated their size until I saw Saigon up close and personal. Tigers can eat anywhere from 50-100lbs in one sitting! They are considered "gorge and fast" predators, because they don't know when their next meal will be. Their hunting success rate is astoundingly low, only about 5%. Tigers are ambush predators, and kill with a powerful bite to the neck. It has been noted that tigers will hunt down prey even while swimming. Yes, tigers love swimming. Tigers, unlike most cats, love water. Even Saigon! Saigon has two yards on display; one of which has a large pond that he loves to swim in (especially when his big red ball is in it!). In his other yard, he has a structure that he loves napping under, especially when its raining. He loves to swim, but hates the rain!

Photo by the fabulous Sheila Swanson (c) 2014

If you hadn't noticed, tigers have stripes. Similar to cheetahs and their spots, if you were to shave a tiger, the stripes would still be visible on their skin! So, we can call tigers, "truly striped". In contrast, zebras generally have dark skin under their fur (which means, they are black with white stripes - now you know!). Stripes in all animals are primarily designed for camouflage. There are a few ideas behind this... one might be that the dark stripes help the animal blend into tall grasses, because the dark lines might look like shadows the grass casts. Another idea, is that the stripes help visually break up the size and shape of the animal to confuse the predator or prey. The latter is especially true for zebra, which, like many ungulate species are herd animals and travel in packs. If you were a lion hunting a zebra and saw a large mass of stripes, you probably wouldn't be able to tell if it were one individual or multiple. Either way, it would look like too much to take on alone. Score 1 for zebra. For tigers, the coloration and intensity of the stripe pattern has a lot to do with their habitat. Saigon has lighter markings than some of the other subspecies of tiger, because the Siberian/Amur tigers are found in wooded areas, where the more drab coloration helps them blend in more. So, the stripes-look-like-shadows idea might make more sense for tigers.

Training with Sai; positive reinforcement

Tigers are solitary animals, coming together only for breeding. After a gestation period of about 103 days, a female will give birth to a litter of 3-4 cubs (on average). These cubs will stay with mom for two and a half years. In the last few months of working with Wildlife Safari, I have learned an interesting fact about tigers that changed my view on the animal. I feel like a lot of people think that white tigers are a whole separate type of tiger, and that they are beautiful and awesome and they totally want one as a pet. Well, as far as having a tiger for a pet... not a good idea! And while white tigers can be pretty... they are actually not their own species or subspecies of tiger. They are the result of inbreeding (father and daughter), and the white coloration is tied to a recessive gene. This can eventually lead to... Kenny.

(picture taken from the internet)

Two of the keepers in the cheetah/carnivore departments at Wildlife Safari have actually worked with Kenny (born 1998, died 2008), and other white tigers at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. So, orange. It's pretty sexy.

Saigon in huts, pre morning meds

So, now that we have learned some fun facts, its time to get serious. At one point there were 9 subspecies of tiger. Three of which are extinct, one of which is extinct in the wild (i.e. represented only in captivity), and the remaining five subspecies comprise less than 5,000 individuals of tigers left in the wild. The biggest threat to tigers includes habitat loss, poaching for their fur and for traditional asian medicines. Support grass roots conservation organizations!

Contemplating life, with Saigon

So, on a happier note, I have been allowed to train with Saigon, and help out the cheetah department with their encounters (which, during the summer season is going to be very helpful!). As part of her intern project, Emily came up with a 21-day enrichment schedule for Saigon, to see if what his favorite types of enrichment are to keep his days exciting and fun. So far, he favors things like painting, a big red ball in his pond, and Old Spice spray. Apparently, tigers can see red really well. Enriching Saigon is harder than enriching the bears, but easier than cheetahs. 

That's all for now, folks!

Coming Soon: The Intern Hunger Games!

**Editors Note: No post next week, due to traveling.