• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Dying tiger in Canada typical of challenges posed by aging zoo critters

BCR by BCR
February 16, 2007
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Canadian Press: CHRIS MORRIS
Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 | 1:30 PM ET

FREDERICTON (CP) – The health issues facing an old, dying tiger in a New Brunswick zoo are symptomatic of problems confronting zookeepers across North America as they cope with a growing population of geriatric animals.

Officials at the small Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, N.B., have attracted worldwide attention in their search for ways to keep the zoo’s star attraction, Tomar the Siberian tiger, alive and comfortable despite kidney failure.

Bruce Dougan, general manager of the Magnetic Hill Zoo, said Tomar is responding well to a new diet and medications – including blood-pressure and antacid pills – designed to reduce pressure on the 19-year-old cat’s failing kidneys.

“We’re feeding him egg yolks, ducks and fatty cuts of meat because the fat will give him the nutrition he needs, the energy he needs for his day-to-day activities and it won’t give him as much urea to process,” Dougan said in an interview Wednesday.

“With the fattier diet, his kidneys don’t have to work quite so hard.”

Although there is no chance of reversing the terminal illness, Dougan said zoo officials now are hoping Tomar “His spirits are really good,” he said of the old tiger, who loves the cold weather.

“As well, we think all this positive energy from all the people who are praying for Tomar and thinking good thoughts about him is helping as well.”

More and more zoo animals like Tomar are living to ripe old ages thanks to the improved care zoos give to their wild, often endangered captives.

Just down the walk from Tomar’s spacious pen is a 21-year-old male lion named Marshall.

In the wild, tigers and lions rarely live to such advanced ages.

“As soon as something slows them down, they often become prey,” said Dr. Sandie Black, head of veterinary services at the Calgary Zoo Animal Health Centre.

Black and her team of veterinarians and keepers have their hands full with a variety of elderly inhabitants at the Calgary Zoo, including Foggy, a 41-year-old male hippo.

Foggy is suffering from one of the most common complaints afflicting mammals as they reach their golden years – the curse of gum disease.

Black said Foggy’s keepers have devised an ingenious water pick for the old hippo – a high-pressure fire hose that washes away bits of hay and other detritus stuck between his teeth after meals.

His keepers just have to get him to smile for the treatment.

“In fact, he really enjoys it,” Black said.

At the St. Louis Zoo in the United States, where officials are mourning the recent death of Betsy, a 31-year-old rhinoceros, keepers are coping with the demands of numerous senior animals, including a 30-year-old lemur with a bad liver, a Cotswold sheep with cataracts and three arthritic black bears.

In addition, Betsy’s mate, Toto, now is 32 – the oldest living male on record.

Black said the big problem facing zoo vets and keepers is figuring out when their elderly charges are unwell.

She said the animals instinctively hide disabilities.

“In the wild, it’s really important to look like you’re doing well so other animals don’t take advantage of you,” Black said.

“The signs of pain are often subtle. In gorillas, for instance, it may be nothing more than a bead of sweat across the brow or the clenching of their hands.”

She said veterinarians also have to balance the risks and benefits of beginning medical treatment on wild animals. She said the stress of being handled and medicated may be too much for some animals.

However, both Dougan and Black say that the longer an animal lives, the more it becomes an icon for the zoo and an ambassador for its species.

Hundreds of people recently turned up at the Magnetic Hill Zoo for a rare open house to see Tomar – the symbol of the zoo.

“We’re getting offers of books to be written about Tomar, of pictures to be painted, of quilts to be sewn,” Dougan said, referring to the worldwide response to Tomar’s plight.

“It’s amazing how many people are interested in what happens to this one old tiger.”

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Atlantic/070214/t021402A.html

Tags: News World
Previous Post

Zoos cash in on animal sex

Next Post

Texas city council nixes traveling animal exhibit, gets PETA award

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

News World

Enrichment Program @ BIG CAT RESCUE!

May 7, 2022
114
Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down  Dying tiger in Canada typical of challenges posed by aging zoo critters jeg empty
News World

Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down

October 20, 2021
10.3k
Vanessa Hudgens Shame  Dying tiger in Canada typical of challenges posed by aging zoo critters jeg empty
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

September 12, 2021
6.1k
Snow Leopard  Dying tiger in Canada typical of challenges posed by aging zoo critters jeg empty
News @ BCR

Save Snow Leopards

April 17, 2021
6.2k
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.  Dying tiger in Canada typical of challenges posed by aging zoo critters jeg empty
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
2.7k
Next Post

Texas city council nixes traveling animal exhibit, gets PETA award

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Insitu2021 January 17, 2023
  • Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue. January 13, 2023
  • Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue. January 13, 2023

Recent Comments

  • Deb Quimby on Koda Lioness
  • heather elliott on Sapphire
  • Jason Jenkins on Tiger Facts
  • Claire Pritchett on Koda Lioness
  • Deb Quimby on Jinx

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

More from Big Cats

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Insitu2021

January 17, 2023
Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue.  Dying tiger in Canada typical of challenges posed by aging zoo critters jeg empty

Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue.

January 13, 2023
Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue.  Dying tiger in Canada typical of challenges posed by aging zoo critters jeg empty

Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue.

January 13, 2023

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • About BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Our Cat Stories
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist