• 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

El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs

BCR by BCR
June 25, 2011
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
76
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs

Zoos Know that Tiger Babies Mean Big Bucks  El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs tigerbabies
Zoos Know that Tiger Babies Mean Big Bucks

EL PASO – Love is complicated, even for the majestic tiger.

The El Paso Zoo has two new critically endangered Malayan tigers that could form a mating pair, which could help the species’ long-term survival. Complicating matters, however, is what zoo officials are describing as a “love triangle.”

The new tigers – a male and female – arrived within the past year, and have joined a holdover tiger, a female. The new tigers, however, are being kept separately from the older one.

“The two girls don’t like each other,” said Rick LoBello, the zoo’s education curator, “and the boy likes both of the girls.”

The two new tigers are being displayed together and the holdover tiger goes out into the exhibit in the afternoon when the new ones go back to their behind-the-scenes holding area, said John Kiseda, the zoo’s animal curator.

The new tigers first went on public display together about two weeks ago.

The tiger exhibit, closed most of the week because of a plumbing problem, was scheduled to reopen this weekend.

But what zookeepers would really like is for the new pair to mate and have some cubs.

Seri, a 3-year-old female, arrived at the El Paso Zoo about a year ago. She was born at the San Diego Zoo. Her potential mate, Wzui, a 6-year-old male, arrived about six months ago. He was born at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., but lived at the Tulsa, Okla., zoo.

Previously, they had to be quarantined and then were occasionally displayed individually, but not together until recently.

The two animals are on loan to the El Paso Zoo and came here under a recommendation from the Malayan Tiger Species Survival Plan.

This is a joint effort by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and its 215 members. The goal is to provide good homes for animals, make sure that zoos have their need for animals met and that there is a genetically diversified population of animals, Kiseda said.

The two new animals have joined Melor, or Meli as her trainers call her, a 15-year-old female Malayan tiger. She has been the zoo’s only tiger since 2009 when her longtime companion, Raja, was euthanized because of a cancerous growth in his abdomen.

Kiseda said the new pair “are quite compatible.”

“The older female also likes the new male, based on her behavior toward him,” he said. “But we’re not putting them all together because there’s a recommendation of not letting Meli breed.”

When the male Wzui is in an adjacent space to Meli, the older female, they might rub against each other with the enclosure mesh between them, Kiseda said. They will also vocalize through a sound called chuffing that’s a friendly big-cat sign of recognition, he added.

Wzui also shows friendly signs with the younger female and is making “headway in his reproductive efforts,” Kiseda said.

LoBello said it’s quite common for zoos to keep animals separate and then rotate them into an exhibit at different times. He cited a male Amur leopard at the zoo and his daughter. They are kept apart, so they don’t breed, he said.

Fewer than 2,500 tigers are living wild in the world. Of nine subspecies, four have already gone extinct, LoBello said. All tigers are endangered because of encroachment on their habitats and poachers.

Having the new tigers also provides zoo visitors with something new to see and is another reason to keep coming back, he said.

“We are constantly trying to upgrade our facilities, add new animals and add new programs,” LoBello said.

Erika Bailey, an assistant day-care teacher at the Armed Forces YMCA, was with a group of children on a field trip to the zoo.

She said the new tigers will help to educate children about endangered species.

“I hope they do mate; that would be awesome,” she said. “El Paso would make a big deal about it and all the kids would want to come out and see them.”

Tigers typically have two to four cubs at a time and their pregnancy duration lasts from 90 to 110 days.

David Burge may be reached at dburge@elpasotimes.com; (915) 546-6126.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_18347884

 

Tags: cubstigers
Previous Post

Teenager Steals Tiger Pelt from Daly Mansion

Next Post

Feeding 100+ Tigers, Lions, Leopards…

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  El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs jeg empty
News World

Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down

October 20, 2021
10.3k
Vanessa Hudgens Shame  El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs jeg empty
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

September 12, 2021
6.1k
Snow Leopard  El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs jeg empty
News @ BCR

Save Snow Leopards

April 17, 2021
6.2k
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.  El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs jeg empty
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
2.7k
Next Post
Feeding 100+ Tigers, Lions, Leopards…  El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs jeg empty

Feeding 100+ Tigers, Lions, Leopards...

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.  El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs jeg empty

Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue.

January 13, 2023
Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue.  El Paso Zoo Wants Tiger Cubs 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