• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
  • 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

Miller Park Zoo gets new tiger

Carole by BCR
August 10, 2014
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
46
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Miller Park Zoo gets new tiger

By Roger Miller
rmiller@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON — There’s a new tiger in town, and he is a big attraction — literally — for visitors to Miller Park Zoo.

A 9-year-old adult Sumatran tiger named Rojo — “red” in Spanish — was unveiled Friday at the zoo.

He spent the day in the inside portion of his exhibit space at the Katthoefer Animal Building. If he continues to adjust well to his new environment, he will move to the adjoining outdoor space on Sunday morning, said zookeeper Wendy Klessig.

The most striking thing about Rojo is how much bigger he is than the zoo’s other Sumatran tiger, 18-year-old Besar. At 270 pounds, Rojo is 50 pounds heavier and much bigger physically than his much older neighbor.

“He’s in the prime of life, and his head’s really big,” Klessig said. “He has a big presence, and people really are impressed by it.”

Despite his size, Rojo seems to be a “laid-back personality cat,” she said. “He’s really calm and not excited by anything.”

In fact, his transition to his new home went so smoothly, zoo officials put him on display sooner than they initially thought they would be able to, Klessig said.

He roared a couple of times around feeding time, but that was about it, she said. “He seems so comfortable … so unperturbed” about the cross-country move, she said.

Rojo, who is on permanent loan to the Bloomington zoo, arrived Thursday afternoon from the Akron (Ohio) Zoo. Klessig said Akron needed to make room for some yearling tiger cubs, and Miller Park Zoo jumped at the chance to take Rojo.

Besar is “ancient” for a tiger and in failing health, Klessig said. Tigers in the wild generally live about 10 years, and ones in captivity can live about twice as long, she said.

Acquiring Rojo will allow the zoo to continue to have at least one tiger as a star attraction for years to come.

“People like tigers,” Klessig said. “They are a big hit.”

Besar and Rojo are next-door neighbors, but they cannot see each other from their separate enclosures, Klessig said. They definitely are aware of each other because of sound and scent, she said.

“Besar is interested, but not agitated” about the new cat, she said.

If all goes well, Rojo will be outside when the zoo opens at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, she said. It will depend on how he reacts to the environment, the crowds and Besar in the meantime, she said.

“We are playing it by ear,” she said.

The zoo will celebrate Tres (Cinco) de Mayo from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. In honor of the Mexican holiday celebrated May 5, the zoo will offer free chips and salsa from Qdoba, piñata games, and up close Mexican animal encounters.

The event is free with Zoo admission.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/05/01/news/doc49fbbf53203b4211479209.txt


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Baby Tiger cubs at Natural Bridge Zoo

Next Post

Belfast Zoo tiger dies

Next Post

Belfast Zoo tiger dies

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

  • Summer Bobcat LIVE! June 26, 2022
  • Cat VS Dog…Fennel? June 22, 2022
  • Black Leopard Bath time! June 22, 2022

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
Summer Bobcat LIVE!

Summer Bobcat LIVE!

June 26, 2022
Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

June 22, 2022
Black Leopard Bath time!

Black Leopard Bath time!

June 22, 2022
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • Account
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat NFTS
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Rescuers
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Browse Submissions
  • Connections
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Donate Crypto
  • Embed Link
  • Followers
  • Following
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Join Us
    • Registration
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Login
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Logout
  • Malaya Bobcat
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Member Directory
  • Members
  • My Profile
    • Edit Profile
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Live Feeds
  • Password Reset
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Register
  • Register
  • Register
    • Edit Your Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Welcome
    • Your Membership
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Submission Confirmed
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • User
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2021 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