• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Thursday, February 25, 2021
  • 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

Wash. park gets white, tabby cubs from Fla. tiger breeder

BCR by BCR
July 5, 2007
in News World
0
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

By Sonia Krishnan, skrishnan@seattletimes.com

Seattle Times Eastside bureau

You might also like

Cub Petting Shame

Rules

GoFree

The cubs tumbled around the nursery of Issaquah’s Cougar Mountain Zoo, climbing into boxes and onto chairs, their oversize paws an indication of the growth to come.

The 8- and 11-week-old Bengal tigers — one a Royal White, the other a Golden — nuzzled their caretakers on a recent sunny morning, unaware of the crowd waiting to see them. Named Taj and Almos, the tigers are the only Bengal cubs in the state. Both arrived in Issaquah four weeks ago from a Florida tiger preserve to serve as “ambassadors” of the dwindling species, zoo officials say.

The younger, Almos, is 12 pounds; the older weighs in at 22. Both will grow to be 500 pounds.

“We want to educate people about the threat to this animal,” said Robyn Barfoot, the zoo’s general curator. “The tiger is such a magnificent creature. They’re meant to talk to your heart. It would be such a shame if in 10 years we don’t have any left. But that’s where we’re headed.”

Tigers once roamed through Russia, the Himalaya Mountains and across the Indian subcontinent. But poaching and habitat destruction have driven the tiger population to record lows, researchers say. The animals are hunted for their colorful skins, and their body parts are prized in the lucrative Chinese medicine market.

At one time, eight subspecies of tigers existed. But three died out during the 20th century, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Now researchers estimate 5,000 tigers remain in the wild.

The Golden tiger, the result of a genetic quirk, is rarer still, Barfoot said.

The Cougar Mountain Zoo received Taj, the Golden, and Almos, the Royal White, 35 years after the zoo’s master plan was unveiled. Saving endangered animals through education was part of this vision, Barfoot said.

The tigers came from different mothers at an undisclosed Florida preserve. Barfoot declined to say how much the zoo paid for the cubs.

She and her colleagues say they anxiously awaited the births.

Tiger gestation lasts about 100 days, and females give birth to litters of two to six cubs. In the wild, a tigress is the sole parent. She nurses her babies, teaches them how to hunt, and after two or three years, they are ready to set out on their own, according to the National Geographic Web site on endangered animals.

Almos’ mother, having given birth for the first time, didn’t nurse him when he was born, said Marcie McCaffray, administrator of the Cougar Mountain Zoo.

“It can happen with a first-time mom,” McCaffray said. “She doesn’t know what to do.”

Now, McCaffray and Barfoot have taken on the role as the cubs’ mothers. They spent a week with them in Florida before flying back with the tigers to Seattle.

At the zoo, they spend hours with the cubs, playing with them and feeding them four times a day. The tigers are bottle-fed a special formula, but once they get older, they will switch to an all-carnivore diet.

Once they are between 4 and 6 months old, the cubs will move to a 1-acre habitat with a pool, Barfoot said. It’s designed to give them space to roam and swim — one of their favorite activities.

Although they will be trained to stand on weighing scales and sit for health checkups, the goal is to keep the tigers’ instincts wild, Barfoot said.

. They may have bonded with her and McCaffray. But they are still tigers. The women rolled up their shirt sleeves to show scratches and bruises they’ve received in the past weeks.

“They are adorable and we love them,” Barfoot said. “But they are not pets.”

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ localnews/2003770776_tigercubs02e.html


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Captivity versus extinction: Is wildlife served by zoos?

Next Post

Utah city bans exotic animals as pets

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Cub Petting Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

January 17, 2021
1.2k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
98
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
373
Nik Tiger being Xrayed
How To Start A Sanctuary

What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?

June 30, 2020
49
Cougars at Big Cat Rescue
Memorials

Artemis

January 28, 2020
190
Next Post

Utah city bans exotic animals as pets

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

Take Action Against Abuse

Shop To Save Big Cats

More From BigCatRescue

  • 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

Sanctuary Cats

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

Big Cat Information

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

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Versioin
No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Embed Link
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Video Series
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • Test Gravity
  • 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
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Add New Playlist