Siberian tiger cubs

ZooMontana To Lose 2 Siberian Tigers

ZooMontana Director Jeff Ewelt says the zoo's financial troubles and loss of accreditation mean the loss of two Siberian tigers on loan to the zoo in Billings.

Ewelt said Tuesday that the Philadelphia Zoo will soon move the two female tigers - named Tierny and Koosaka - to another facility. Ewelt says the zoo will still have its male Siberian tiger, Prince.

ZooMontana lost its accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums earlier this year, leading to the removal of three grizzly bear cubs. An adult grizzly bear also will be relocated.

Ewelt says a veterinarian from the Philadelphia Zoo visited ZooMontana recently and felt the tigers were well cared for, but officials were concerned about the financial future of the Montana zoo.

Ewelt called the decision a disappointment.

WWF Releases Poetic Video “The World Is Where We Live”

This latest video by the World Wildlife Fund tugged on my heart strings and caught me so off guard I nearly slipped in my puddle of tears knocking over my stuffed zebra which I keep right beside my Siberian tiger rug. If it had actually fallen over I’m almost certain it would have damaged my massive 10-foot by 25-foot wall which I recently had lined with the fur or 300 rare ocelot leopard cat skins. Thankfully it didn’t and I wasn’t distracted from the beauty of the editing that is going on in this short clip.

Playing with a Siberian Tiger Cub

Playing with a tiger straight outa the siberian ghetto.

Zoo ready for this tiger mother

There could be a baby shower comin’, but forget the diaper cakes and rattles: the perfect gift for this new mama may be something raw and bloody.
This week, Assiniboine Park Zoo officials are waiting to break out the cigars as Kendra, a 12-year-old Amur tiger, shows every sign of being ready to give birth to a litter of one or more cubs.
Zoo veterinarians aren’t 100 per cent sure that Kendra is, indeed, in a delicate condition. It’s tough to diagnose pregnancies in tigers without invasive diagnostic techniques, so Kendra’s caretakers have based their expectations on monitoring hormone levels and watching her behaviour.
And all signs point to "pregnant," zoo officials said in a release today. "Everyone at the Assiniboine Park Zoo is beyond excited about this expected arrival," said Tim Sinclair-Smith, director of zoological operations.
"We hope to see a very special addition to the zoo family in the coming days so we’re monitoring Kendra very closely and hope to have an official announcement soon."
It’s not yet known how many little mewlers Kendra might have: the average litter size for Amur tigers (also known as Siberian tigers) is two, but anywhere from one to four cubs is normal for the species.
If she is indeed ready to pop, chances are high the cubs will survive. Not only is Kendra already a mom, but the Assiniboine Park Zoo estimates its birth success rate in 2011 will reach 80 to 90 per cent, "well above the North American zoo average" according to the zoo’s statement.
If the cubs are born soon, the new family will likely get some privacy: the babies, who are born with their eyes and ears shut, will stay close to their mum until they are about six weeks old.
At that point, it’s likely Kendra will let them venture out of the den and into the wild world of the tiger exhibit, where the public can sneak a peek – and probably snap some ace YouTube videos.
They will join a long list of brand-new furries on display at the zoo this year, including baby lynxes, red pandas, musk oxen and stone sheep.