Rare tigers are thriving at zoo

Johannesburg Zoo has notched up another success in an impressive list of captive-bred endangered species.

Four Siberian tiger cubs, already around 20kg in weight, were born to mother tiger Ganeshee five months ago and were exclusively mother-reared. The litter of cubs came out to play on Tuesday before their public introduction at the zoo next week.

The four playful felines left their “night-room” tentatively and slouched into the garden area, curiously sniffing toys placed on the sloping area by Agnes Maluleke, the carnivore curator.

The sight of humans elicited a range of vocal noises like snarls and surprisingly deep growls as the cats explored. When Ganeshee joined the furry animals, they made squeaking sounds and became braver, venturing to the top of the enclosure.

They played with hay, tried out their teeth on pieces of meat and followed mom around. Next Wednesday, the cubs will be placed in an “enrichment structure” opposite the elephant park where the public will be able to view them.

Maluleke said the four mottled cubs were extremely “able and capable” and had a great relationship with their mother. “The cubs have really great genetics – you can’t tell them apart yet because their facial colouring is changing constantly.” She said she had no doubt they would not hesitate to hunt and kill if they found wild prey.

Ganeshee is just three years old but proved to be an excellent mother following three weeks of solitude prior to the birth. The cubs will be separated from her next week and in a year’s time rehomed to another facility.

The zoo’s acting head, Oscar van Heerden, said the zoo had ebbs and flows of new animals being born and animals dying of old age. But the facility was intent not only on being a source of entertainment but one of education and science.

“We have modern facilities and are in the business of conserving our natural environment and conducting research. The Siberian tger is hugely endangered, with fewer than 4 000 on the planet,” he said, adding they were very proud of the four cubs.

Animal nutritionist Cassandra Ramos said the cubs started showing an interest in meat after a few months of suckling, so they introduced mince meat. Now they receive around 1kg a day of a variety of food, including chicken, horse-meat and guinea pigs.

“We upped the mother’s meals to sustain her milk, but soon one of the cubs started trying her food and at times would hang on to her tail to get up on the feeding table.”

The cubs didn’t have names yet because the zoo wanted to try something different and let the public help name them, said Maluleke.

Joburgers are encouraged to submit names for the two male and two female cubs on the Johannesburg Zoo Facebook site.

Submissions open on Monday (September 19) and close at the end of October. Prizes are being negotiated and winners will be announced on the site.

Members of the public who are interested in adopting a cub can contact Ioanna Karamitsos on 011 646 2000. Families and schools can also donate toys to the cubs. The wish-list for toys includes balls, rawhide bones, rope and catnip.

@samhartsie