Tiger Cubs on the Move
Posted at 9:17 am September 13, 2006 by Bridget Mulholland
We knew that it was going to happen at some point, but it was still difficult to accept when we finally did get the news: the tiger cubs are going to be sent to their new home soon. (Read Bridget’s previous blog, Tiger Cubs Now One.) Mata and Rimba are scheduled to go to the Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach, Florida at the end of October or early November.
Even though we know that we will miss them dearly, we are extremely pleased that the two brothers will be moving together and will have each other for support in new situations! And I’m quite sure that their new keepers will adore them just as much as we do, because Rimba and Mata happen to have wonderfully sweet and playful personalities.
Now that we know where they will be going, we have started preparing for the move. We set up large crates in the tiger compound and have begun training the boys to shift into them for a meatball reward. So far, both Mata and Rimba will go into their crate and lay down calmly. The next step is to start closing the crate door behind them. I am hoping that by the time we have to take them to the airport they will both be very comfortable in their crates.
The tiger keepers have also started preparing a lot of paperwork to be sent to their new keepers. Some of the information we are including is what, how much, and how often they are being fed, their medical history, their favorite enrichment items (Rimba is pictured above with a hanging log), and the trained behaviors that they have learned. We are also preparing a training video to send with the paperwork, so their new keepers may be able to continue working with the boys in a consistent fashion. The video will include Mata and Rimba accepting blood being drawn from a vein in their tails, hand injections in their hindquarters, and other medical-type behaviors. Another piece of information that I’ll be including in their paperwork: my telephone number and e-mail address, so hopefully their new keepers will give me an update every once in a while on how they’re adjusting to life in Florida!
Bridget Mulholland is a senior mammal keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
Visit the cubs in Tiger River.
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September 13th, 2006 at 10:25 am
Aw, do they have to go
At least they will be together. I’ve enjoyed their updates so much! Were they the ones that got the fire hose hammock?
Editor’s note: Yes, the cubs got the fire hose items. See Bridget’s blog, ” Fire Hose Enrichment for Tigers,” dated November 30, 2005.
September 13th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
will they ever breed? does the other zoo have any females? and when will Mek have another litter if she does?
September 13th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
I knew this day would come and I am sad to hear it, I know they have to go, but I will miss them dearly, I always go see those precious boys when I am at the zoo. I will have to make sure I come see them even more now that I know they are leaving sometime in October. I wish them well and I am so glad to hear they are going to be together; that will make it easier on them. Please keep us posted on what is going on with them and let us know when they will be leaving for sure so we can come say good bye to them. Thank you, Bridget, for letting us know what is going on and how you are preparing them for their travels to Florida. Floriday is lucky to be getting such wonderful Tiger boys….Wish Mata and Rimba good luck for me. Let’s hope they, too, one day will become fathers…
September 13th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
EEE!!!! I live in west palm beach! I would never get to go to san diego, so a little san diego is coming to me.
The palm beach zoo has had tigers for years. They should be very happy.
September 14th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Yeah! I am a Palm Beach Zoo member and am thrilled to learn about the cubs that will be sent here. The Palm Beach Zoo currently has one older male tiger, Townee, who lost his mate to illness a couple of years back. It will be fun to have young tigers to watch.
September 14th, 2006 at 11:39 am
I don’t know how you guys do it. Your jobs are incredible and you’re so lucky to be working with such beautiful and precious animals, but to care for them, love them, and then have to let them go – I don’t think I could do it. Thank heaven we have people like you who can – it definitely takes a very special person.
Thank you all!!!!! And be sure to give the brothers a little pat on the head for me before they go!!
September 14th, 2006 at 8:43 pm
Sorry to see the boys go… =( But happy to hear that they will have each other. They will be missed !!!
September 18th, 2006 at 8:40 am
Bridget, your blogs have made us all feel very close to Mata and Rimba, and we are all going to miss them sorely. If their new keepers in West Palm Beach do get in touch with you, I hope you will pass on to us any news of how our boys are adjusting to their new world. Many, many thanks!
January 12th, 2007 at 6:39 am
what is with the lion lifting up a log????????????????????????????
signed:unknown boy!!!
Moderator’s note: The tiger is playing with a log hanging from a tree, a form of enrichment.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:31 am
animals should not e in zoos