At six and a half weeks old the Cougar Mtn. Zoo’s newest additions are cute, but don’t call them cuddly. Two Bengal tiger cubs are now calling the zoo home, after arriving two weeks ago. The brothers, one royal white and the other a more traditional black and orange, will one day one join the zoo’s older Bengal’s Taj and Almos in the outdoor enclosure, but for now they are getting used to their new surroundings. The orange cub was the first born of the litter, and is larger than his brother, weighing in at 17 pounds. Next Wednesday, July 22, the cubs will be moving outside to the Magic Forest for longer periods at specific times.
Robyn Barfoot, the zoo’s curator, said the facility where the tigers are kept was originally built for four animals so the plan all along has been to get two more, but finding a litter with the males of the different colors can prove challenging. The cubs were born at a zoo in Arizona.
After only a week at the zoo the cubs have begun to show their unique personalities, said Barfoot. The orange cub was the first born of the litter, and is larger than his brother, weighing in at 17 pounds. She said he’s more laid back, but when the mood strikes he’ll play hard.
The royal white cub, is a little smaller at 15 pounds, but he’s the more mischievous of the two, said Barfoot. But, she said, when he wants to be sweet he will cuddle up to whoever is around, but “you’re always waiting for him to bite”.
The zoo is keeping the cubs behind the scenes, expect for a daily showing to the public to help get them used to being around people. The zoo’s trainers are hand raising the cubs, making sure they establish healthy relationships with the trainers and learning what Barfoot called “healthy tiger etiquette”, basically teaching the tigers how to act, and assuming the parental role.
“That way they respect us,” said Barfoot. “They’re learning the hierarchy.”
The zoo has four people working with the cubs behind the scenes to get them ready for life in the zoo.
“They are doing fantastically,” said Barfoot. “They are super healthy and we’re looking forward to getting them out and comfortable with the public.”
The zoo’s facility for the tigers has two separate enclosures, phase I and phase II. This will allow the cubs, once they are older, to be out on display, but keeps them away from the older tigers. Barfoot said it will be a long time until the zoo even considers introducing Taj and Almos to the cubs.
“It takes about 2 1/2 years for tigers to reach their full weight,” she said. Once they are a little older the cubs will move into the phase I enclosure, separate from the older two, but they will be able to smell and see their bigger zoo mates.
“They will always be around them, so they will grow up with them,” said Barfoot. One day if the zoo feels the duos are ready they will take steps to introduce them, and while they hope the four will be able to inhabit the same area, it may not work.
“You never know with tigers,” said Barfoot. Until then, thanks to the separate enclosures all four tigers will be on display.
Barfoot said public response has been great and that the zoo loves having the public participation because it’s the people who make it all possible.
The cubs do not currently have official names, said Barfoot, but they are asking zoo visitors for help on that front. Visitors are able to pick up a comment sheet and suggest names for the cubs, which the zoo will take into consideration.
Next Wednesday, July 22, the cubs will be moving outside to the Magic Forest for longer periods at specific times. For more information on the zoo visit www.cougarmountainzoo.org.
