The world marks International Tiger Day on July 29. In celebration of these big cats and to help people understand them better, the National Zoological Garden of South Africa (NZG) in Pretoria has shared some interesting facts about tigers in general, and the tiger resident at the zoo in particular:
Tigers are not indigenous to South Africa. This means they do not occur here naturally (like lions, leopards and cheetahs do). But they are fascinating and beautiful animals, and the zoo’s tiger display is there so that people can understand and appreciate these big cats
The zoo’s resident tiger is a seven-year-old male named Zeus. He is named after the god of thunder in Greek mythology
When fully grown, tigers are the biggest of the big cats. An adult male tiger can weigh up to 290 kg. Adult male lions weigh up to 250kg. A male tiger’s paw measures around 15 cm across
Tigers are solitary creatures by nature and are rarely found in groups in the wild. So Zeus is perfectly happy being left to himself in his NZG enclosure
Most tigers are a golden, tawny yellow/brown with black stripes. Interestingly, the skin of the tiger is also striped, replicating the stripes seen on the fur.
A very small number of tigers are white with very pale creamy-coloured stripes. This peculiarity is a result of genetic mutation. White tigers are not, contrary to popular belief, a distinct species of tiger. They are Bengal or Siberian tigers with leucism (a rare colour mutation). Leucism occurs as a result of a recessive gene that causes a partial lack of pigmentation (i.e. colour) of the skin and fur. Total lack of pigmentation is called albinism, a different condition to leucism. While rare, leucism is also seen in birds and some reptiles (most notably in snakes)
A comprehensive set of measures has been put in place at the NZG to ensure the safety of Zeus, his keepers and the public. These include:
A double locking system on his enclosure
A daycare facility where Zeus is kept while his enclosure is being cleaned. Tigers are naturally very curious and like to see what's going on around them. So Zeus has full view from the daycare facility of his enclosure while it is being cleaned
Constant CCTV monitoring of the enclosure.
This is so that NZG staff know every minute of the day (and night) what Zeus is doing and where he is
Zeus is weighed regularly to make sure he’s in optimal health
He’s dewormed every three months. Tick and flea repellents are applied regularly to his coat
Zeus has a special tiger bed: a raised platform so that he does not have to sleep on the concrete floor. The floor gets chilly (especially in winter) and tigers are prone to arthritis
Food is carefully chosen for Zeus to make sure he is well nourished and thrives. Bony cuts of meat are carefully chosen to make sure he does not damage his teeth attempting to get to the bone marrow
Zeus eats around 6kg to 8kg of fresh, raw meat every second day. He’s fed on alternate days so that he doesn’t become fat. In the wild, tigers hunt for their food, which is hard work that demands a lot of energy. In zoos, they don’t need to hunt at all, so zoos around the world moderate the diets of tigers (and other big cats) to make sure they stay in tip-top shape
The 2m pole in Zeus’s enclosure is an enrichment pole. His favourite treats are placed at the top of the pole and he needs to jump to reach them. This keeps him stimulated and, as a bonus, is fantastic entertainment for zoo visitors who are amazed to see Zeus easily clear 2m to reach the treats
Elephant dung is often placed in the enclosure. All tigers love the scent of dung and enjoy rolling about in it.