Tomsd

Was at Safari Park (formerly called the Wild Animal Park) yesterday - for a day of SD Zoo/Safari Park volunteer training - prior to the new Tiger Trial being opened to the public later this month.

For those of you who used to take the old tram - and then try to see the Tiger as the tram went by their enclosure - if you were lucky - you might see a tail twitching in the brush - this is a completely different experience.

It's now an area/trail - off the Condor Ridge - made possible by a generous donation from the Tull family - and the total cost was about $19.5 million and took about 18 months to complete.

There are three separate new "yards" - an acre each - where the six Samatran Tigers will be hanging out.

Yesterday - we were privileged to first see the breeding male -Teddy - who is 10 yrs young and was received from the Fort Wayne Zoo in a cooperative breeding program among the accredited Zoos - and he is in fine fettle with his big white Ruff (mane) and long whiskers/"Vibrissa".

Utan - the former breeding male - really did his job - and set a record by spawning a pair of males/brothers - when he was 21 years old and may he RIP.

In the next yard are the two-three year old brothers (sons of Utan) - who are just picture perfect and the only way you can tell these magnificent guys apart is that Conrad is a wee bit bigger than Thomas - and Conrad also has a darker stripe running down the middle of his forehead.

And our guide/keeper - Lori - also took us behind the scenes to their "apartments" - which have ""howdy" windows - steel wire see-through "windows" in the pens - the so the Tigers can greet/see each other when the Tigers stay off-exhibit.

Lori hand fed (small chunks of meat that fit through the steel wire mesh) treats to the two beautiful sisters - Juann and Majel - who are 4 years old - and they proudly walked up and down the walkway - curiously eyeballing us - as we are really about the first "visitors".

The older breeding female - Delta - who is 16 and has had 4 litters - is still not that comfortable in the new enclosure - or else she feels as the resident Queen - she did not have to make an appearance for us?

Anyhow - if you come to San Diego - I am confident you too will be very amazed with the new Tiger Trail at Safari Park. It's designed to show why these big powerful cats are Critically Endangered in the wild - as in the island of Sumatra - off the southern end of Malaysia - they have lost half of their rain forests in the last 30 years - and only 300 of these beauties remain in the wild there and about the same number in zoos.

If they lose their rain forest and other similar habitat - they can't have the food (primarily Sambar Deer - but Tigers are very adaptable) - and shelter that they need to survive.

Tigers are also prized in Eastern Medicine for their various body parts - so poaching has also been a big problem..

Other Tiger populations/sub-species are suffering worldwide too - and there are only about 3,000 Tigers in total left in the wild - which includes the Amur/Siberian (the biggest) - to the north of Asia, Bengal Tigers in India, the South China Tiger - which has all but been wiped out in the wild as it was declared a "pest" in the early 50's - and eradicated, and the Malayasian and IndoChinese Tigers.

Three sub-species are completely gone/extinct - which are the Bali, Java and Caspian.

In closing - please enjoy coming out to see these Tigers and other great animals at the Safari Park - and also the Malay Tigers at the SD Zoo - and you are helping provide for their survival by visiting us.

Tomsd

Forgot to add - the SD Zoo/Safari park cooperates with several Tiger preservation programs throughout the world - and also work in conjunction with the International Rhino Foundation - as both these animals (and other endangered mammals, birds, amphibs) can live in the same habitats and are facing similar challenges for survival.

sharona

Thanks Tomsd for the update on the new tiger exhibit. I was at the Safari Park last summer and was very disappointed the Tiger Trail wasn't yet finished. I'm not likely to get back that way anytime soon but I'll be sure to visit the Safari Park again when I do.

LSky

Tom, thanks! We were at the park a couple of weeks ago and talked about becoming members of the Zoo again. I'm glad you reminded me to re-up. It sounds great.

Tomsd

Think you will really enjoy it.

Now off again to the National Rose Show at the Town and Country Resort by Fashion Valley Shopping Center.

Open to the public starting at 1:30 pm on Sat and 9-5 on Sun.

See: www.arosefamilyholiday.com,

tchoiniere

Sounds like a great exhibit. I love the Safari Park and it is a great visit. Thanks for sharing!

Tomsd

U betcha. Even as one who has been to Safari Park for the last 30+ years - I think it is very impressive - and to see tigers - not one but several - up close and personal is just spectacular.