Just say No

Ok, I looked up the real reasons the tigers are so tame. Here are excerpts from www.tigerkingdom.com/Home.htm

There are 8 sub-species of tiger, three of which are now extinct.

There are only 4 cats that can roar; these are the lion, the leopard, the jaguar and the tiger. A tigers roar can be heard 2 km away.

A group of tigers is called a ‘streak’.

Zoos and parks such as Tiger Kingdom are an essential part of the conservation of the tiger. Here we ensure the continuation of the species as well as providing a broad genetic base for future generations of tiger.

Approach the tigers from behind, that way they do not think you want to play.

Why are the tigers so tame? -- The tigers are all hand reared here at Tiger Kingdom. They are used to people and see us as one of their family. In the wild the tigers spend most of the day sleeping, they do the same here. That is why they are so relaxed when you go and see them. None of the tigers at Tiger Kingdom are drugged.

What do the tigers eat? The new born tigers are fed bottled milk and are then introduced to meat when they are about 2 months old. They will then continue to have milk to supplement the meat. The older tigers all eat meat, they are fed chicken twice daily.

How long do tigers live? In the wild tigers can live to 15 years old. In captivity they can live to 20 years old.

What happens to the adult tigers when they leave Tiger Kingdom? Tiger Kingdom is a partner of Ubon Zoo and the animals that are bred here go there or to other zoos.

What about the babies? A female tiger is pregnant for approximately 103 days. The mother can have a litter of between 3 to 6 cubs, and when the cubs are born they weigh 1 kg and are born blind.

Do the tigers bite? The tigers at Tiger Kingdom are hand reared and are very well trained. But they are still wild animals and so need to be respected. The tigers are often playful and may want to play with you. They do play rough though and so could bite when they are playing.

Is it dangerous? The tigers do not want to hunt you or to hurt you. The staff are very well trained and are there to help you as well as to look after the tigers. Their main job is to ensure your safety.

Are the tigers well looked after? Here at Tiger Kingdom the welfare of the tigers is our primary concern. We look after their physical health as well as ensuring that they are mentally stimulated.

Dave & Suzi (Tiger Kingdom’s volunteers)