Another's Arms

Photo taken in August 2016 @ Landgoed Hoenderdaell, The Netherlands

What kind of photo is this? you might wonder.
Well, it's quite innovative, as I haven't seen it in any other Dutch zoo, and I don't know if foreign zoos have it either. The zoos works together with a foundation that ofers a new home for big cats held in too small enclosures by private owners, and takes in former circus animals. They all have their own outdoors and indoors enclosures, but they also rotate in a large space indoors. This year, they put in a hunting simulator.
Now, you may think this is to make the animals perform to the pleasure of the visitors. It is not.
The cats do not rely on the bit of food - it's more a snack, than anything else - and they don't have to hunt it. The simulation will actually only last a few minutes, because that's about the burst of energy a big cat will put in a good hunt. One cat will hunt the meat more than the other, but they're not forced to.
Of course, many people still expect a show, but it's as much for the animal's daily exercise and to activate its hunting proclivities (as the young cats are destined to be released to the wild), though of course it helps that people want to see it.

This is Goha, a Siberian Tiger. She was born in 2002 and lived at a circus before she came here. She loves people, being near them, and is pretty easy to handle considering she's a large cat of considerable girth. She didn't really want to go in, preferred to stay close to the keepers but she could do with the exercise.
She only really made a few half-hearted attempts (to some people's dismayed disappointment) but she's really big and impressive so really, she didn't need to do much of anything. Seeing her lunch and reach out - catching it in the end even though the meat wouldn't let go at first... Well, it was a sight to behold and made my expectations of the simulator more than true

Here are more shots of Goha batting for her snack.


We didin't really know how to handle the photography conditions inside, so you will notice some irregularities and hardships like the obvious moments in these photos.

Species: Siberian or Amur Tiger (Siberische of Amoer Tijger)

Latin name: Panthera Tigris Altaica

Originates from Russia.

Current status: Endangered

 Did you know:  

…The Siberian Tiger counts as the largest living Felid, and ranks amongst the biggest Felids to have ever existed.

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