This 300lb, 20-month-old male tiger comes to the Tallahassee Museum from the Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation in Gainesville, FL. The Foundation is primarily a conservation and education site, as well as a rescue facility for exotic animals in need.
Bengal tigers are native to the Indian subcontinent. All tigers- including Bengals- are critically endangered in the wild due to poaching, habitat loss, and fragmented populations.
"Tigers in captivity can live up to 30 years," says Mike Jones, Animal Curator at the Tallahassee Museum. "Their life-span in the wild is, sadly, much shorter. When we have endangered animals such as the Bengal tiger at the Museum, we have an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast the tiger with native endangered species, such as Florida panthers. This is a learning opportunity for the community about conservation, the environment and humans' effect on it."
Tigers eat a variety of large game in the wild; at the Museum, the Bengal will feast on an 8lb complete daily diet of chicken, meats, and other big-cat feed needs.
"This particular tiger is extremely active and curious," says Jones. "You are invited to see this first-hand the day after Thanksgiving!"
The exhibit opens to the public on Friday, November 23rd at 9am. The Bengal tiger will be housed at the Tallahassee Museum through mid-March 2013. The Bengal tiger exhibit is included in general Museum admission ($9 adults, $8.50 seniors and college students with a valid ID, $6 children ages 4-15, free children ages 3 and under), and is free for Museum members.
Sponsored by the Cat Life Foundation |
