A tiger from a critically endangered group was killed by a potential mate at the London Zoo.
The female Sumatran tiger’s enclosure was set up next to a male Sumatran tiger’s enclosure so that the zoo could later put the two tigers together. But after they were introduced into the same space on Feb. 8, their interactions became aggressive after an initially cautious approach to each other, according to the London Zoo’s website.
Zoo staff had been carefully watching the two and thought they could breed as part of a conservation program for Sumatran tigers, according to Fox News.
#DYK, a #tiger’s rough tongue is covered with sharp projections called papillae, which come in handy for stripping meat, fur and feathers from prey ???? #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/qiN2Xeyoo8
— ZSL London Zoo (@zsllondonzoo) December 9, 2018
When zoo staff noticed what was going on, they tried to distract the tigers with flares, alarms, and loud sounds, they even tried to use water hoses to separate the two, according to the London Zoo website. Eventually, the tigers were separated but by then, the female tiger Melati was dead.
Today our beloved Sumatran tigress Melati died while being introduced to new male Asim for the first time. Everyone at ZSL London Zoo is heartbroken by this turn of events. Tiger Territory will remain closed while our team focus on caring for Asim: https://t.co/KAoW0rziPN pic.twitter.com/CHcVKKMdz4
— ZSL London Zoo (@zsllondonzoo) February 8, 2019
“Today our beloved Sumatran tigress Melati died while being introduced to new male Asim for the first time. Everyone at ZSL London Zoo is heartbroken by this turn of events. Tiger Territory will remain closed while our team focus on caring for Asim,” the zoo wrote in a tweet.
A tranquilizer shot would not have been effective, due to the amount of time needed for it to work and the difficulty of hitting the correct tiger with the shot, according to the London Zoo.
The zoo acknowledged that there is a risk of danger in this process.
“As with all big cats, introductions, however carefully planned, are always considered to be high risk,” the zoo said.
Jumping into the #weekend like… #FridayMotivation #FridayFeeling #ZooLife pic.twitter.com/8FQFiut3DG
— ZSL London Zoo (@zsllondonzoo) January 25, 2019
The male tiger, Asim, was a newcomer to the zoo. He had been brought to the zoo at the end of January. He had previously resided in Denmark. The zoo thought Asim was a likable animal.
“We learned that he adores chicken and loves to play, particularly by pouncing on piles of empty boxes sprayed with strong scents such as herbs and spices,” said zookeepers, via Sky News.
Meet our latest arrival ❤️ Seven-year-old Asim, whose name means ‘Protector’ in Arabic, has moved from @ReeParkSafari. He’s been busy exploring his territory – we’ve spotted him lounging on his heated rocks and dipping his paws in his new pool! https://t.co/naH2dO8sKU #ZooLife pic.twitter.com/v2U8i2T436
— ZSL London Zoo (@zsllondonzoo) January 30, 2019
The zoo had high hopes for the potential mating pair.
“Asim is a handsome, confident cat who is known for being very affectionate with the ladies in his life—we’re hoping he’ll be the perfect mate for our beautiful Melati.”
The optimistic outlook continued as the two tigers became acquainted for 10 days living in adjacent enclosures. From there, they could see each other and get used to each other’s smell.
Meet @ZSLLondonZoo’s new Sumatran tiger Asim who arrived yesterday from @ReeParkSafari & is already cheerfully exploring his new territory. Asim was matched with resident female Melati through the European Endangered Species Programme for the species, coordinated by ZSL experts. pic.twitter.com/Ex8DiztAqZ
— Dominic Jermey (@DomJermey) January 30, 2019
“It’s early days but we’ve already seen some good signs—there has been lots of ‘chuffing,’ which is a happy sound they make to let each other know they have good intentions. It’s fantastic to see that they’re interested in each other already,” said the zoo, via Sky News.
The zoo has since closed its tiger section.
“Our team are focussed on caring for Asim,” the team wrote on the London Zoo’s website. “He sustained a minor injury during the altercation and is being treated by our vets.”
