The tiger cubs take time out to rest after playing together at Fresno Chaffee Zoo on Dec. 8, 2014.
Posted on 12/08/2014 8:11:57 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
Like most moms, Mek needs a break.
The mother of the four fast-growing Malayan tiger cubs at Fresno Chaffee Zoo has frayed nerves and needs some space.
“You can tell Mek has had it,” says Lyn Myers, assistant curator for mammals at the zoo. “It’s like the end of summer, when kids have been home all the time, and mom wants school to come. They’re ready for them to go.”
Born Jan. 5 at the zoo, the cubs are now 11 months old. They are in good health and are receiving training from zoo officials to become more independent. They continue to pack on the pounds. Berani, a male, is up to 117 pounds.
But Mek is a basket case at times.
In the wild, tiger moms can separate themselves from their cubs by going on hunts and returning with food for them.
“In captivity, they are in an enclosure, and they can’t separate as much,” Myers says. “They get sick and tired of each other.”
(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...
The tiger cubs take time out to rest after playing together at Fresno Chaffee Zoo on Dec. 8, 2014.
Kitteh ping!
I remember one April school vacation in the late 1980’s where it rained everyday.
I know how she feels
I love the Fresno Zoo. I contributed when Ray Appleton and folks were raising funds. I think for a town (a city really) the size of Fresno to have the kind of facility they have is outstanding.
Thanks for the ping. Even though the article is about BIG CATS reaching a point of enough already Mrs. RQSR, and I were just talking about the fact all the cats we’ve captured with their kittens reached a point the little ones were on their own. Momma cat kicked their behinders, and said no more, except for one “family” we have living in the garage for about three years.
“Boots”, and her two offspring “Cooter”, and “Scooter”. That would be “Boots, Coots, and Scoots”. These three are inseparable, and never seem to tire of one another. We believe it must be the fact that “Boots” was just a little kitten herself when she had her two kittens, and they all grew up together. They chase, and play together as though they are all still kittens at just over three years.
Thank you for the story. They sound like a sweet kitty family.
I haven’t been to the Fresno Zoo for years, but I remember collecting nickels as a 3rd grader to purchase Nosy Rosie, Fresno Zoo’s first elephant. There also was a contest to name the little one.
It seems like just about 5 years ago that I read that an elephant rescue farm had put Rosie down because she had grown too dangerous to keep. So sad.
Thanks for posting this. I had no idea Fresno had such a fine zoo nor that they have four tiger cubs. Wish I’d learned this a lot sooner.
I just found that the Fresno Bee paper has posted a lot of tiger cub videos on YouTube. You can watch the cubs grow in the different videos. Just amazing to see them about hand-size only 8 or 9 months ago!
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