Pictured: The baby tigers who like nothing more than a daily dip in pool with female trainers

The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | October 20, 2008

[Stoat]

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Keeping their 200lb frames afloat takes quite a bit of effort, which is why their handlers join them in the water to keep a close eye on their progress.

 

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'Tigers have a natural desire and ability to swim,' said Dr Bhagavan Antle, who set up the tiger pool at his animal park in South Carolina.
 

'It is rarely seen and we wanted to be able to present it to people so they could really
get the feel of that incredible beauty and grace that a tiger has in the water.
 

'Tigers have modified webbing between their toes that makes their feet like flippers and they are superior swimmers.
 

'Because of those attributes we thought it was something people would love so we built this custom-made pool to allow people to experience this unique behaviour.' 

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Although it is only advisable to swim with tigers up until they are a year old Dr Antle looks at each individual case when considering how close his trainers can remain to the tigers.

'It depends on the tiger, he said.

'I personally have had full-grown 15-year-old adult tigers that I swam with and adult ligers [cross between a lion and tiger]. But that is me and I wouldn't put my staff at the same risk.

'We will allow the tigers to swim with the handlers as they mature but we have to monitor each one on its own merits.'

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[Doohickey]

Not guilty.

[Larry Lucido]

Well, considering the company, why wouldn’t they? :-)

[PLMerite]

“Keeping their 200lb frames afloat takes quite a bit of effort, which is why their handlers join them in the water to keep a close eye on their progress.”

The tigers have to work harder to keep their heads above water because they don’t have the built-in floatation devices the women do.

Hubba hubba.

[Lx]

[rednesss]

If they happen to have a little Mississippi Leg Hound in them, if they get started, it’s best to just let them finish.

[Kimmers]

Thank you for the must needed break from the political stuff..... I love the big cats !!!!

[Terry Mross]

I’m with the tigers. I’d like nothing more than to swim with them either.

[Jimmy Valentine]

"Tyger tyger, burning bright, in the forests of the night

What immortal hand or eye dare frame thy fearful symmetry".

Some one whose monthly arrives a little early will get a lesson on what a tiger's teeth are all about.

[Stoat]

Thank you for the must needed break from the political stuff..... I love the big cats !!!!

You're quite welcome and I'm delighted that you've enjoyed the thread  :-)

One could say, however, that this is politically-related because we will soon have an Alaskan 'lady tiger' in the White House  :-)

 

[Stoat]

An “Alaskan Tigress” is what I really should have said :-)

[MilspecRob]

Great Pic, but I like the bikini one better for some reason

[Kimmers]

Indeed....I am pleased there is someone else that believes there will be a female VP in the white house.

[Stoat]

Indeed....I am pleased there is someone else that believes there will be a female VP in the white house.

Have you found a significant number of FReepers to be of the opinion that this will not be the case?

As to a person's gender or ethnicity, I couldn't care less...I care about things like integrity, patriotism, decisiveness and an excellent track record, which Governor Palin has in spades and I've 'generally' found most FReepers to be of a similar perspective.  If your experience here has been different then I confess that this makes me rather sad.  Her long upcoming tenure in the White House will prove naysayers wrong.

[BenLurkin]

Love the moon tans!

[Kimmers]

Thank you for the wake up call. I think I tend to remember the posts than the replies...... and I have talked a whole lot of politics today.

Thankfully we have forums like Free Republic that help negotiate us through the liberal haze.

[China Clipper]

'Tigers have a natural desire and ability to swim,' said Dr Bhagavan Antle

Gosh these people are IDIOTS!!! Tigers have a natural desire to EAT YOU!!!!!
Why do people try to think these animals are anything but natural predators?!?!?!?!
Please don't anyone post the inevitable post that says "Tigers maul bikini-clad trainer"
Can't happen? Ask Sigfield and Roy. That's what they said too. (grumble grumble......ARGH!!)

[Stoat]

I think I tend to remember the posts than the replies...... and I have talked a whole lot of politics today.

A great many threads here will be derived from articles that are hysterically and apoplectically critical of  anyone or anything that is at all to the Right of Karl Marx. ....and although they do have their value in illustrating the lowbrow and entirely failed thinking of the Left, reading a lot of them can indeed put a dark cloud over one's head that doesn't necessarily need to be there.

You are doing the right thing in taking an occasional break to revel in the majesty of a few of God's cuter creatures :-)

Thankfully we have forums like Free Republic that help negotiate us through the liberal haze.
 

I believe that we would have had Gore and Kerry as Presidents if it had not been for Free Republic.  The evils of Socialism are a continual threat and Free Republic is one of our great nation's better defenses against it.

I think I tend to remember the posts than the replies...... and I have talked a whole lot of politics today.

A great many threads here will be derived from articles that are hysterically and apoplectically critical of  anyone or anything that is at all to the Right of Karl Marx. ....and although they do have their value in illustrating the lowbrow and entirely failed thinking of the Left, reading a lot of them can indeed put a dark cloud over one's head that doesn't necessarily need to be there.

You are doing the right thing in taking an occasional break to revel in the majesty of a few of God's cuter creatures :-)

Thankfully we have forums like Free Republic that help negotiate us through the liberal haze.
 

I believe that we would have had Gore and Kerry as Presidents if it had not been for Free Republic.  The evils of Socialism are a continual threat and Free Republic is one of our great nation's better defenses against it.

[Islaminaction]

I love animals, cats, snakes, lizards. The more exotic the better.

[capn dino]

Yea, the tigers are cute,,,,but get em out of the pool, and let me jump in. I would like a daily dip in the pool with female trainers too.

[IrishBlue06]

Are you one of those Furries I’ve heard about ??? heehee