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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
Posted on 10/20/2008 2:30:51 PM PDT by Stoat
(edit)
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.
(edit)
'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.'
(edit)
(edit)
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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(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: babytigers; cuteness; extremecuteness; swimming; swimmingbabytigers; swimmingtigers; tiger; tigers; vikingbabes; vikingkitties
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To: Stoat; Slings and Arrows; Glenn; republicangel; Bahbah; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; ...
41
posted on
10/20/2008 10:02:22 PM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
("Poisoning the customers is bad for business." --Quark, *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*)
To: neb52
42
posted on
10/20/2008 10:12:54 PM PDT
by
neb52
To: Slings and Arrows; nw_arizona_granny; Fred Nerks; yefragetuwrabrumuy; Jack Deth
Cute, cute overload.
43
posted on
10/20/2008 10:18:34 PM PDT
by
LucyT
To: LucyT
Mommy, is it true I was adopted?
44
posted on
10/20/2008 10:39:18 PM PDT
by
Fred Nerks
(FAIR DINKUM)
To: Slings and Arrows
45
posted on
10/21/2008 3:03:52 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(The most terrifying words in the English langauge are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.)
To: Stoat
I agree ...
46
posted on
10/21/2008 3:10:21 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(The most terrifying words in the English langauge are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.)
To: Daffynition
Ah, that must be a tiger prawn.
47
posted on
10/21/2008 4:39:16 AM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
("Poisoning the customers is bad for business." --Quark, *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*)
To: Stoat
Beautiful animals...it’s amazing how they like water....
48
posted on
10/21/2008 5:29:48 AM PDT
by
Fawn
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhYampIl7A)
To: China Clipper
In India they have a saying that is roughly “man who raises tigers has habit of disappearing.”
49
posted on
10/21/2008 5:40:27 AM PDT
by
allmendream
(White Dog Democrat: A Democrat who will not vote for 0bama because he's black.)
To: Slings and Arrows
My favorite wild kitty as part of a news story. My Apple Mac computer runs OSX tiger, the operation system before the newer leopard. You said one time that all cats can swim, but I thought that only tigers love the water and can swim? Just wondering. =^..^=
50
posted on
10/21/2008 6:19:39 AM PDT
by
Biggirl
(Throw The Bums OUT!=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)
To: Slings and Arrows
...with lime jello for dessert.
51
posted on
10/21/2008 6:53:54 AM PDT
by
Daffynition
(The most terrifying words in the English langauge are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.)
To: Slings and Arrows; Lady Jag
To: Biggirl
AFAIK, all cats can swim,
even housecats. WRT liking it...besides tigers, Bengal cats are notoriously hydrophilic, and I seem to recall (but won't guarantee) that lions will chase prey through water. Beyond that, I don't know.
53
posted on
10/21/2008 10:40:00 AM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
("Poisoning the customers is bad for business." --Quark, *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*)
To: Joe 6-pack
Where are the tigers? LOL! My thoughts (lusts) exactly.
54
posted on
10/21/2008 4:08:34 PM PDT
by
LiberConservative
("Typical" white guy voting for Palin.)
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