Orana Wildlife Park Welcome Back Sumatran Tigers

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 22, 2020 3:25 pm

Reggie the Sumatran tiger during his time at Australia Zoo

Photo Credit: Australia Zoo

Orana Wildlife Park has welcomed a new group of tigers with Scout and Reggie making the move from Australia Zoo to the park on New Zealand’s South Island. The stunning Sumatran tigers are the only tigers to live in the south island of New Zealand.

Reggie and Scout are both four years old. They made the move from Australia to Christchurch just over a week ago and have now completed their quarantine meaning they will go on display today.

Orana’s Exotic Species Manager, Rachael Mason, says her team is very excited to work with the new arrivals: “Scout and Reggie are beautiful animals. They are very chatty cats, greeting their keepers with a friendly, distinctive tiger chuff. We’ve also seen them cuddling together and grooming each other, positive signs that they are relaxed. They have settled in well and now it is time to let them explore their new outdoor surroundings.”

Scout the tiger when he lived at Australia Zoo

Photo Credit: Australia Zoo

“Our team is delighted to welcome tigers back to Orana. Our last elderly tiger (Dumai) sadly passed away in February, so we have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of these two boisterous young boys. We have completed a range of upgrades to our tiger habitat, opened in 2006, including erecting new platforms, climbing structures and updating the water features for the benefit of the cats.”

The Sumatran tigers housed at Orana Wildlife Park are part of the Zoo Aquarium Association Australasia’s breeding program for the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. Only 500 of these cats survive in the wild. Threats faced by the tiger include habitat loss, illegal trade and loss of prey items.

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“Reggie and Scout will be amazing ambassadors for their wild cousins. They will help Orana raise funds for Wild Cats Conservation Alliance, directly contributing to wild tiger conservation, whilst also highlighting the plight of wild tigers and how visitors can help address palm oil deforestation to conserve these magnificent big cats.”

“It is wonderful to have a very positive end to such a tricky year. This is a perfect early Christmas present for our team and I am sure visitors will adore meeting and learning about these magnificent cats,” concludes Rachael.