Sumatran Tiger Has Health Check at Adelaide Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 1, 2021 11:45 pm

Vets conduct an health check on Sumatran tiger, Kembali at Adelaide Zoo’s Animal Health Centre

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

Adelaide Zoo have undertaken a health check on their seven-year-old Sumatran tiger, Kembali. He received a clean bill of health following a thorough examination by the team.

For the procedure Kembali was placed under a general anesthetic and taken to the zoo’s Animal Health Centre.

Adelaide Zoo Veterinarian, Dr David McLelland, said the team generally do a health check on bigger animals like Kembali every three years.

“He looked really good. His teeth looked great, we did X-rays of his spine, chest and abdomen and had a veterinary diagnostic imaging specialist come in to do an abdominal ultrasound and everything looked good,” he said.

Kembali came to Adelaide in mid 2018 from Hamilton Zoo where he was born in 2014.

— AD —

As part of the check, a semen sample was taken and tested by Repromed.

“During a general health check of a male tiger, in the scope of the broader breeding population, it is really valuable information for us to know he is in good reproductive health,” Dr McLelland said.

“His sample came back as good quality and was motile.”

Soon after his exam Kembali was returned to his enclosure where he has recovered well. As an extra treat he was provided a tasty meat cake.

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of the six tiger subspecies. They are also the last surviving subspecies of tiger in Indonesia. Over 100 years ago their population was estimated at 160,000 but has since declined to as low as 3,200.

They are affected by habitat loss and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. Habitat loss is fueled by deforestation to supply land which can be planted with oil palm. This produces an ingredient in many products in supermarkets.

Learn more about Sumatran Tigers here – Sumatran Tiger Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about Adelaide Zoo on their website – Adelaide Zoo

Vets conduct an health check on Sumatran tiger, Kembali at Adelaide Zoo’s Animal Health Centre

Photo Credit: Zoos SA