Zoo plAying mAtChmAker in quest for tiger CuBs
Breeding program sees potential in tall cat from Quebec, older Calgary female
Meet Youri, a five-year-old big cat bachelor. He’s tall, strong and has a chiselled jawline. He sports luscious long, orange, black and white fur and is ever-so-handsome. He’s also never had kids — yet. Rawr.
However, the Calgary Zoo is looking to change his parenthood status. Zookeepers are hoping he’ll attract the affection of almost seven-year-old Sarma, who is single and ready to mingle.
The Amur tiger arrived at the zoo about a month ago from Zoo de Granby in Quebec through a breeding recommendation for the Species Survival Plan.
“The SSP is like this lovely dating system,” said Barb Campbell, lead zookeeper of the Calgary Zoo’s Eurasia exhibit.
“They genetically look at the captive population of tigers and they make recommendations.”
The plan ensures the gene pool of captive tigers is continuously fluid so one tiger’s genes doesn’t become over-represented.
Youri’s dating profile describes him as a “beautiful animal” and “very majestic.” He’s also a “young whippersnapper.”
“He’s one of the largest tigers I’ve ever seen,” said Campbell of a breed that can weigh as much as 320 kilograms.
Keepers have been slowly introducing him to Katja, the zoo’s oldest female who is less intense than Sarma, through a mesh fence between the two enclosures.
Down the road, the aim is to have Youri and Katja in the same enclosure together and introduce Sarma to Youri sometime between October and April, when breeding tends to be the strongest.
“Then you would have the cubs in the spring,” said Campbell.
The last time the zoo had tiger cubs was when Katja had three in 2012.
There are some very specific signs that indicate when a female is ready to mingle with a male, which usually starts with caterwauling.
“They rub against the mesh and their tail is flagging and they’ll throw themselves onto the ground and roll around just like a house cat,” said Campbell. “They get very flirtatious and they call and they make eyes at the male.”
Campbell added Youri is more frequently on display for zoo visitors in the east courtyard.
“He’s only been here for a month so we’re still getting him used to being mesh-to-mesh with the girls and then soon we’re hoping to have him in the main exhibit.”
Depending on recommendations from the survival plan, said Campbell, it’s possible Youri will stay at the zoo for the duration of his life.
It is estimated there are fewer than 600 Amur (or Siberian) tigers left in the wild.