Rescued tiger cub to be moved to sanctuary
A tiger cub who was rescued from an illegal private owner and brought to the Oakland Zoo suffering from multiple fractures has recuperated to the point of being cleared for release to a big-cat sanctuary, officials said.
“She is mobile, she’s strong, she’s playful, and we’re all optimistic for her recovery,” said Dr. Alex Herman, vice president of veterinary services at the Oakland Zoo.
When the 8-month-old animal was brought in Feb. 20 by Oakland Zoo officials, acting as agents of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, she was barely able to walk. An exam revealed 10 pathological fractures — in which the bone breaks due to lack of calcium in the diet — and associated chronic injuries that were unable to heal properly due to malnutrition.
Named Lily by Oakland Zoo members in an online poll, the cub underwent a CT scan under general anesthesia to determine the extent of her injuries, the most severe being a fractured right femur that gave her a very weak gait.
“Because her calcium was so low and her bones so soft, we couldn’t fix the fracture in her leg when she first came to us,” said Herman. “All we could do at that point was keep her comfortable.”
After a month of recuperation, a second CT scan was performed Monday to gauge the strength in her bones. Results are not yet known, but Herman said they should not prevent Lily’s transfer to the sanctuary, which is scheduled to happen April 8.
“Overall, her health has much improved,” Herman said. “The bones are recalcifying, and the fracture in her back right leg has continued to heal. We are hoping she doesn’t need surgery.”
A big-cat support team that includes three vets, four nurses and two hospital keepers at the Oakland Zoo is teaming up with additional vets from state agencies, along with vets representing the sanctuary, in order to facilitate Lily’s transition from hospital care to her permanent home.
During her month in the Oakland Zoo’s veterinary hospital, she has gained 10 pounds, now weighing 84 pounds. When fully grown, she should weigh 300 pounds.
“She is still a kid, but she is a big cat,” Herman said. “We don’t share space with her.”
Herman said she could not identify the sanctuary that will be Lily’s next home due to ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the tiger.
Herman declined to comment specifically on Lily’s background but said that wild animals are sometimes held in captivity to create photo opportunities for paying customers.
“A lot of the tigers in the wildlife trade are used for social media photo opportunities, which can cause very poor welfare,” she said. “These are wild animals, and if they can’t live in the wild, they need to be in accredited institutions.”