Sibling tigers find new home
Born in a garden in Germany, Bela and Sharuk now cared for at Bethlehem sanctuary
TWO RESCUED tigers, both victims of inappropriate private keeping, have arrived at the FOUR PAWS project LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in Bethlehem.
Tigers Bela and Sharuk were born in 2014 in the garden of a private keeper in Germany.
Although private keeping of tigers is still allowed in some parts of Germany, the minimum prescribed keeping standards were not met and the veterinary authorities forced the owner to give up the siblings.
After a suitable solution could not be reached, FOUR PAWS offered support. Following check-ups by the state vet in Johannesburg, the tigers were cleared to travel to the sanctuary.
“Although it has been a very long journey, both tigers are doing well considering the conditions and have already had some species-appropriate food.
“Bela is still a bit insecure about her environment and will need more time to adapt. Sharuk, on the other hand, is confident and has already taken a splash in his pool,” said Hildegard Pirker, head of the animal welfare department at LIONSROCK.
“In the coming days, Bela and Sharuk will be kept in the feeding area of their enclosure to become accustomed to their new surroundings and caretakers,” she said.
“This is a very important part of their adaptation phase. We will monitor their behaviour and when the time is right, release them into the bigger part of their enclosure to roam, relax, hide or swim in their big pool,” Pirker continued.
The director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa, Fiona Miles, said the organisation was committed to giving the big cats the highest quality care and the dignified lives they deserved.
“Bela and Sharuk were born in a garden in Germany, a place where tigers clearly do not belong either.
“These animals were captive born, damaged by their past, are very sensitive to stress and can never go back to the wild. Instead, they need lifelong care.
“At LIONSROCK we provide them with a home that gives them the peace, safety and comfort in an environment that helps them feel more at ease,” Miles said.
“Both tigers are doing well considering the conditions Hildegard Pirker LIONSROCK