Horror at London Zoo
Keepers helpless as tiger mauls his new mate to death when they meet for the first time
A CRITICALLY endangered tiger was mauled to death at London Zoo by a potential mate when they were introduced for the first time yesterday.
Melati the Sumatran tiger was killed by male Asim, who had been transferred to the zoo 11 days ago in the hope the pair would breed.
The tigers had been in adjoining enclosures since January 29 so they could get to know each other through sight and smell before keepers decided it was time for them to meet face-to-face.
Despite early positive signs, the meeting quickly ‘escalated into a more aggressive interaction’, a spokesman for London Zoo said.
Keepers making loud noises and using flares and alarms tried to halt Asim’s attack but when he was eventually separated from ten-year-old Melati and removed to another paddock she had already died.
A week ago the zoo’s head tiger keeper Kathryn Sanders had said seven-year-old Asim, which means ‘protector’ in Arabic, could be the ‘perfect mate’ for Melati, adding: ‘Asim is a handsome, confident cat who is known for being very affectionate with the ladies in his life.’ It had been hoped the meeting could lead to the ‘pitter patter of tiny tiger paws’.
The tragedy took place in the zoo’s £3million Tiger Territory exhibit at around 11.30am.
It had been closed to the public while the tigers were introduced, but it is understood distraught keepers witnessed the attack.
Asim arrived from a Danish safari park last month as part of a Europe- wide breeding programme, with the zoo’s previous male tiger, Jae Jae, moving to Le Parc des Felins, in Paris, to breed.
A spokesman for the Zoological Society of London, London Zoo, said: ‘As with all big cats, introductions, however carefully planned, are always considered to be high risk.
‘The two tigers were in separate paddocks and the adjoining door was opened to allow them to meet. Asim approached Melati and, as expected by keepers, the two tigers were initially cautious. Their introduction began as predicted, but quickly escalated into a more aggressive interaction. Zoo staff immediately implemented their prepared response … but Asim had already overpowered Melati.
‘Everyone is devastated by the loss of Melati, and we are heartbroken by this turn of events.’
A London Zoo source said Asim had injured his paw and would be monitored closely. ‘Asim won’t be put down,’ the source added.
Melati gave birth to a cub in 2013 but it drowned aged only twoand-a-half weeks. In March 2014 she gave birth to three cubs.
‘Everyone is devastated’