Endangered tiger kills mate at London Zoo
A MALE tiger mauled its intended mate to death at London Zoo just minutes after being put in the same paddock.
Asim, a seven-year-old male Sumatran tiger, killed 10-year-old Melati yesterday after being shipped over from a safari park in Denmark 10 days earlier as part of a breeding programme.
A zoo spokesman said: “The two tigers were in adjoining enclosures, where they could see, smell and react to each other before being brought together.
“Following careful monitoring of the tigers’ reactions to each other, zoo experts had observed obvious positive signs and felt it was the right time to introduce Asim and Melati.
“Their introduction began as predicted, but quickly escalated into a more aggressive interaction. Staff immediately implemented their prepared response, using loud noises, flares and alarms to try and distract the pair, but Asim had already overpowered Melati.
“Zookeepers were eventually able to secure Asim in a separate paddock so that they could safely get to Melati where our vets confirmed that she had sadly died. Everyone here is devastated by the loss of Melati and we are heartbroken. Our focus right now is on caring for Asim, as we get through this difficult event.”
Asim was matched with Melati through the European Endangered Species Programme for Sumatran tigers, which is coordinated by ZSL London Zoo in a bid to save the species.