Wild Cat News 2005

Darling Downs Zoo News

27 November 2005

Darling Downs Zoo made front-page news this weekend with the courier mail reporting a 'scathing summary' that was sent to the Department of Natural Resources by Sea World's Trevor Long and Dreamworld's Kevin Bradley. The zoo was criticised not only by Long and Bradley, but also by 'interstate experts' for having inadequate security, facilities and animal welfare. Concerns about the zoo's perimeter fence and other 'rickety' animal housing were raised, including issues about public safety. Some changes have been made at the zoo in response and owner-operator Steve Robinson now asserts, 'We believe the facility is now secure and the animals are secure and there are no public safety issues.' But others disagree, including Brenton Bullen (Bullen's Circus) who believes it is an accident waiting to happen. Click here to read the article on the Courier Mail website.

16 April 2005

If the lions at the Australia Gospel Music Festival spent any of their time roaring, nobody could hear them. AGMF went of with a bang, featuring an incredible line up of gospel music stars (including Delirious, Sonic Flood, Petra, The Lads and pianist David Mace). Extra attractions at this year's event included Freestyle Kaos Motocross, a petting zoo, more stalls than ever and a 'Big Cat Encounter'!

Two lions came out from the newly opened Darling Downs Zoo and were kept in a large round cage in the children's section. Apart from some pacing and a little frustration with all the noise and people, the lions seemed at ease. There were usually one or two handlers at the scene. It was obvious that the relationship between lion and handler was strong when one of the handlers reached her hand into the cage to sooth the lions.

26 January 2005
The Australia Gospel Music Festival is featuring a 'Big Cat Encounter' Attraction at this year's event. Easter 2005 will see the introduction of several new features including the 'Big Cat Encounter', 'The Crocodile Enclosure', 'Robinson's Circus' and more. I received some information from festival event director Isaac Moody today (26/01/05) about the 'Big Cat Encounter'. Apparently a new zoo has started up near Toowoomba called "Darling Downs Zoo". AGMF asked them to bring some crocodiles and some big cats to the festival. Initially they were planning to have a tigress called "Bali", however, she became very ill late last year. So now they are planning to have some lions. The lions will be there for the whole three days. (Cited from personal communications). Click on the link above to see more information. I will be going along with my camera and I will give a full report when I get back.

Dreamworld News

23 November 2005
(Photos and text courtesy Dreamworld)

There’ll be no more lonely nights for Dreamworld’s Sumatran Tiger Soraya as the park gets ready to welcome a second Sumatran tiger from Germany next month.

Raja, a 23 month-old male golden tiger, has been selected by the international stud book coordinator for Sumatran tigers as a mate for Soraya who arrived at Dreamworld in 2003.

Raja will be relocated from Zoo Krefeld near Dusseldorf to Dreamworld’s Tiger Island as part of the Australasian Species Management Program for Sumatran tigers, internationally recognised and supported by governments throughout the region.

Set to touch down on December 1st, Raja will spend his first 30 days in quarantine at Dreamworld before joining Soraya in their purpose-built off-exhibit tiger facility at Tiger Island.

With less than 400 left in the wild, Sumatran tigers are listed as one of the world’s most critically endangered species by the Convention for International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), supported by 190 countries world wide.

There are currently 235 Sumatran tigers in zoos world-wide including 20 within the Australasian region.

Chair of the Australasian Species Management Program (ASMP) and Director of Adelaide Zoo, Mark Craig hailed the move as a big win for tiger conservation.

“This import is a significant contribution to the Australasian Sumatran Tiger captive management program and confirms Dreamworld’s commitment and major contribution to conservation and education programs for this critically endangered species.”

Dreamworld Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gregg said the park was honoured and excited to receive a second Sumatran Tiger, especially one of such high importance to the region.

“We are very proud of our ongoing efforts to help save tigers in the wild through donations and on
the ground support,” Mr Gregg said.

“Welcoming Raja to Dreamworld is yet another step to help save this magnificent species from extinction.”

Dreamworld’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Bradley said the park hoped to hear the pitter-patter of tiny paws in late 2006.

“If all goes to plan, we aim to breed Soraya and Raja in about a years time,” Mr Bradley said.

“Their offspring will then be raised by Tiger Island staff and remain at Tiger Island until they are required by other zoos for breeding.

“Sadly, these tigers can not be released back into the wild due to the high rate of habitat destruction and poaching. Our aim is simply to ensure the appropriate genetic management of the remaining captive population of the species in the hope that one day we may be able to re-populate areas where Sumatran tigers have been wiped out.”

Dreamworld’s Tiger Island Manager Patrick Martin-Vegue met Raja when he visited Germany earlier this year.

“Raja seemed like a really friendly, well adjusted cat but like Soraya he has had limited human contact and can’t be handled,” Mr Martin-Vegue said.

“He will not mix with our Bengal tigers but hopefully he will get on really well with Soraya and we’ll see some cubs soon.”

Mr Martin-Vegue will travel to Germany to collect Raja this Friday.

The import of Raja will boost Sumatran tiger numbers in the Australasian region to 20 (ten male, ten female) across 12 zoos, including Dreamworld, Taronga Zoo (Sydney), The National Zoo and Aquarium Canberra, Melbourne Zoo, Adelaide Zoo, Perth Zoo, Australia Zoo (Qld), Mogo Zoo (NSW) and Western Plains Zoo (Dubbo), plus Auckland Zoo, Wellington Zoo and Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand.

Dreamworld’s Tiger Island is currently home to seven Bengal tigers, one Sumatran tiger and two cougars. The attraction can house up to 14 tigers at one time.

The park’s resident Sumatran tiger Soraya was imported from Tier Park Zoo in Germany in 2003 as part of the Australian Species Management Program.

Sumatran Tigers are smaller and darker than Bengal tigers. Raja currently weighs 85 kilograms. When fully grown at three years of age, he’ll tip the scales at about 130 kilograms.

In comparison, male Bengal tigers can grow up to 230 kilograms. Dreamworld’s largest Bengal tiger is Sultan who weighs around 200 kilos.

Tiger Island is an interactive sanctuary where Bengal tigers play wrestle and swim with their handlers every day.

In addition to supporting the Sumatran Tiger Program, Dreamworld makes a significant contribution to tiger conservation on a global scale through the park’s Tiger Fund.

To date, Dreamworld has donated over $300,000 to saving tigers in the wild through the Dreamworld Tiger Fund by donating directly to the following programs.

• Flora and Fauna International
• LifeForce Satpura National Park Project India
• 21st Century Tiger (another UK based charity)
• Sumatran Tiger project
• Taman Safari Park
• The Phoenix Fund

Working closely with these organisations, Dreamworld actively contributes to anti-poaching activity including anti-poaching patrols on the ground in Indonesia, India and Russia, Ranger salaries, the purchase of medical equipment and patrol vehicles, intelligence and legal activity.

The money also goes towards regeneration and protection of tiger habitat including village relocation.

A registered zoo, Dreamworld is located on Queensland’s Gold Coast, 25 minutes north of Surfers Paradise and 40 minutes from Brisbane. The park is open from 10am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day and Anzac Day morning (25/4).

Entry to Tiger Island is included in the general Dreamworld admission price.

For more details and on-line tickets visit dreamworld.com.au.

02 September 2005
(Photos and text courtesy Dreamworld)

There are two paintings for sale on Ebay by none other than Taj the Bengal tiger. Dreamworld’s Tiger Island has found a colourful new way to save tigers in the wild! The Bengals have become budding artists, painting exclusive masterpieces to raise money for tiger conservation projects in the field.

Dreamworld tested out the idea in January auctioning off four tiger paintings for Wild Aid. The paintings went under the hammer collecting just under $2000 for field patrols preventing the illegal hunting of tigers in Sumatra. Now the big cats are getting creative again with Taj, one of Dreamworld’s rare white tigers showing particular potential and enthusiasm in his use of colour and form. It could be called the tiger equivalent of finger painting and Taj seems more than happy to lend his paws to the cause. He will paint four new pieces to help his counterparts in the wild.

The money is going to The Phoenix Fund: A Collective Biodiversity Recovery Program supporting the Amur tiger conservation effort aimed at strengthening anti-poaching and habitat protection activities in Russia. With Dreamworld’s help, The Phoenix Fund hopes to increase the capacity of anti-poaching teams, reduce the hunting of Siberian tigers and their prey and reduce habitat destruction in the Lazovsky Nature Reserve in Zapovednik, Russia.

Taj’s masterpieces can best be described as a form of abstract expressionism reminiscent of Pollack, where Taj shows his personality through spontaneity! It’s the perfect addition to your mantelpiece and surely as rare as an authentic Cezanne! People can bid for an authentic Taj on eBay by following the link from Dreamworld’s website at www.dreamworld.com.au.

Tigers in the wild face a grim future. At the turn of last century (1900) there were more than 100,000 tigers in the wild. Today, there are less than 4,000. Man has contributed to the tiger's demise in three major ways: hunting, poaching and the destruction of tiger habitat. While both white and gold tigers are endangered, white tigers are so rare only around 400 exist worldwide - and only in captivity. White tigers are not albinos; they possess a special recessive gene, which is responsible for their white coat.

Dreamworld is committed to ensuring the survival of the tiger through the Dreamworld Tiger Fund which goes directly to tiger conservation projects in the field. Recent projects supported by Dreamworld’s Tiger Fund and staff include:

The Australian Species Management Program for Sumatran Tigers.
Life Force to help relocate a village currently situated within a large Tiger sanctuary in Satpura National Park, India.
Sumatran Tiger project to help pay for an aerial survey of Way Kambas National Park in Indonesia, to help determine the amount of Tigers within that area and assist in the annual salary of anti poaching patrols within Way Kambas National Park.
Taman Safari Park to help feed Tigers that have been removed from certain areas because of their threat to local villagers.
21st century Tiger- to help with village relocation and poaching prevention.

All of Dreamworld's Bengal tigers were born in captivity, as were their parents, grandparents and great grandparents. In the sanctuary of Tiger Island, the tigers live in a stress free environment, obtaining the necessary stimulation from the interaction with their handlers. They receive a good, consistent diet, regular veterinary care and experience a quality of life which doubles their life-span compared with tigers in the wild.

Dreamworld’s tigers are trained (never ‘tamed’) by establishing and maintaining a strong bond, based on trust, respect and affection, between the handlers and tigers. Dreamworld's Tiger Island is an educational conservation-based attraction where guests can get up close and interact with the tigers and their handlers.

13 July 2005

A few weeks ago, Dreamworld participated in a fundraiser for Red Nose Day. Below is their media release and some photos they have kindly supplied for this website:

Deborah and Brian Harvey were thrilled to welcome their fifth child, Dillon into the world. Just 13 months later, they buried him. Every year, 100 Australian babies die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Cot death is also the major cause of death in children between the ages of one month and one year. An additional 800 children die in Queensland in drownings, car accidents, fires, farm accidents and sudden onset illnesses.

Friday, June 24 marked Red Nose Day, a simple concept, a small price and a momentous reason to dig deep. Dreamworld’s mischievous Bengal tiger, Kato lent his paws to the cause producing his very own giant Red Nose. The Harvey Family joined Red Nose Ambassador Goldie the Clown to watch Kato pounce and play for SIDS and Kids to help raise awareness that will save lives.

SIDS and Kids has now broadened its services to reach families who have been affected by the death of a child from any cause - not only SIDS. Dillon’s six year old brother Jed has been learning about Kato at school and can’t wait to meet his favourite tiger face to face.

Queensland is also the home of none other than Dreamworld's Tiger Island, a permanent display where tigers interact with humans every day. Tiger Island opened in June 1995 with six Bengal tigers: Samara, Jai, Mohan, Rakhan Bakkar and Kyla. Due to relocations and deaths, only two of the original six tigers remain (Mohan and Rakhan). For more information, visit the Dreamworld section on my information page.

The most recent news from Dreamworld's Tiger Island is the addition of a Sumatran tiger cub by the name of Soraya. Because she has had limited contact with people, she will not interact with the handlers like the Bengal tigers do. Instead, she will be housed in an 'off exhibit' area of Tiger Island. Her offspring however, will be hand-raised and will no doubt be as popular with the public as Dreamworld's other tigers.

Two Bengal tiger cubs were brought to Dreamworld in 2001 from Bullen's Wildlife Sanctuary in southern New South Wales. One of these has died and the remaining cub, Kato is now 3 years old and will reach maturity towards the end of 2005. Kato's ancestry is different to that of the park's other cats, 'the awesome pawsome' who were born there in 1998 (Sita, Rama, Taj and Sultan). I expect a breeding program between Kato and Sita to begin in late 2005 or 2006.

Dreamworld also runs Tiger Walks and Tiger Photo sessions for several hundred dollars. Divided between five people, this would cost about $100 each and is an excellent opportunity if you ask me. Unfortunately I haven't done it myself yet, but there's always time to save.

Australia Zoo News

Big cats are everywhere at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland. With two bengal tigers (Khan and Manas), three sumatran tigers (Juma, Singha, Ranu) and four cheetahs (Foxtrot, Echo, Cleo and Sheeba), Australia Zoo has now got a 'Big Cat Department' with 9 big cat handlers. Their new Tiger Temple is an exciting feature where the big cats can be viewed ‘up close and personal’ by the public. An African section is also planned and underway. They have a new tiger conservation program (click here to view more about it on their website).

TBA

Recently Queensland's Australia Zoo welcomed three Sumatran tiger cubs to its lineup of animals. Born at Mogo Zoo in New South Wales, the cubs were hand raised from two weeks of age. 'We have less than 400 Sumatran tigers in the world with 200 in captivity – we need to change that' said Steve Irwin. 'We have set aside 100 acres out the back to build a multi-million dollar tiger facility which will be the largest in the world.' (The Range News, page 15, 3 June, 2004 By: Kate Johns).

Australia Zoo began its involvement with tigers in December 2003 when they adopted three Bengal tiger cubs. They currently run half hour 'Tiger Walks' for $495.00 for 4 people, which includes a stack of professional photographs. Click here to find out more.

Generic Wild Cat News

16 August 2005
TBA Catman? In a bizarre display of feline obsession, Dennis Abner Whidbey Island, Washington, USA has surgically modified parts of his body to make himself look like a tiger. Taking his Native American name 'Stalking Cat' to the extreme, Dennis has had extensive tatooing, hairline modification, filing and capping of his teeth, surgical alterations to the TBA shapes of his brow, forehead, ears, lips, cheeks and chin and other modifications.

Glenn McGee, director of the Center for Bioethics at Albany Medical College in New York, says of Stalking Cat, "Cosmetic surgery is a practice based on informed consent that needs to balance the risks with the benefits. It is possible to have a coherent view that is nonetheless detrimental to one's well-being. This is a patient who's being harmed by medicine in the interest of his tradition."

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Wild Cat News 2005

Darling Downs Zoo News