Posted on 12/10/2015 1:04:14 PM PST by sparklite2
In February 2012, hunters in the southwestern portion of Primorskii Krai, one of the last strongholds of the Amur (or Siberian) tiger, came across a starving, four-month old tiger cub. Brought to the local wildlife manager, she was nursed back to health. After an operation to remove the tip of her tail which was damaged due to severe frostbite, Zolushka was transferred to the Aleksayevka Rehabilitation Center, managed by Inspection Tiger and supported by the Russian Geographical Society.
Kept away from humans (so as not to become acclimated to them) and provided live prey, Zolushka slowly learned how to hunt. In May 2013, when approximately 20 months old (the normal age when young tigers disperse from their mothers), Zolushka was taken to Bastak Reserve and released. On her own, Zolushka quickly figured out how to exploit the abundance of badgers, wild boar, and red deer.
However, there was one problem. Tigers disappeared from the forests of Bastak Reserve forty years ago, making Zolushka a lonely Cinderella. That problem was miraculously solved when a lone wild male arrived, apparently making the 200 km hike west from the northern-most portions of current tiger range in Russia. Tracks of Zolushka and her prince were soon found together, but there was still a long wait as Zolushka still needed to mature and became ready for motherhood.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
Ping this one over to you Slings and Arrows.
The male probably smelled her 200 km away!
horny tom cats always find a way...
I wonder if there are plans to relocate a few unrelated Siberian tigers to that reserve so that the new breeding population does not become inbred?
There are quite a few in North Korea, as its isolation provides some sanctuary.
Wow, beautiful animals......I enjoy stories like this.
Thank you for the ping, dear.
The picture is spectacular, and I hope that the tiger population grows apace.
You’re welcome, and agreed.
ok, I’ll take a bath, don’t tell everyone they can smell me from 200 km away. Its only 1/2 mile.
Hahahaha...
:O)
I love Love Stories! Fangs for the ping, Slings! Amazing story!
They say house cats were invented so mankind would know what it is like t caress a tiger.
I love the photo.,cats are cats no matter how big they are.
Pootie-Poot seems to have a natural affinity to animals .... his *softer* side ... I believe he'd put a bullet through your forehead in nano-second...if the spirit moved him.
OTOH, our moron-in-chief has a dog that walks him. Telling, no?
Is this some kind of Clemson thing? You people are incorrigible.
Roll Tide.
Mew’re welcome.
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