On August 20 Sali, a four-year-old Sumatran tiger from Dreamworld’s Tiger Island is heading to New Zealand.
The transfer from the Gold Coast theme park to Hamilton Zoo comes as part of an international tiger breeding program in which both zoo facilities are involved.
Dreamworld Life Sciences Manager, Al Mucci, explains it is common practice for tigers and other animals in captivity to be transported between zoo facilities for breeding, to help create a strong captive/insurance population.
“Dreamworld is very proud to be a part of this international breeding program and is excited to be sending Sali to meet her new mate,” he said.
“Sali was transferred from Perth Zoo in 2008 to be raised with a litter of three tiger cubs born at Dreamworld – Shanti, Jaya and Ndari – following the death of her own three siblings which led to her mother sadly rejecting her.”
“It was always intended that when Sali reached sexual maturity, she would be transferred to another zoo facility for breeding,” said Mr Mucci.
Eagerly awaiting her arrival are Hamilton Zoo’s 12-year-old resident tigers – Jaka, which in Indonesian means ‘handsome boy’, and Mencari whose name translates to ‘prowl’. Sali will increase the number of tigers on display in the city from two to three.
Hamilton Zoo has upgraded their tiger exhibit to accommodate Sali. The $250,000 renovations were completed in late June and include provision of a second landscaped exhibit with bathing pool, two new dens for the tigers and an additional covered enclosure.
Hamilton Zoo Director Stephen Standley endorses Mr Mucci’s comments, explaining the importance of having a healthy captive gene population.
“Jaka and Mencari were moved here in 2001 from Wellington Zoo and their sister Molek was transferred to Auckland Zoo in October 2006. In the next 12 months, Jaka will be swapped with a male Sumatran tiger from another zoo who is a better genetic match for Sali to breed with,” he said.
“Genetics is very important; Sali was actually recommended to us by the coordinator of the Australasian Sumatran tiger breeding program as being a good candidate for breeding.”
“The international tiger breeding program involves zoo facilities from around the world to ensure there is a large enough gene pool which in turn means no inbreeding can occur,” said Mr Standley.
Dreamworld and Hamilton Zoo are passionate and committed to saving tigers in the wild and each contributes a portion of the funds raised through their animal encounters to the cause.
Dreamworld has donated $1.4 million to saving tigers in the wild since 2006. This contribution makes Dreamworld the world’s largest zoological contributor of funds to 21st Century Tiger, assisting with anti-poaching measures, education, habitat restoration and monitoring in tiger populated regions.
In addition to supporting 21st Century Tiger, Dreamworld also directly contributes to the Phoenix Fund and Flora and Fauna International to protect wild tiger populations. Hamilton Zoo also supports 21st Century Tiger and other conservation projects.
Dreamworld is centrally located just 40 minutes from Brisbane and 20 minutes north of Surfers Paradise, and is open from 10am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day. For more information about Dreamworld visit www.dreamworld.com.au or phone (07) 5588 1111.
Gold Coast Industry News
