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Zoo News
Chinese Year of the Tiger comes to the Zoo
12 February 2010 - As Chinese New Year approaches this weekend staff at Edinburgh Zoo, home to two rare Sumatran tigers, are celebrating the Year of the Tiger with lots of themed events this weekend (13-14 February).
The Zoo’s two-year old sibling tigers, Tibor and Chandra, provide a focus for a range of events which will reflect traditional celebrations as well as involve animals originally native to China.
There will be interactive displays with information about China and its culture, a touch table where you can learn all about tigers, and activities including making some Chinese art and collecting Chinese stamps.
As Alison MacLean, Head Keeper, Carnivores said,
"Behind these fun activities is the chance for staff to share the plight of tigers and their desperate need for conservation. Latest estimates suggest that tigers could be extinct in the wild in the next few decades without serious action.
“Sumatran tigers are the smallest of the species and with only an estimated 400 left in the wild, they are classed as Critically Endangered. Edinburgh Zoo as part of its active animal conservation programme is helping to safeguard their future. This year, thanks to the Year of the Tiger celebrations and the events planned, we can help raise awareness of their plight through fun activities.”
The third sign in the cycle of Chinese Zodiac, the tiger is seen as a fearless and fiery fighter who represents courage. 2010 is also International Year of Biodiversity, but with 4 out of the 8 species of tiger lost in the wild in the last 80 years the plight of the tiger just shows how fragile the world’s wildlife can be.
Activities take place between 11.00am and 3.30pm on both days. To find out more about the events planned at Edinburgh Zoo, visit www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/whatson. Normal admission prices apply and there is no extra charge to take part in the events and activities. A free leaflet is available from reception with information about the Zoo’s tigers and ideas and activities for kids.
Editor’s Notes
The Year of the Tiger events are supported by the Association of Scottish Philatelic Societies.
About Edinburgh Zoo
- Edinburgh Zoo is owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a registered charity, charity no SC004064.
- The Society was set up in 1909 ‘to promote, facilitate and encourage the study of zoology and kindred subjects and to foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life’.
- Edinburgh Zoo welcomes over 630,000 visitors a year, and is one of Scotland’s top paid visitor attractions.
About Sumatran Tigers
- The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies that is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It lives in forest habitats in both lowland and mountainous areas.
- The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of all tiger subspecies, and its stripes are narrower than those of other tigers. It also has a distinctive bearded and maned appearance, especially the males.
- Sumatran tigers are fast losing ground to many threats. Habitat loss, fragmentation and destruction are pushing tigers into smaller and smaller areas and closer to human habitations, making human-tiger conflicts more common.
- Poaching of tigers for illegal trade and traditional medicine is also rife in Indonesia due to the strong demand for tiger products in Indonesia and in other countries.
- A study in 2004 placed the number of Sumatran tigers in the wild at around 340 – 500. Because of the small number of Sumatran tigers remaining in the wild and the dire threats the species faces, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Sumatran tiger as a Critically Endangered species. This means that the Sumatran tiger is considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
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