Live Webcams
Conservation charity, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), is delighted to announce the official opening of Tiger Tracks – the new and improved home for the pair of critically endangered Sumatran tigers at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo. The development is a key part of the Society’s Big Cat Strategy, launched back in 2014.
Edinburgh resident Grace Reid – last seen diving for Team GB in Rio and at the European Championships alongside her partner Tom Daley – gave tigers Jambi and Baginda an Olympian welcome to their new home on Thursday 15 September and officially opened the dynamic new exhibit to the public.
The rising star of British diving became one of the first visitors to experience the immersive new viewing tunnel at the heart of the exhibit, where tigers can walk directly above visitors’ heads, on a walkway. Following a formal ribbon cutting ceremony, Reid came face to face with the magnificent male tiger, Jambi, before joining over 500 RZSS members for a look around the exhibit before its official opening at noon.
Barbara Smith, Interim CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have Olympian Grace Reid join us for the opening of Tiger Tracks, our impressive new tiger facility. The new development is part of our ongoing Big Cat Strategy and demonstrates our commitment to the conservation of threatened cat species across the world.
“Jambi and Baginda’s new home delivers on welfare, breeding and visitor experience grounds. At three-times the size of our previous Sumaran tiger enclosure, Tiger Tracks will provide a more enriching experience for our animals and greater engagement for our visitors.”
The new enclosure, up in the treetops of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, features covered walkways, a high-level viewing platform, feeding posts and a brand new cubbing den and animal house. It also boasts climbing structures, heated rocks and ponds to splash in, with natural landscaping similar to the tigers’ native habitat. The interpretation and design of the enclosure reflects an Indonesian tiger reserve, which tells the story of people living in close proximity to carnivores and how human-wildlife conflict is one of the major issues facing the species in the wild.
The innovative design of the Sumatran tiger exhibit allows visitors to come face to face with these magnificent big cats, whilst webcams around the enclosure will allow visitors to tune in anytime to watch the tigers via the Zoo’s website. The numerous cameras were kindly donated by Edinburgh-based firm, IndigoVision. At the heart of the expansive enclosure – which is three times the size of its predecessor – is a glass viewing tunnel running right across the space, which allows visitors to feel as if they are entering the territory of a tiger.
Darren McGarry, Head of Living Collections at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “The Sumatran tiger is one of the rarest big cat species in the world and is Critically Endangered in the wild. As part of coordinated breeding programmes such as the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), we hope the new enclosure will provide the right environment for Jambi and Baginda to breed and produce cubs, helping ensure the species does not become extinct.”
Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the Sumatran tiger is the smallest subspecies of tiger, found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Their habitat ranges from lowland forest to mountain forest and includes evergreen, swamp and tropical rainforests.
It is estimated that fewer than 400 of these majestic animals are left in the wild. Whilst they are protected by law in Indonesia, increased deforestation and poaching has led to their significant decline and, without help, the Sumatran tiger faces the very real threat of extinction.
…ends…