Fight for survival (click here for weblink)
WHIPSNADE Zoo is marking the Chinese year of the tiger with a message that the future of the endangered animals should not be left to chance.
Throughout the year the wild animal park’s Siberian tigers, Mickall and Anastasia, will have their usual playthings replaced with giant coloured dice by keepers to mark the occasion and act now to load the dice to prevent their extinction.
Siobhan Sellwood-Brown, Asia keeper at the zoo, said: “The tigers love something new to investigate, the dice represent gambling and a reminder that their survival must not be left to chance.”
Since the last Chinese year of the tiger, 12 years ago, the global population of the wild cats has almost halved, leaving less than 3,200 in the wild.
Sarah Christie, conservation programme manager at Whipsnade Zoo said: “This is a bit of fun for our zoo tigers, but there is a serious message that we must improve the chance of tigers’ long-term survival.”
Whipsnade Zoo undertakes tiger conservation work around the world, and is part of the 21st century tiger partnership supporting further conservation projects.
The conservation of wild animals and their natural habitats is fundamental to their mission and they work throughout the world with governments, civil society and the private sector to protect species and habitats.
The wildlife park’s programmes include breeding and re-introduction, business and biodiversity and marine and freshwater conservation in the UK and overseas.
WHIPSNADE Zoo is marking the Chinese year of the tiger with a message that the future of the endangered animals should not be left to chance.
Throughout the year the wild animal park’s Siberian tigers, Mickall and Anastasia, will have their usual playthings replaced with giant coloured dice by keepers to mark the occasion and act now to load the dice to prevent their extinction.
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| Mickall the Siberian tiger with her toy dice |
Since the last Chinese year of the tiger, 12 years ago, the global population of the wild cats has almost halved, leaving less than 3,200 in the wild.
Sarah Christie, conservation programme manager at Whipsnade Zoo said: “This is a bit of fun for our zoo tigers, but there is a serious message that we must improve the chance of tigers’ long-term survival.”
Whipsnade Zoo undertakes tiger conservation work around the world, and is part of the 21st century tiger partnership supporting further conservation projects.
The conservation of wild animals and their natural habitats is fundamental to their mission and they work throughout the world with governments, civil society and the private sector to protect species and habitats.
The wildlife park’s programmes include breeding and re-introduction, business and biodiversity and marine and freshwater conservation in the UK and overseas.