01 Jan Tiger Breeding
The Roosevelt Park Zoo is dedicated to saving animals from extinction. Protecting the next generation’s genetic integrity is one way to make that happen. Did you know that Roosevelt Park Zoo resident female Amur tiger Zoya and male Amur Tiger Finn are a recommended pair for breeding, from AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) cooperatively managed Tiger SSP (Species Survival Plans) program? SSP is maybe best described by Roosevelt Park Zoo Senior Lead Keeper, Chelea Mihalick, as a cross between match.com and ancestory.com. It is evaluated by the AZA to create the most successful breeding pairs. Another consideration for breeding pairs is the ability to provide them with a healthy home and habitat. We are grateful to our community and special donors who without their support this would not be an option.
Tigers are solitary animals, and it is not typically recommended that male/female pairs be housed together throughout the year. In many cases, male and female tigers are only compatible during estrus, which is a short window of time for breeding.
Our animal care team at the Roosevelt Park Zoo is well versed in behavioral cues of estrus, some of which include vocalizing, rubbing up against exhibit barriers, being more active, and/or rolling on the floor. Once Zoya shows these signs, zoo staff plan introductions to Finn with extreme caution. The Roosevelt Park Zoo animal care staff knows the individual behaviors and personalities of the animals but also understands that they can be unpredictable at times and breeding carries an element of risk. When tigers breed, it’s natural for them to spar with each other and there is typically some level of aggression. It is not uncommon for these events to escalate, leading to injuries or even the loss of a tiger during this process.
The Team at the Roosevelt Park Zoo takes all precautions possible when it comes to big cat breeding and has had success stories with both tiger and lion breeding recommendations in recent years.
If you would like to learn more about the AZA’s and SSP’s big cat breeding programs, please see the article below from our friends at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
https://www.cmzoo.org/news/archive/cmzoo-accepts-risky-leopard-and-tiger-breeding-recommendations/