- Title: Crunchy Christmas tree snacks for Berlin Zoo tigers
- Date: 29th December 2022
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 29, 2022) (REUTERS) SMALL TIGER LURKING ADULT TIGER WALKING TOWARDS CHRISTMAS TREE HUNG WITH FRUITS AND PIECES OF MEAT POULTRY LEG STUCK ON TOP OF CHRISTMAS TREE VISITORS VARIOUS OF ADULT TIGER FETCHING FOOD FROM TREE SENIOR CURATOR AT BERLIN ZOO TIERPARK, MATTHIAS PAPIES AND JOURNALIST VARIOUS OF SMALL TIGER FETCHING FOOD OFF TREE ADULT TIGER EATING (SOUNDBITE) (German) SENIOR CURATOR AT BERLIN ZOO TIERPARK, MATTHIAS PAPIES, SAYING: "We've been doing the christmas trees and other activities for years. Because we know by now that it's important for the animals to be challenged, so to speak. And of course, we do Christmas trees every year in December, maybe the beginning of January. And that's really great for the animals, because it doesn't happen every week, but only once a year, and then there are other things after that." ADULT TIGER AND SMALL TIGER NEAR TREE, SMALL TIGER JUMPING ONTO TREE VARIOUS OF ADULT TIGER EATING SMALL TIGERS RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (German) SENIOR CURATOR AT BERLIN ZOO TIERPARK, MATTHIAS PAPIES, SAYING: "So tigers tend to be solitary in their natural habitat. But it is always very different from one individual to the next. So, even in Sumatra or in Siberia, where the Amur tiger comes from, there is video of tiger families roaming around together. And here we are lucky enough to have two very tolerant animals, father JJ, our tomcat, and cat Mayang, who really get on well with each other. So, that we can keep the offspring and also the mother together with the offspring. This way they can really keep each other busy and have a great life." SMALL TIGER JUMPING ONTO ADULT TIGER VARIOUS OF SMALL AND ADULT TIGERS VISITORS WALKING IN PARK MOOSE WALKING IN CORRAL VISITORS NEAR FENCE VARIOUS OF ZOO CARE GIVER PREPARING PINE TREE FOR EATING MOOSE PINE TREE VARIOUS OF MOOSE EATING PINE TREE
- Embargoed: 12th January 2023 13:10
- Keywords: Tiger Zoo Berlin
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001931429122022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The days between Christmas and New Year’s give many families the opportunity to spend time together and finish leftover sweets from the holidays and this is no different for the tiger family at the Berlin Zoo “Tierpark,"
who received a pleasant surprise on Thursday (December 29): A Christmas tree adorned with fruits, vegetables and pieces of poultry.
While the snack clearly seemed to be the main attraction for both adult tigers as well as their offspring, the use of unused Christmas trees is also a way to keep the large cats entertained.
“We've been doing the Christmas trees and other activities for years. Because we know by now that it's important for the animals to be challengedâ€, says senior curator Matthias Papies.
The Zoo takes particular pride in the successful breeding of the Sumatra tigers on its premises, as they are listed as endangered species with an approximate of only 400 remaining tigers remaining in their natural habitats.
Mum Mayang has already had several offspring, dad Jae Jae originally comes from San Francisco, then came to Berlin via a London-based breeding programme. The two tiger girls Luise and Lotte were born in September.
According to Papies, tigers tend to be solitary in their natural habitat, even though individual differences could be observed as well.
"Here, we are lucky enough to have two very tolerant animals, father Jae Jae, our tomcat, and cat Mayang, who really get on well with each otherâ€, Papies says, adding that this was the reason for them to keep the family together.
(Production: Martin Schlicht, Swantje Stein, Lena Toepler) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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