Feature image credit: Australia Zoo; Body image credit: Adelaide Zoo
Some “paw-some” news came from Adelaide Zoo over the New Year’s break – a special new resident has made her way to the beloved zoo, all the way from Australia Zoo!
Female Sumatran Tiger, Delilah, arrived in Adelaide on New Year’s Eve after travelling from her previous home in Queensland. Accompanied by Australia Zoo keeper Beth Astles on her journey, the five-year-old Sumatran Tiger is now undertaking quarantine in Adelaide Zoo’s specialist facilities to help her integrate with the other big cats. The zoo hopes Delilah will be out and about the Immersion tiger exhibition by late January.
Adelaide Zoo Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Arliah Hayward, said once Delilah has settled into her new surroundings and bonded with her new keepers, they would start the process of introducing her to seven-year-old male Sumatran Tiger, Kembali.
“It is so exciting for us to have Delilah arrive and make a new home here at Adelaide Zoo,” she said.
“Kembali has been missing Rhani since she passed away, so we are so delighted for him to have some company.
“Hopefully, this will also mean cubs on the horizon, which is such an important part of our conservation efforts for the Sumatran Tiger as a species.”
Arliah recently went to visit Delilah and the team at Australia Zoo to get to know the Sumatran Tiger and her personality.
“She is so energetic and reminds me a lot of Rhani,” Arliah said. “I’m really looking forward to working with Delilah and for her to be part of the Adelaide Zoo family.”
Delilah was born at Australia Zoo in February 2016 and the team said she will be dearly missed.
“She is an active and energetic girl, always excited to see her keepers each morning,” an Australia Zoo spokesperson said.
“We are thrilled to see her begin her journey with our friends at Zoos SA where she will be a vital part in ensuring this species’ survival into the future.”
Tigers are the largest living big cats in the world, with the Sumatran Tiger being the smallest of the six tiger subspecies and inhabiting the tropical rainforests on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
The pattern of tigers’ stripes is unique to each animal, just like fingerprints are to humans. The stripe pattern is found on a tiger’s skin and, if shaved, its distinctive pattern would remain.
Over 100 years ago, it is estimated that there were 100,000 wild tigers – today the number is thought to be as few as 3,200 individuals.
The Sumatran Tiger is the last surviving subspecies of tiger in Indonesia. It is estimated that there are around 300 to 500 wild Sumatran Tigers remaining with a rapidly decreasing trend due to habitat destruction and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.
Zoos SA is proud to be part of the conservation efforts to ensure the survival of such a beautiful species.
Adelaide Zoo is a double-vaccinated venue, and patrons 16 years and older must provide proof they’ve received a TGA-approved vaccination upon entry.
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