AR-News: (CA - US) Pair of tigers settle into new digs at Folsom Zoo

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Feb. 9, 2004 - Pair of tigers settle into new digs at Folsom Zoo
By JONATHAN SCHWARZBERG, Staff writer

 
'MISTY' AND 'POUNCER,' two female tigers, have recently taken up residence at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. Misty is half-Siberian and half-Bengal, while Pouncer is half-Siberian and half-Sumatran. Both escaped from abusive conditions at an illegal breeder. Democrat photo by Bill Putnam  
 
 
FOLSOM - A pair of tigers has found a happy ending to what began as a very sad story.

Last Wednesday, Misty and Pouncer, a pair of young female tigers, moved into their new home at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary after recovering from a tortured existence earlier in life.

Jill Giel, the tigers' leadworker, said the cubs were found in a tiger facility in Southern California in deplorable conditions. Misty was living in a 3-foot by 3-foot cage. Pouncer was leashed by a four-foot chain. Both were covered with mange.

Along with Misty, Pouncer and some other live tigers, authorities found the remains of 58 tiger cubs at the supposed tiger rescue facility.

The California Department of Fish and Game rescued the big cats, and the Fund for Animals has been taking care of the tigers until homes could be found for them. The Folsom Zoo heard about the tigers through a professional organization they are involved with and looked to see how they could help.

With the zoo's bears moving to a new spot, the Folsom Zoo agreed to take a pair of one-and-a-half year old cubs and put them where the bears used to be. Giel said this place is larger than the tigers are accustomed to, but still not as large as the zoo would like to see.

"We definitely want to work on getting them more space," Giel said.

It appears the tigers are definitely feeling at home though. On Friday, Misty and Pouncer pranced about their new home and watched the crowds with interest. They jumped in the pool of water and gnawed on leftovers from the morning meal.

Misty is half-Siberian and half-Bengal. Giel said she appears to be the dominant female of the two. The fur around her face is fluffier than Pouncer, who is half-Siberian and half-Sumatran. Pouncer has more lines on her face and tends to be more playful.

Giel said the cubs were probably bred at the facility they were found at.

The tigers eat 10-15 pounds of food each day, which generally includes beef, turkey and other meats. Trader Joe's provides food daily.

Giel said the zookeepers are still trying to learn what the tigers like, and the tigers are trying to learn what to do with new foods. She said the tigers didn't quite know what to do with a quail they received last week.

"We're learning along with them," Giel said. "There haven't been tigers at the zoo since the 1980s."

Giel said the tigers are different than the other cats at the zoo, in that these are the only felines at the zoo considered big cats. Even the mountain lions are much smaller and less playful.

But she said that when it comes down to it, the tigers are still cats.

"The cats all have similar behaviors, even domestic cats," Giel said.

Unfortunately, Giel said that Misty and Pouncer's story is all too common. She said the zoo gets calls from organizations looking to place animals every week. Tigers are especially susceptible to mistreatment, she said, because they can be bought so easily, sometimes for as little as $200 or $300.

The tigers can be seen at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary during regular hours.