OM family mauled by Tigers.

Carl Wrbka · April 25, 2008, 10:58:29 AM

:emot19: Sorry for the dramatic headline, I had to get your attention somehow.

These are Bengal Tiger kittens ca 4mnths old. Their parents were part of an illegal shipment seized at Durban harbour. After being confiscated, they were put into a safe sanctuary outside Krugersdorp.

georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP) · April 25, 2008, 11:12:52 AM

Without sensational headline, always appreciated pix like that

Near Addo, a farm breads tigers along with Lions in one enclosure. Have to be separated when the start mating

I think, that will become a problem sometimes when they cross, will be Tion, or Liger LOL

Carl Wrbka · April 25, 2008, 11:43:41 AM

You'r not so far off Snr. The official name given to this mixture is Liger. They have the facial features of a lion, the size of a tiger, the colour of a lion but with the stripes of a tiger.

georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP) · April 25, 2008, 11:49:55 AM

He he he Carl

Here what i spoke about near Addo PE

We patted that lion when there, would not do it now, they are both about 1 year old here

Carl Wrbka · April 27, 2008, 06:02:14 AM

Some pics of Ligers. Half tiger and half lion.

georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP) · April 27, 2008, 06:38:53 AM

Never seen that before

I beleive its not allowed to be released in the wild !?

Carl Wrbka · April 27, 2008, 06:45:55 AM

Yes u'r right there. Due to the interbreeding, the liger does not retain all the necessary instincts and skills needed to survive in the wild. They are mostly bred for scientific reasons or to be used as pets due to their friendly nature. If you google " Liger " you will discover many more amazing facts.

Rhona · April 27, 2008, 08:43:14 AM

Another mix is the 'Zonkey' - half donkey and half zebra.........while in Capetown last year at a park, they were waiting for the birth of one.

Carl Wrbka · April 27, 2008, 09:11:18 AM

Rhona, here are some pics of the zonkey you were referring to.

Rhona · April 27, 2008, 02:43:53 PM

Whoa! Amazing - thanks for that Carl

Michael Alexander · April 30, 2008, 12:49:44 PM

Here's my tiger....who took this pic on Sunday morning at Tygeberg Zoo......

georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP) · April 30, 2008, 01:14:16 PM

Hey Mike, dit you cuddle him ??? its a youngster, should have held the cam through a fence hole !!!! LOL

Michael Alexander · April 30, 2008, 04:00:53 PM

There was no way I was going in there,..... the Lions looked neglected and covered in sores and flies... a disgrace...it seemed cruel.... will post the pics later....

Rhona · April 30, 2008, 08:16:26 PM

Ah no Mike - that's not right.............I hope you made a complaint!!!

Carl Wrbka · May 05, 2008, 06:32:25 AM

It's unfortunately a sign of the times we live in Rhona. Corruption in government always hits the hardest in areas that lay close to our hearts, the welfare of children and animals. The conditions described by Michael are sadly here to stay, in all our State funded Zoo's. The people who really loved and cared for these poor animals have long since gone on to greener pastures overseas, lured by higher salaries and better working conditions. For the few that remain, I take my hat off to them.

What we are left with are understaffed zoo's, uneducated staff, and dwindling resources. I read somewhere that the WWF had to step in to save the animals in Zimbabwe's zoo's after reports started circulating that the zoo staff were slaughtering the animals for their meat. I don't think our zoo's in SA will ever degenerate to this level, but it hurts to see these animals neglected so badly.