Colchester Zoo Death of Sasha - white tiger

Poor old Sasha, but it's 'good' to read he died in his sleep rather than someone having to take the decision to have him put down - which I suspect would otherwise have had to happen soon.

Leaving aside the argument about white tigers, he was what he was and was a fascinating and magnificent creature to watch .... or listen to, as you could hear him roar from miles away.

My daughter absolutely loved him ..... though she renamed him 'Tiggy' when she was 3 and the name's stuck ever since in our household. She has two white tiger toys - both called Tiggy as well - who are real favourites. However, she was very pragmatic when I told her and her first thought too was what would happen to his enclosure though somehow I don't think her suggestion of putting the anteaters in there (probably because they're nearby) is likely to be taken up !

Whatever happens, I hope the space is used well. IMO, it's one of the
best, if not the best, enclosures in the zoo due to its many and varied vantage points, so it needs a species which would not only benefit from the space itself, but which would also be an impressive exhibit.
 
karenZOO said:
They handled giving the bad news in such a sensitive way .

Well done Colchester, I think this is another reason why I love Colchester zoo as they always make you feel a part of the zoo, and not just money coming through the turnstiles as I have felt at other zoos!
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They certainly seem to have a very good PR department. I know nowhere else that reports the 'bad news' i.e. illnesses and deaths so fully and openly, and informing animal adoptees of a favourite animal's death must also be a difficult and timeconsuming business too.
 
GillP said:
Whatever happens, I hope the space is used well. IMO, it's one of the
best, if not the best, enclosures in the zoo due to its many and varied vantage points, so it needs a species which would not only benefit from the space itself, but which would also be an impressive exhibit.
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Its just about the most Central open space enclosure in the old part of the Zoo and so a very valuable exhibit. It will be interesting to see what will be done with it now.
 
Pertinax said:
They certainly seem to have a very good PR department. I know nowhere else that reports the 'bad news' i.e. illnesses and deaths so fully and openly, and informing animal adoptees of a favourite animal's death must also be a difficult and timeconsuming business too.
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They really are fab at announcing news, whether it is good or bad. They also give as much info as they possibly can, presumably to avoid speculation or rumours. Whenever I ring them they are always so open, as are all the staff when I visit. As someone has already said, you always feel part of the zoo not just numbers or money (although I'm sure they think about the money too, but they never show it when you speak to anyone).
 
Oh I don't know, Edinburgh did a pretty good job announcing the euthanasia of the red river hogs and as we all know it was met with such a positive response, check out their facebook page.....is it any wonder zoos seek to supress negative stories, I loved the Dartmoor pony piece in the Daily Mail recently, the headline was such an accurate reflection of the actual article, have a look online, catch the headline and then read the article.....
MonkeyGirl86 said:
They really are fab at announcing news, whether it is good or bad. They also give as much info as they possibly can, presumably to avoid speculation or rumours. Whenever I ring them they are always so open, as are all the staff when I visit. As someone has already said, you always feel part of the zoo not just numbers or money (although I'm sure they think about the money too, but they never show it when you speak to anyone).
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Pertinax said:
They certainly seem to have a very good PR department. I know nowhere else that reports the 'bad news' i.e. illnesses and deaths so fully and openly, and informing animal adoptees of a favourite animal's death must also be a difficult and timeconsuming business too.
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its a refreshing change for a zoo to be so open, even about bad news. they obviously recognise that people are genuinely interested and care about their animals. handling the breaking of bad news well will also stop people speculating and generating rumours, which has happened when other zoos have not been so open about such matters.
 
Was Sasha's erstwhile mate white? Presumably there's nothing to stop them being mated with normal coloured tigers of the same sub-species except the decreased novelty value of non- white offspring?
 
Yes. I think regardless of what fur colour Sasha would have killed her. As for the question of "will Colchester get white tigers back again?" I certainly hope not! That's not to say I didn't like Sasha! Also thumbs up to Colchester for boldly speaking the truth here with sad issues.
 
Blossom said:
What are the chances that Colchester might get more white tigers?
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I wouldn`t bet agains`t them getting another White Tiger despite what many of us think of them they do bring people through the gates,that don`t know any better that White Tigers are all Hybrid freaks!!
 
OrangePerson said:
Was Sasha's erstwhile mate white? Presumably there's nothing to stop them being mated with normal coloured tigers of the same sub-species except the decreased novelty value of non- white offspring?
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Yes, they had a pair of Whites but I believe he killed her. As far as breeding with normals, all the whites are nowadays generic/crossbred tigers, while purebred Indian tigers from which they originally stemmed are no longer kept in any European collections.

I hope perhaps Colchester have got past their 'White Tiger era' now, but like others on here, I would not be 100% sure that they wouldn't be tempted to repeat a big drawcard species like this, and they are relatively easy to obtain. I hope they can find something different to exhibit in here instead.
 
I wonder if the area could be used to keep another big cat species? Maybe the return of jaguars?

It wouldn't take much money/time to do. I'm guessing with the sun bear enclosure and new tropical house in the pipe line money would be tied up with these.
 
bugs said:
I wonder if the area could be used to keep another big cat species? Maybe the return of jaguars?

It wouldn't take much money/time to do. I'm guessing with the sun bear enclosure and new tropical house in the pipe line money would be tied up with these.
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Although filling up an empty enclosure in the centure of the zoo would seem very needded. Just as much as the 2 devolpments that you've mentioned.
 
Were they being introduced when he killed the female or had they been together some time?
Just been watching the Auckland tigers being introduced on old episodes of The Zoo, it's a lot less tense when you know the outcome already.
 
They have bred white tigers in new zealand. so why not over here?

RIP sasha, you were a beutiful boy
 
zamba said:
They have bred white tigers in new zealand. so why not over here?

RIP sasha, you were a beutiful boy
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Because any place with any decency doesn't want to further the massive problem with the fact that all white tigers are severely hybridized and inbred. When a white tiger was first discovered and taken into captivity, they bred it with it's own daughter to bring through the recessive 'white' gene.
 
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