Death of tiger cub
From Paignton's website:
Zoo sadness at cub death 17/07/2009
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is sad to announce the death of one of its four rare Sumatran tiger cubs.
Staff saw Kemala, one of the two female cubs, in difficulties on Thursday morning and acted quickly. The cub was taken to the Zoo’s in-house vet centre and x-rayed under a general anaesthetic. Keepers and vets found that she had broken both of her shoulders - injuries most likely the result of an awkward fall.
Keepers, vet staff and the curator of mammals discussed the injuries, their treatment and the cub’s prospects for recovery. The decision was taken to euthanase the cub.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “It was a serious injury, especially for a growing cub. The decision taken was a difficult one but it was the best thing we could do for the welfare of the animal.
“The operation would have been intrusive and risky. If she had made it through then recuperation would have been long and difficult. We also had to consider the consequences of taking her out of the family group for treatment and whether we would be able to reintroduce her at a later date.”
Paignton Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling added: “The cubs are being raised by their mother in an environment that is as natural as possible. There are rocks and trees and they are adventurous young animals eager to explore their environment. At this age they will also play fight. There are risks. Sadly, accidents happen. One of the other cubs, the male named Aryo, is being monitored because he is limping on one of his hind legs, so maybe they were playing together.”
Zoo staff and volunteers are upset. The death is also a blow to the charity’s efforts to help save this endangered species from extinction. Three cubs remain. They were born in February and share the public enclosure with mother Banda while father Tenang remains off-show. Male Sumatrans take no part in the rearing of their offspring.
Paignton Zoo is a member of the European Endangered species Programme (EEP) for Sumatran tigers, which means it is part of the global effort to save this endangered species from extinction. Captive and wild populations are protected and managed in an attempt to prevent Sumatran tigers following the Bali and Javan tigers into extinction.