Mr Saxon
Well-Known Member
Tiger Jack dies
Belfast Zoo’s much-loved white tiger, Jack, has died. He was 17.
Jack came to Belfast on 23 April 1998 from Colchester Zoo and arrived with Jill, the zoo’s other tiger. They shared an enclosure for nine years until Jill died of kidney failure in 2007.
Over the past few weeks, Jack’s health had been monitored by Belfast Zoo vet, Michael Griffith, who took the decision to put him to sleep.
“In tiger years, Jack lived a long life, but suffered a rapid deterioration in health over the past few weeks," he said.
"He became less active, suffered rapid weight loss, and developed a tumour on his throat which had significantly grown in size.”
Because he was a hybrid sub-species, Jack was not part of a breeding programme. But, despite this, he remained very popular with visitors to the zoo who often knew him by name.
Julie Mansell, curator, said: “Jack was a firm favourite with public and staff and will be sorely missed. Some of our visitors may remember Jack because of his fondness for swimming in his pool. This was one of his favourite pastimes."
Jack`s death means the zoo currently has no tigers.
Zoo manager Mark Challis said: “There is a long-term commitment to bring tigers back to the zoo and we are assessing our options.
"Imagine a world without tigers. There are currently estimated to be less than 400 Sumatran and Amur tigers remaining in the world. Tigers are in such a perilous state in the wild that the Sumatran tiger may become the first major mammal extinct in the 21st century.”
Pained me when I saw the news on the website. A massive loss to the zoo, R.I.P Jack
Belfast Zoo’s much-loved white tiger, Jack, has died. He was 17.
Jack came to Belfast on 23 April 1998 from Colchester Zoo and arrived with Jill, the zoo’s other tiger. They shared an enclosure for nine years until Jill died of kidney failure in 2007.
Over the past few weeks, Jack’s health had been monitored by Belfast Zoo vet, Michael Griffith, who took the decision to put him to sleep.
“In tiger years, Jack lived a long life, but suffered a rapid deterioration in health over the past few weeks," he said.
"He became less active, suffered rapid weight loss, and developed a tumour on his throat which had significantly grown in size.”
Because he was a hybrid sub-species, Jack was not part of a breeding programme. But, despite this, he remained very popular with visitors to the zoo who often knew him by name.
Julie Mansell, curator, said: “Jack was a firm favourite with public and staff and will be sorely missed. Some of our visitors may remember Jack because of his fondness for swimming in his pool. This was one of his favourite pastimes."
Jack`s death means the zoo currently has no tigers.
Zoo manager Mark Challis said: “There is a long-term commitment to bring tigers back to the zoo and we are assessing our options.
"Imagine a world without tigers. There are currently estimated to be less than 400 Sumatran and Amur tigers remaining in the world. Tigers are in such a perilous state in the wild that the Sumatran tiger may become the first major mammal extinct in the 21st century.”
Pained me when I saw the news on the website. A massive loss to the zoo, R.I.P Jack