Contact: Kyle Shepherd
kyle.shepherd@louisvilleky.gov
(O) 502-238-5331 (C) 502-744-5639
Louisville has a big new cat in town! Timmy, a male Amur tiger, arrived at the Louisville Zoo from the Potter Park Zoo in Michigan in late Autumn.
The Zoo is thrilled to announce that today, Timmy joined female Sasha on regular habitat rotation at Tiger Taiga near Snow Leopard Pass.
The zookeepers working with Timmy are still getting to know him but have noticed he is very interactive with his varied enrichment and with them in general. They add that he seems to have an affinity for goat’s milk and a calm demeanor.
The 6-year-old male cat arrives with a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP).
Vikenti, the Zoo’s other male Amur tiger, was moved to the Potter Park Zoo when Timmy was transported to Louisville. Vikenti’s attempts to reproduce with the Zoo’s female Amur tiger, Sasha, had not produced offspring over the years. Amur tigers are endangered and are rare in both the wild and in the managed population of zoos. Their future in the vanishing wild is uncertain. Breeding recommendations like the one Timmy and Sasha have received from AZA’s SSP for tigers are designed to maintain the genetic diversity of managed animal populations in human care and help sustain a healthy population.
Conservation Status
The International Union of Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species lists Amur tigers as endangered. It is estimated that only 350 – 450 Amur tigers remain in the wild. Tigers are poached for their bones and organs, which are coveted for their use in traditional medicines.
About Tigers
Amur Tigers (formerly called Siberian tigers) are no longer found in Siberia. They are currently found in the Amur River region of eastern Russia, northeastern China and into the Korean peninsula. They are the largest living feline. Males weigh 400 – 600 pounds on average and measure up to 14 feet long. Average females weigh between 250 – 300. Tiger stripes are like fingerprints and are unique to that tiger.
Zoo Hours
The Zoo is open daily year-round. Fall/winter hours are 10 a.m. ─ 4 p.m. (stay until 5 p.m.). The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Visit louisvillezoo.org for more info.
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The Louisville Zoo, the State Zoo of Kentucky, is the top, non-profit, paid attraction in the state. The Zoo is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
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