First Amur tiger cub from AquaZoo has been transferred to another zoo

The first of four Amur tiger cubs born at AquaZoo in June 2023 has left for a zoo in Austria. This event is an important milestone in the development of the tigers, which also go their separate ways in the wild when they are between 18 months and three years old.

The young tigers have developed well over the past year and a half. Head of animal care William Kreijkes says, "The cubs have grown like cabbage and now weigh between 120-140 kilograms. In the wild they go their own way when they are old enough, so it is a logical consequence that they also leave with us." The first tiger, the female Sungari, is going to Vienna. The other three young tigers are also expected to leave for other zoos in Europe in 2025.

To preserve the species for the future, European zoos are working together in a management program. This program coordinates relocations of tigers within member zoos, checking whether animals are a good genetic match. If the animals can be successfully introduced to each other and reproduce, it contributes to a genetically healthy reserve population. This is important because Amur tigers are among the most endangered tiger species. Only about 500 are estimated to live in the wild. The biggest threats are poaching and habitat loss due to logging and forest fires.

Box training

Before a tiger is moved, he or she undergoes crate training at AquaZoo for several months. This involves familiarizing the animal in a calm, playful manner with the transport crate in which it will be transported. This process occurs in small steps, with the animal learning that the crate is not a threat and that entering it is rewarded. "The animals voluntarily step into the crate, after which we slowly close it. This way they get used to the transport process step by step," Kreijkes says.

Contribution to nature conservation

AquaZoo supports through Wildlife Foundation supports the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Among other things, this organization is committed to Amur tigers and has set up a program to combat poaching in officially protected areas. Jeroen Loomeijer, general manager of AquaZoo: "We think it is important to contribute not only within our zoo to the conservation of endangered species, but also to their protection in the wild."