Tiger drowns in zoo enclosure

Siberian tiger Malyshka, pictured in 2008 with her cubs, has died  in an accident in her enclosure Siberian tiger Malyshka, pictured [right] in 2008 with her cubs, has died in an accident in her enclosure

A RARE tiger used in a breeding programme to ensure the survival of an endangered species has drowned in its enclosure at Banham Zoo. Malyshka, a pregnant female Amur (Siberian) tiger, was found lifeless in her territory paddock by her keepers early on Sunday morning.

Martin Goymour, zoo director, said an post mortem examination identified the cause of death to be drowning, but how this occurred to an apparently healthy tigress remains a mystery.

The tests also revealed that Malyshka, who was in the top five most important breeding females in Europe, was pregnant with three cubs, which would have been of great importance to the international effort to bolster the Amur tigers’ falling population.

Currently, there are believed to be no more than 450 Amur adult tigers left in the wild.  The five-year-old tigress, which could have lived for about 20 years, was mother to two 17-month-old cubs Vasya and Kuzma.

“Malyshka was such a strong and healthy tigress and showed no signs of external and internal injuries. The pool in the enclosure is not deep or considered hazardous,” said Mr Goymour.

“All the zoo staff, particularly her keepers, are very much saddened by her loss.

“Further veterinary investigations continue and consultations with the International Studbook Keepers for the Amur tigers will commence immediately.”

Mr Goymour added that Malyshka’s mate – 15-year-old male tiger Mischa – had been ruled-out of playing any part in the tragic incident.

Mischa’s previous mate Zaliv died of cancer in 2003 and despite efforts to hand-rear their two young cubs, they also died.

Malyshka was born in Chelyabinsk Zoo in Russia and her arrival in 2006 was heralded as a new beginning for Banham’s tiger-breeding prog-ramme.

Banham Zoo was the only zoo in the UK to receive an official recommendation from the studbook to breed Amur tigers in 2008 and Malyshka gave birth to Vasya and Kuzma in October that year.

It is expected that the zoo will bring another female into the enclosure so the breeding programme can continue.

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