Zoo holds tiger cubs for now
Two strays found wandering highway
By Kathi Keys
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
ASHEBORO - Two tiger cubs found wandering along a state highway last
weekend are now housed at the N.C. Zoo where they will remain for up to
60 days before their transfer to a Chatham County carnivore sanctuary.
The pair is quarantined in special large carnivore holding quarters at
the zoo's Hanes Veterinary Medical Center. Most zoos require a minimum 30-day
quarantine period for any new animals to prevent the spread of disease to
existing collections.
The cubs appear to be 6-7 months old and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds,
according to zoo officials.
N.C. Zoo Mammal Curator Lorraine Smith has been working with authorities
in Gaston and Cleveland counties since Sunday to resolve the issue of proper
care for the tiger cubs.
Smith, who also serves on the Carnivore Preservation Trust (CPT) board
of directors, arranged for that facility, near Pittsboro, to give the animals
a permanent home.
Because CPT does not have adequate quarantine facilities, zoo officials
agreed to temporarily keep the cubs, which arrived Tuesday afternoon.
The pair was spotted by an unidentified motorist Saturday night along
County Line Road between Cherryville and Kings Mountain, west of Gastonia
and Charlotte.
Authorities with both Cleveland and Gaston counties searched for the
tiger cubs, finding one on each side of the road, thus in different counties.
As a result, each county assumed control of one cub, capturing them by holding
a pole and sliding an attached snare around their necks. Each had been housed
since Saturday night in that county's animal shelter.
A Gaston animal control officer said they were leash-trained while a
Cleveland official termed them tame.
Rod Hackney, the zoo's public relations manager, said he initially learned
that one had diarrhea, possibly because of the stress of being separated
from the sibling.
However, the cubs were reunited Tuesday before being transferred to the
zoo by Cleveland animal control officials.
Zoo officials will conduct an examination of the cubs this morning at
which time the sex of the tigers will be determined.
The owner of the animals has not come forward to provide the zoo with
information about where they came from and any medical attention the pair
has received.
The zoo has been dealing with the problems related to private ownership
of exotic animals for many years, Smith said.
The zoo's Animal Division routinely receives several calls each week
from people who have bought exotic animals and can no longer provide proper
care for them.
However, the zoo normally cannot accept these animals due to the lack
of holding space, staff and budget to care for them as well as the problems
of disease transfer and uncertain genealogical history commonly associated
with them.
The zoo has been pushing for several years to have state laws passed
to restrict private ownership of exotics. Currently, there is no state regulation
on exotics and only about 30 of North Carolina's 100 counties have local
restrictions, including Randolph, Cleveland and Gaston.
Within the last 18 months, two North Carolina children have been mauled
by tigers, including a young Wilkes County boy who was killed.
"This is just the latest example of a huge ongoing problem that
the State Legislature needs to address," said N.C. Zoo Director Dr.
David Jones.
"These animals being kept in private hands pose a real threat to
public safety and are detrimental to the welfare of the animals themselves."
Jones added that an effort will be made to have exotic pet legislation
introduced in this year's session of the state Legislature.
The Carnivore Preservation Trust, founded in 1981, is a sanctuary to
about 140 animals representing 11 species of threatened and endangered carnivores
from around the world.
The staff cares for tigers, spotted leopards, snow leopards, jaguars,
ocelots, servals and caracals in addition to the largest captive population
of binturongs (Asian bearcats) in the United States.
* * *
Due to the high cost of long-term care, the private, nonprofit CPT
has set up a special fund to receive contributions for the tiger cubs. Checks
can be made payable to Carnivore Pre-servation Trust of CPT, with a notation
that it's for the "Tiger Cub Rescue Fund," and mailed to CPT,
1940 Hanks Chapel Road, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312. Donations can also be made
online by going to the CPT website at <www.cptigers-.org>. For further
information, call (919) 542-4684 or visit the center's website.
Copyright 2002, Stephens Media Group
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