Sumatran tigers were celebrated by the Australia Zoo team on International Tiger Day, honouring their dedication to protecting these beautiful animals.
In their gorgeous habitat Tiger Temple, resident tigers spent the day discovering their favourite treats.
Shane Dunn, curator of Exotic Mammals at Australia Zoo, was excited to celebrate International Tiger Day with enrichment activities and discussed the importance of protecting the species.
“Australia Zoo’s Tiger Team enriched their habitat with food treats, giant ice cubes, bamboo cuttings filled with frozen milk, and coffee grounds from Warrior Restaurant and Bar at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, encouraging natural scent marking behaviors that they exhibit in the wild,“ Shane said.
“Here at Australia Zoo, we want to bring attention to the plight of tigers in the wild by introducing visitors to our resident Sumatran tigers.
“By honouring our mission of conservation through exciting education, we hope to inspire visitors and leave them with an appreciation for these magnificent animals.“
Sumatran tigers are victim to the illegal wildlife trade, poaching and hunting, along with rapid deforestation and habitat loss.
With fewer than 350 Sumatran tigers remaining in the wild, they are a critically endangered species facing certain extinction without help.
Through Wildlife Warriors, they support the Tiger Protection and Conservation Units in Sumatra, who play an incredibly important role in saving tigers in the wild.
From one anti-poaching unit to more than 90 full-time rangers, these wildlife heroes are on the frontline by helping locate tiger tracks, identifying wildlife criminals and prosecuting poachers.
Wildlife conservationist Terri Irwin said, “We’re really proud to help the brave rangers in Sumatra who operate from the Kerinci Seblat National Park, an area thought to be home to the largest remaining population of wild Sumatran tigers.“
“We work with local communities who help us protect critical tiger habitat, and hope that our collective efforts help preserve the last remaining population of Sumatran tigers.“
By supporting Wildlife Warriors, there is hope for the survival of this critically endangered species.
