A tiger cub being hand-raised at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is now big enough to be on public display.
Zoya, a rare and endangered Amur tiger, was born June 19 at the zoo to mother Helga and father George.
But Helga didn’t warm to the cub, and she left it alone in its birthing box, the zoo said in a news release.
Veterinary staff determined the 2.6 pound female tiger would be best served is she weren’t reunited with her mother.
Tiger experts associated with the Amur species survival plan recommended that Zoya be reared in a “rich and varied environment” namely the home of a staffer who has a large dog.
So every night since then, Zoya goes home with one of two volunteers. She’s also been cared for Sam, the Australian shepherd belonging to one family.
“Sam was quite attentive and nurturing of the little tiger,” the Colorado Springs zoo said in its release.
Zoya, whose name means “life” in Greek, is now 14 pounds and eats six bottles every day. She can be seen from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Monkey Pavilion at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo starting tomorrow.
Zoya parents came to the zoo as part of a captive breeding program. Helga was donated by the Sunset Zoological Park in Manhattan, Ks; George is on loan from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.
Amur (formerly called Siberian) tigers are the largest feline in the world, the zoo said. There are currently about 400 of the animals living in the wild.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has four of Amur tigers; one is being sent to another zoo, so there will be plenty of room for Zoya in the Asian Highlands complex when she grows up.
