By Nicole Wexler | Director of Development
Dear Sumatran tiger supporters,
Following the tragic loss of our litter of Sumatran tiger cubs a few months ago, our zoological team has performed a thorough review of protocols and some small changes will be made if and when our tigress Hannah becomes preganant in the future. In general, it is always best if cubs are not hand-reared unless absolutely necessary because human-reared cubs later often experience problems throughout adulthood in identifying as and connecting with other tigers.
Approximately one month after the death of the tiger cubs, our senior carnivore keeper noticed that our male tiger, Avigdor, was not eating and seemed to be ill. Our veterinary team tranquilized Avigdor in order to conduct a battery of health checks. It was discovered that Avigdor is suffering from chronic renal failure. When the kidneys and their complex filtering system break down, toxic wastes can start to accumulate in the recirculating bloodstream. If a proper balance of waste, minerals and electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) is not maintained, severe complications may affect other organs. Unfortunately, feline kidneys are susceptible to a wide range of life-threatening disorders that can lead to renal dysfunction and death. Especially in cats that are older than seven years of age (domestic cats) or 10 years of age in wild cats, kidney failure is one of the most frequently observed causes of severe illness. Avigdor is receiving treatment and remains under close observation. Some cats can live for one to three years or even longer following early diagnosis and so we are hoping for the best.
We hope to report more positive news next time.Thank you for your support of this important wildlife conservation effort.
The Carnivore Team at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
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