Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466 
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Post by Terry on Jul 13, 2014 20:08:57 GMT
I recently learned about a small, family operated zoo about 1 1/2 hours away from where I live. This zoo frequently has baby tigers, along with other baby animals, that they allow you to hold, feed, and have your picture taken with. I decided to take my 2 kids and my 2 granddaughters there yesterday so we could hold the baby tiger before she gets too big for hands-on contact (they only allow it until the baby is approximately 12 weeks old, and she's 10-11 weeks old now). It was a hot, humid day, and the zoo was very different from any zoo I've been to before, but what an amazing experience!
First we each got to hold Speedy, the Coyote pup. I'm not a big fan of coyotes, since they frequently hunt on my property at night and kill my barn cats, but how could I resist the opportunity to hold an adorable coyote pup! We quickly learned that if you didn't hold him just right, he would start squirming and biting (he chewed on my daughter pretty good, but nothing serious).
Here is a picture of me holding Speedy, with my son and granddaughters with me. 
Of course the biggest draw to this zoo was the chance to hold the tiger cub. By the time we arrived there was already a large group of people ahead of us waiting to hold the tiger cub. They allowed her to be held and photographed for a while, and then she had to go back inside for a while. During the time that she was inside getting a break, the zoo owner gave us all a guided tour of their zoo. They had some beautiful and unique animals there, including a large white tiger, a beautiful and colorful wolf pack, an unusual breed of lion, and a couple albino raccoons, to name a few! (Any of you who are Facebook friends with me can see pictures of all the animals in my Facebook album.) Finally it was our turn to hold the baby tiger. Her name is Nadia, and she is approximately 10-11 weeks old (and currently teething!). We each got an opportunity to hold her and feed her. She is so beautiful, and so soft, and I still can't believe I held a tiger!!
Here is a picture of me, my son, my daughter, and my two granddaughters with Nadia. As you can see, my 6 year old granddaughter, Megan, got to be the one to hold and feed the tiger for our group pictures. 
My turn to hold Nadia, with my 2 year old granddaughter, Kaci, sitting with me 
At one point they put Nadia down and allowed her to roam around. I snapped this picture of her while she was in the tree. 
I had so much fun!
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Post by horselady on Jul 13, 2014 20:34:00 GMT
What a beautiful family and an great experience for all.
thankfully those memories will last forever and the need to have people be aware of the dangers of wild animals. and also their need to be protected or they will no longer roam the earth.
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Post by horselover4life on Jul 13, 2014 20:54:51 GMT
All I have to say is
WOW!!!
I love tigers. We go to Disney often to their Animal Kingdom Park for me because of the tigers they have...
I have a stuffed animal tiger...does that count? :|thought not.
What a special experience...
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Jul 13, 2014 21:21:40 GMT
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Post by shadowlark on Jul 13, 2014 22:45:08 GMT
OMG How cool is that! I love tigers! They are right up there with horses for me. I have a little tiger outline tattoo on my ankle. I would LOVE to visit a little zoo like this! Great pics!
Mingiz - how old was the white tiger? She looks big!
Love the little coyote pup! And the pic of Nadia in the tree. So sweet!
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Jul 13, 2014 23:46:00 GMT
Ya know I don't even remember. I have CRS you know. wag finger 5 months old I believe. They brought her into the room, then told me how to hold the bottle (which insulted me) I said I know how to bottle feed animals. Took the picture then snatched her up and put her back into her pen. Their reason was they didn't want her to get to tame. But we got to hold her and that was enough for me.  |
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Jul 14, 2014 0:05:20 GMT
Mingiz, I remembered that you had held a tiger (and I know I've seen the picture before, but for the life of me I couldn't remember where), but I didn't remember that the one you held was a white tiger, or that it was so big! White tigers are my absolute favorite, but just to be able to hold a tiger, any tiger, is such an awesome experience that I will never forget! 
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redzip
Junior Member
Posts: 1,701
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Post by redzip on Jul 14, 2014 0:48:05 GMT
Awww,.., COOL!  smileys-party-370729 Great pics! |
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Post by horselover4life on Jul 14, 2014 1:23:34 GMT
I'm jealous...simply put...
 .....jealous!!
You know I'm kidding....envious is a better description.
Captive animal or not, in the wild they would be gone...to lose such beauty is wrong.
I'm glad certain institutions have stepped up to let them breed and save them...
Her kitty, kitty, kitty...listen to that animal purrrrr.... 
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Jul 14, 2014 2:19:55 GMT
This particular zoo has a breeding pair of Siberian Tigers. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that Nadia may be their cub. They also have a 6 month old male Barbary Lion. From what I've read, those are extinct in the wild. I am very grateful that places like this exist to help keep these beautiful animals from becoming extinct entirely.
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Post by lorddaxter on Jul 14, 2014 17:31:19 GMT
I'm jealous of both of you, that's adorable, I love orang u tangs too, I'd love to snuggle one:)
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Aug 1, 2014 12:07:47 GMT
Tigers are amazing animals and all babies are precious, probably even hyenas. I can only imagine how soft they are, and the size of their feet, holy cow!
When I came home last night I got to sit on the curb and pet one of the other tenant's sweet old dog for a long time. New tenants can't keep pets but thank goodness some of the longer time residents can. Makes my life a lot less lonely here.
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Aug 1, 2014 18:15:27 GMT
I'm jealous, too!!! Really, how cool is that? Thanks so much for sharing the pictures with us!
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Aug 4, 2014 2:44:52 GMT
It really was an awesome experience! Now they have a baby lion. I wish it wasn't such a long drive to get there, because I'd really love to go again and hold the baby lion!
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Aug 21, 2015 20:46:15 GMT
Yep, we did it again!  My son heard about a small traveling zoo that was in a nearby town for a few days, so he and I took his youngest daughter there today and we got to hold a tiger cub again. It was awesome!
My granddaughter got to ride a donkey while we were there, too. 
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Post by horselady on Aug 22, 2015 0:55:09 GMT
A wonderful experience. for you and especially for the girls.
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Aug 22, 2015 12:24:31 GMT
That is to cool.  Glad you got to hold another cub.  |
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smileys-party-370729
.....jealous!!
My son heard about a small traveling zoo that was in a nearby town for a few days, so he and I took his youngest daughter there today and we got to hold a tiger cub again. It was awesome!
Glad you got to hold another cub. 