Tiger tales

Are there any pet shops where we can purchase baby tigers? Cat person Did you know that there are more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild and the tiger has become the symbol for conservation because of its rapid decline? If the killing continues, we shall not be seeing wild tigers in the next decade. There seems to be a proliferation of captive bred tigers nowadays. As a young boy, I remember a neighbor in Malate named Daktari who had several huge tigers. He got in trouble and left his wards in a huff. I understand that these cats are in private hands and some are kept at the Manila Zoo. This Daktari stock brought forth the "tiger boom" that we have in the PI.  There are a few hardcore, passionate people such as Jake Gao of Avilon and Robert Yupangco of Tagaytay Residence Inn who have the capability to care for these magnificent cats but they do not sell any. Here are a few very important big cat considerations for those foolhardy enough to even consider buying one:

• Tigers won’t stay cubs forever.

Baby tigers are the cutest and most loving of pets! The size of a house cat, they are manageable and amiable with their antics. But believe us, they grow quick! A six-month-old juvenile at play can already be a hazard to life and limb. Owners have to declaw the creatures at a young age to eradicate the risk of cute Tigger playfully clawing you (or your equally cute baby) in the face, thereby erasing your nose, eyes and lips! Vicky Bello will have a field day. Juveniles are also fond of play bites that are harmless from little toothless cubs but from juveniles, will draw blood and tear flesh from Homo sapiens, not meant as playmates to felines.

• Tigers are solitary animals and do not like masters.

Tigers have minds of their own and cannot be heeled or put on a leash. I remember Manong Chavit, who has the facility to care for big cats, broke a few ribs when one of his juveniles he was trying to heel on leash scampered away dragging him a few meters, injuring him in the process. Accidents like this still happen even to Manong who definitely knows his stuff.

• Tigers have big appetites.

Do you have the moolah to feed your giant pussycat five to 10 kilos of beef a day, seven days a week? If starved, giant kitty might just have an acquired appetite for you or your cute little children! Though they seldom eat people, a hungry 600-pound tiger will make no qualms eating its proud owner. Most human deaths caused by animals in rural India are caused by tigers. So prevalent are attacks that Indians devised a mask with huge eyes that they place at the back of their heads because these ambush hunters always attack prey from behind and are intimidated by human eye contact.

• Tigers (like your boyfriend) demand space.

 It is absolutely cruel to put tigers in small room-like enclosures. They are wild animals that love to roam and seldom stay still. To keep captive tigers happy, you need at least 200 square meters to keep a pair. Big cats are best enjoyed from educational institutions such as zoos. You may have the moolah or the de rigueur posh farm in Tags or Batangas but tigers or any big cat should never be kept by anyone if owner and animal are to be safe and happy.

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We may not have an article next week. We are leaving for Africa and will be back end of May. Watch Animalandia in Magandang Umaga Bayan, text 0918-2010405 or e-mail kuyakim@hotmail.com for questions. Adiosss!