Hati is a 12-year-old male Malayan tiger who came to the Zoo from the Fort Worth Zoo. He has been in required quarantine for a month, and just made his first venture out in the Zoo’s Kimelman Tiger River habitat on July 24th.
Hati’s arrival at the Zoo came through a breeding recommendation as part of a Species Survival Plan® (SSP) through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Zookeepers are hopeful that Hati will mate with Berapi, the Zoo’s female Malayan tiger.
“Tigers are admired animals, but they are vulnerable to extinction,” Nancy Nill, associate curator for the Zoo.
“With as few as 250 Malayan tigers left in the wild, conservation initiatives are especially important. That’s why we are proud to participate in a Tiger Species Survival Plan.”
“We are optimistic Hati will leave a legacy of cubs for us,” Nill continued. “Berapi gave birth to three tiger brothers at our zoo in 2011, so we are hopeful that we will once again have more tiger cubs soon.”
Global Tiger Day is celebrated annually on July 29th to give worldwide attention to the conservation of tigers. The Zoo funds conservation initiatives in Malaysia, and the public can financially support the Zoo’s efforts by making a donation or by participating in the Zoo’s “Big Cat 5K Race” series, such as the upcoming Save the Jaguar 5K.
About the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society
The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches (d.b.a. the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society) exists to inspire people to act on behalf of wildlife and the natural world. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animals on twenty-three shaded tropical acres, including endangered Malayan tigers, Mexican spider monkeys, jaguars and more. The Zoo is committed to sustainability on-site and in the community as a conservation leader for Palm Beach County.
The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is located at 1301 Summit Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, visit www.palmbeachzoo.org.