[FEL-L] Thailand- depressing news 4 Tigers

[Laura Morin]

I would guess the unfortunate medical tradition..... 
Dont they follow up on things there? 

Laura Morin
lmorin67 at earthlink.net
www.WildAboutCats.org
Exotic Feline Conservation-Education-Rescue 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: felines-l at catbox.com
Sent: 7/26/2006 6:37:56 PM 
Subject: [FEL-L] Thailand- depressing news 4 Tigers


Tiger Production Line?
Tiger cubs at Sriracha zoo in Thailand are being weaned on surrogate pig
mothers. Not because their mother has died or is unable to feed them, but
simply so that she can become pregnant again and produce more cubs.

The Metro newspaper (28.7.99) says that there are more than 180 tigers at
the zoo, which breeds the endangered species. The implication being that
these animals are being conserved for future reintroduction.
But the story misses an important point. 

It is now well accepted that animals bred in zoos are very unlikely to ever
be returned to the wild. They are becoming best suited to life in captivity,
and one reason for this is that they loose the skills necessary to survive
in the wild. These skills are learned from their parents, so how can a cub
weaned on a pig ever hope to survive on its own in its natural habitat.

Maybe we should ask the question: where or what are these tiger cubs
destined for? Zoos? Circuses? The film industry? As pets? Or traditional
medicine?

This zoo sounds as though it might just be a breeding farm, supplying
animals to anyone that wants them.

Related News:-
Thailand's Tigers, Tiger Farm Busted!
http://www.warthai.org/education/tigers.htm#top (several recent news updates
missing though) 

The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WAR) 
http://www.warthai.org/home.htm 
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