After several weeks of quarantine and settling in at AAP’s rescue centre in Spain, Saphira and her five young have taken a major step: exploring their outdoor enclosure for the very first time.
Welfare concerns and a serious incident
Saphira and her five offspring – Bombay, Simbi, Goliath, Davine and Radscha – were confiscated in Germany from a former circus animal trainer. The family, together with two other tigers, was living in a trailer connected to an outdoor area that was inadequate for so many tigers.
The authorities intervened following a serious incident at the facility. Sandokán, the father of the five young tigers, escaped and fatally injured a volunteer. Shortly afterwards, the animal was shot by the authorities.
Settling in at AAP
The German authorities intervened after the incident with Sandokán and handed over six of the eight tigers to AAP. Upon their arrival at our Spanish rescue centre, Saphira and her family began the mandatory quarantine period, during which they received veterinary care and their welfare was closely monitored. Once they had successfully passed all health checks, we began to gradually introduce them to their new surroundings. They were first given access to transition areas designed to help them become familiar with new smells, sounds and environmental stimuli at their own pace.“Big cats, including tigers, are naturally very cautious animals and need to feel safe when faced with change. That is why we allow them to set the pace of their adaptation.”
A long-awaited first outdoor experience
When the team was confident that all six tigers were ready, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived: opening access to their outdoor enclosure.
On 25 August, the hatches were opened for the first time. As is often the case with big cats, curiosity and caution went hand in hand. During the first few minutes, they carefully observed their surroundings from the entrance before gradually venturing out and exploring every corner of their new environment.
What comes next
A new chapter now begins. The six tigers will continue becoming familiar with this enclosure, which features a pool, shelters, platforms and other elements designed to encourage natural behaviours"Our priority is to help them regain their natural behaviours, and that takes time. Exploring this new enclosure is another step in that process. Once they feel completely secure and comfortable in their surroundings, they will be able to move into one of the largest enclosures at the rescue centre."
