Tiger cubs part of celebration

Press, 11 December 1981, Page 4

Tiger cubs part of celebration

These three-week-old Indian tiger cubs at Orana Park have no names yet. A competition to name the cubs will be held as part of a three-day celebration at Christmas to mark the opening of the park’s “African Plains” section.

The cubs, which are both male, are being looked after by a game warden, Ms Penny O’Connor, and Mrs Carol Garland, the wife of the director of the park, Mr Paul Garland. The cubs’ mother took a dislike to the cubs, which became orphans when she was-transferred to another zoo. The cubs will join the other tigers in the park when they are old enough.

Mr Garland said, “the cubs grow very quickly at this age. By the Christmas weekend they will be about twice their present size.”

The “African Plains” section of the park will be opened on December 26. A family fun day is planned for the next day, with side-shows and displays of wood carving, vintage machinery, leather work, and wildlife paintings. An African day will be held on the following day, with African ethnic displays and a free spit-roast barbecue. The “African Plains” section will add about another 12 ha to the park. It is the first extension to the 17 ha

park since -it was opened in 1976. The African area will be developed in three stages. More than 750,000 cu m of shingle have been excavated for the first stage, which is estimated to cost $200,000. Mr Garland said that when the excavation was completed it would look like an old waterway. He said, “There will be three different habitats: a dry desert habitat, a grassy plains habitat, and a habitat for swamp animals such as hippos.

“We have endeavoured to restrict the use of unnatural fences where possible. Instead there will be a water moat and earth banks to stop the animals from getting at the public.”

Most of the animals for the area, which will eventually cover about 40 ha, are already at the park. However, a public appeal to raise funds to buy a giraffe will be started as part of the park’s celebrations. The lions at the park will get an extra evening feeding at Christmas.

“It is the first time we have opened the park in the evenings,” said Mr Garland. “It has been done overseas and I think it should be very popular.” The lions will be given their evening meal at 6.30 p.m. for 10 days from December 26.