Tiger Forest
 Have
fun and learn all about the endangered tigers of Russia!
Play Tiger Trackers and you can earn your stripes as a big cat
researcher in the wild while also raising funds to help save the
tigers that are struggling to survive. Half of all
proceeds go to the wild tigers!
Get
started now with the fun Facebook app (you may need
to download Flash Player 10).
 Staring
into the eyes of any tiger is an amazing experience, so try to imagine what
it's like when you have a close up encounter with the magnificent Amur
tiger at the Indianapolis Zoo. The Tiger Forest
exhibit enables you to get closer to the Zoo's tigers than ever before, including
looking into those piercing yellow eyes. Separated by no more than a
thin plate of glass, you'll be so close you can see their four-inch long,
razor-sharp claws and count their whiskers! Photo by Kerrie Best
 Tiger Forest
showcases for one of the world's most endangered animals and a longtime
favorite of Indianapolis Zoo guests. It includes open space for
the tigers, including multiple viewing opportunities around the enclosure. The highlight of the exhibit are
the large
glass viewing windows situated under a roofed enclosure that provides
year-round shelter as well as a large screen television monitor for viewing
informational videos on Amur tigers (see links below). Thanks to a Zoo
member for this fun photo demonstrating just how close you can get as one
young visitor shows off his toy tiger to the real thing! Photo by
Terence Molloy
Looking into
the exhibit reveals beautiful forest landscaping appropriate to
these tigers' native habitat, and of course, stimulate those
inches-away encounters with the Amur tigers. A training
activity with keepers draws them in even closer, and there's a Tiger Chat scheduled daily for Zoo visitors.
 Another
important facet of Tiger Forest is the story, told in words and pictures, of
the vital research being conducted in Russia as part of the effort to save
this animal before it disappears forever from the wild. Zoo
coordinating vice president of operations, Norah Fletchall traveled to the forests of Siberia
to learn more about the work of tiger researchers Dr. Linda Kerley and Misha
Borisenko (a husband and wife team) and to bring back to the Indianapolis
Zoo information about the survival chances for this apex predator. The
Zoo is also providing funding to continue this important work. Look
for the story of Linda and Misha on the signs surrounding Tiger Forest.
Photo by Jackie Curts
There's more on the research being conducted in Russia in these
informational videos:
Biggest Threat
to Amur Tigers
Portrait
of Amur Tigers
A Day in
the Life of an Amur Tiger Researcher
Dogs and
Amur Tiger Research
Tracking
Amur Tigers
Also look for the
Zoo's three Amur tigers - females Cila and Andrea and male Petya. The
Indianapolis has been a longtime supporter of and participant in the Species
Survival Plan® for the Amur tiger, with many different tigers and cubs in
residence over the years. Cila was born at the Zoo, and Petya is on
loan from the Pittsburgh Zoo. Andrea was acquired from the St. Louis
Zoo is 2010.
Be a part of it by
visiting Tiger Forest,
the latest addition to the Indianapolis Zoo's close up
experiences with animals and people.
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