How I fell in love with tigers and their conservation

International Tiger Day is July 29, and I can’t think of a better day to share with all of you how incredible tigers are and how we can all come together to help wild tigers.

I remember when I first started here at Zoo Atlanta and being able to work closely with the Carnivore Team and therefore the Sumatran tigers who were here at the time; their names were Kavi and Chelsea. I was immediately taken with them. What caught my attention was how they could be so quiet and hidden despite being large cats in areas that I knew they were in. Their hide-and-seek game was top-notch.

Not only did I fall in love with all the tigers who have crossed my path at the Zoo (including Bob and Buttercup, who are here now), but I also fell in love with the entire species.

Sharing that love with all of you is easily one of the best parts of my job. I could talk all day about how Bob is a typical “spicy” big cat, but on occasion can let his tough boy exterior down and vocalize towards us and enjoy training sessions! More importantly, I could talk your ear off about Sumatran tigers. These are the smallest species of tiger, weighing around 200 pounds, and there are only about 500 individuals left in the wild. The low number is due to habitat loss, human-tiger conflict. and the poaching of their prey. Fortunately, it is not all bad news!

A coworker of mine started a relationship between Zoo Atlanta and The Tiger Conservation Campaign, an organization that is working in situ with tigers and their conservation. Zoo Atlanta offers monetary resources through our Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund, which former Keeper Mel S. championed with the Tiger Conservation Campaign and then passed on to me. I am very excited to carry on with this conservation group as it is doing incredible work with wild tiger populations.

Their work includes working with the local communities to work through human-tiger conflict, helping farmers build tiger-proof livestock pens. The campaign also works with a veterinary team to assist any tigers who may have been caught by human snares.

Working with tigers has been my dream, but working at a zoo that supports tiger conservation is the cherry on top. Visiting Zoo Atlanta supports this conservation group, and you can also visit their website to learn more about supporting Sumatran tiger conservation: https://support.mnzoo.org/tigercampaign/

(Photo: Adrianna R.)

Adrianna R.
Senior Keeper, Mammals