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This is so sad!

Rare tiger drowns in Norfolk zoo
STEPHANIE BROOKS

Last updated: 24/04/2010 06:31:00


Malyshka, a rare tiger, who played an integral role in a breeding programme ensuring the survival of the endangered species, has drowned in her enclosure at Banham Zoo.

Malyshka, a female Amur (Siberian) tiger, was found lifeless in her territory paddock by her keepers early Sunday morning.

Martin Goymour, zoo director, said an extensive post mortem examination has identified the cause of death to be drowning, but how this occurred to an apparently healthy tigress remains a mystery.

More tragically the post mortem also revealed that Malyshka, who was in the top five most important breeding females in Europe, was pregnant with three cubs which would have been of great importance to the international effort to bolster the Amur tigers' falling population. Currently there are believed to be no more than 450 Amur adult tigers left in the wild.

The five-year-old tigress, who could have lived for about 20 years, was mother to two 17-month-old cubs Vasya and Kuzma, whose names were chosen.

“Malyshka was such a strong and healthy tigress and showed no signs of external and internal injuries. The pool in the enclosure is not deep or considered hazardous,” said Mr Goymour.

“All the zoo staff, particularly her keepers, are very much saddened by her loss.

“Further veterinary investigations continue and consultations with the International Studbook Keepers for the Amur tigers will commence immediately.”

Mr Goymour added that Malyshka's mate - 15-year-old male tiger Mischa - had been ruled-out of playing any part in the tragic incident.

Mischa's previous mate Zaliv died of cancer in 2003 and despite efforts to hand rear their two young cubs they also sadly died.

Malyshka was born in Chelyabinsk Zoo in Russia and her arrival in 2006 was heralded as a new beginning for Banham's tiger breeding programme.

Banham Zoo was the only zoo in the UK to receive an official recommendation from the studbook to breed Amur tigers in 2008 and Malyshka gave birth to Vasya and Kuzma in October that year.

what a sad tale and I was just wondering if tigers can faint (like pregnant women often do) and perhaps she fell into the water?

That's a possibility - it's so sad. I will look out for any further info on what happened altho it may be that the Zoo will never know what caused her to be in the water, poor thing. To think that she ws pregnant with three cubs as well is an extra blow for them all.

Mischa doesn't have a lot of luck with his mates, does he, poor old boy?

Lizx

It's such a shame when things were going so well, breeding programmes are needed so we don't lose all our lovely creatures and something like this knocks it right off course.

It's a nice Zoo, not far from where I live altho I haven't been there since my son was young.

Lizx

That's really sad, Liz.

this was sad to read, it will knock the breading of these's big cat's for six, not only one death but four.

will the keeper's watch any othere pregnant tigress's to make sure this do's not happen again?

penny.

It was on the news this evening and they said they don't know if she had a fit or something, as normally tigers are strong swimmers and the pool area wasn't that deep, she was found near the edge I think it said.

They will have to try and get yet another new mate for the male tiger and give them time to bond before any more pregancies happen, I am not sure if there are more females there but her previous cubs now 17months old are both males.

Lizx

Norfolk tiger death mystery deepens
ADAM GRETTON

Last updated: 28/04/2010 06:51:00

The mystery behind the death of an internationally important Siberian tiger may never be solved, a Norfolk zoo director said yesterday .

Further veterinary tests are being carried out on the body of five-year-old Malyshka after she was found dead in her enclosure at Banham Zoo on April 18.

But zoo director Martin Goymour yesterday said investigations into the death of the pregnant tigress may prove to be inconclusive.

A post mortem examination found that the Siberian tiger had drowned in the shallow pool of her enclosure, but not received any significant internal or external injuries.

Mr Goymour added that the involvement of Malyshka's mate Mischa had been ruled out, as had any defect with the enclosure or the pool.

“The senior independent veterinary officer is awaiting further results from the laboratories from pathology samples previously sent, however his opinion is that they may well be inconclusive. Such conclusion would direct further enquiries towards the possibility of a brain seizure or fit,” he said.

He added that further tests of Malyshka's brain had been authorised.

“Mischa, with the two 17-month-old youngsters Vasya and Kuzma, continue to occupy their two and a half acre enclosure and have access to all facilities. Regular zoo visitors have been very supportive in their comments and in support of the zoo and the animal keeping staff,” he said.

There are only 400 to 500 Siberian tigers left in the wild, with an additional 500 in zoos worldwide. Malyshka had been one of the most important females in the European breeding programme.