Yet Another Cycling Forum

Random Musings => Miscellany => Where The Wild Things Are => Topic started by: Fixedwheelnut on 26 August, 2008, 01:19:24 am

Title: Tigers
Post by: Fixedwheelnut on 26 August, 2008, 01:19:24 am

 Fifteen years ago a friend of ours worked with big cats in a Zoo and my Misses got to go in with them and as I finally have my scanner half working here are two pics.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2797422419_c3ea1967dc.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fixedwheelnut/)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/2797422143_6bdf3414e6.jpg?v=0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fixedwheelnut/)

 Despite me rubbing steak over her she still came out  ;D

 They are only cubs as well.

Title: Re: Tigers
Post by: border-rider on 26 August, 2008, 09:45:46 am

Great pics !

Cubs or not, I'd be worried if they got a bit playful :o

Title: Re: Tigers
Post by: Fixedwheelnut on 26 August, 2008, 07:17:17 pm

  He said I could go in as well,  :hand: I hate normal cats let alone big fekkers ;)

 There was two keepers in there, once they are over a year old they stop going in with them, especially now as that was before the tragedy at another Zoo.

Title: Re: Tigers
Post by: TimO on 29 August, 2008, 08:30:21 am

I'm always surprised by how much big cats can look and behave like normal domestic cats, only scaled up a bit!  In those photos, which are rather good, they do just look like very big moggies, and you just want to scratch them behind the ears!  I guess it's more about how little we have changed the average house cat, and that they aren't really all that much different from their larger, totally natural relatives.

Title: Re: Tigers
Post by: Ian H on 29 August, 2008, 08:44:55 am

Quote from: TimO on 29 August, 2008, 08:30:21 am

I'm always surprised by how much big cats can look and behave like normal domestic cats, only scaled up a bit!

I know a couple of house cats who will just sink their claws in a little, just test you with their teeth — nothing terribly vicious, but enough so you tell them quite quickly to stop.

Title: Re: Tigers
Post by: TimO on 29 August, 2008, 08:47:05 am

Quote from: Ian H on 29 August, 2008, 08:44:55 am

Quote from: TimO on 29 August, 2008, 08:30:21 am

I'm always surprised by how much big cats can look and behave like normal domestic cats, only scaled up a bit!

I know a couple of house cats who will just sink their claws in a little, just test you with their teeth — nothing terribly vicious, but enough so you tell them quite quickly to stop.

Presumably Tigers, Lions, and other big cats do the same, only after a little scratch from them, you probably need hospitalisation. ;D

Title: Re: Tigers
Post by: Charlotte on 29 August, 2008, 09:05:17 am

If you spend too long looking at the teeth and claws of your average felis catus, you'll get scared.  They're a finely honed killing machine and if your average cat decided it wanted a chunk of you, you'd be toast.

Big cats terrify me.

Title: Re: Tigers
Post by: bobb on 29 August, 2008, 09:19:58 am

Fantastic pics! I'd love to stroke a tiger.

I've got playful with semi-tame cheetahs in Botswana and that was amazing. Obviously they're not big enough to cause much damage to a healthy adult, but still a bit scarey. They did behave exactly like domestic cats though - they purred incredibly loudly!

Those tigs are huge considering they're only cubs!!