Apparently, they'd be more vulnerable to infection if they were left with mum and because they're so rare, they don't want to take any chances.
That's how I understood it - I think they said two thirds die in captivity (hardly seems it could be any better odds that in the wild, although I suspect that unfortunately it is a lot better, especially seeing as there's only 500 left in the wild); although I don't understand how separating them from mum improves their chances - I've only heard of it being done in cases of rejection or death.
Apparently, they'd be more vulnerable to infection if they were left with mum and because they're so rare, they don't want to take any chances.
Yes, but considering his relationship with the mother they could monitor them every day, 24/7 if necessary. They were obviously in a clean, constantly monitored environment. They'd be better off with the mother full stop.
The initial footage of the mother and the commentary saying she was carrying on as normal seems dubious to me. I'm sure that mother Tiger would be extremely distressed by what's happened. But of course they don't want us to see that.
Really feel uncomfortable about this programme. They are worried about them getting infections but are happy for them to be housed with dogs and manhandled by the neighbourhood kids? They are not getting their mother's immunity from her milk. Really feel this is being done for the cameras.
Apparently, they'd be more vulnerable to infection if they were left with mum and because they're so rare, they don't want to take any chances.
Thats just pure bullshit seems like an excuse they made up. Have you ever seen the lion man? He only takes the cubs away from the mum if she doesn't want them & he tries it a few times before hed take them away as well (he has raised tiger cubs) If they were more vulnerable to disease why doesn't he raise all their cubs.
I read an article about this programme and it said that one of the reasons tigers do badly in captivity is that they are stressed by all the human interaction they have. The reason these cubs are being raised by humans is so they will be happier in captivity – they are never going to be released into the wild, so they need to be used to human interaction. The theory is that they will be happier as adult tigers than cubs who were reared naturally with other tigers.
The narration I heard explained that The cubs will be going to different zoo soon so they were always going to be separated from the mother. They also said that separation was quite normal as in the wild the babies usually did not survive or were eaten by other predators. It did not affect the mothers, as it was a natural thing to happen.
Very sad and shocked watching this programme. The mum was doing a good job so why take the cubs away? They are both male cubs so will be shipped off to other zoos when old enough to participate in the breeding programme. Other zoos do not have keepers up close to tigers so these 2 cubs will loose their surrogate "mother" and will most likely be placed in a regular zoo enclosure with no interaction.
Tigers are wild animals and should be raised to be able to behave as naturally as possible an a captive environment. Not be raised in a house with kids and dogs.
Very sad and shocked watching this programme. The mum was doing a good job so why take the cubs away? They are both male cubs so will be shipped off to other zoos when old enough to participate in the breeding programme. Other zoos do not have keepers up close to tigers so these 2 cubs will loose their surrogate "mother" and will most likely be placed in a regular zoo enclosure with no interaction.
Tigers are wild animals and should be raised to be able to behave as naturally as possible an a captive environment. Not be raised in a house with kids and dogs.
I doubt whether they will ever be able to breed enough to release into the wild so these tigers are going to be around humans for all their life even if not as close contact as at that zoo.
But they only seem to bond to those humans who have particularly close contact hence the vet not going into the cage (though I think she later entered to take the blood samples).
Yes I agree, the 2 cubs or their offspring are very very unlikely to be released into the wild. But the show made out their mum was brought in from Sumatra as a new female bringing new genes into the captive gene pool and was therefore very special. In my mind they should be allowed to behave as naturally as possible. Not raised in a home and taken for walks on leads.
What a horrible man...so full of his own self importance.
Bet he didnt do that much with his own children.
Obviously cubs gain more from being with the mother and drinking her milk that strengthens their immune system......which is why the vet had to innoculate,she said, because the cubs had weaker immunity without mother milk.
Theres logic for you!
There was nothing wrong with the situation and no need to interrupt it.
The whole thing was staged around his male ego when it should have been staged around the mother tigress and relationship with cubs.
"Look at me and what i can do"....ugh!
I wont be watching any more in this series.
Very mixed feelings about this programme. I really cannot understand the separation of mother from cub at such a young age when they had so much to gain from being left with a good mother. They could have easily been just as socialised by being exposed to the handlers being with their mother and could still have been taken into a human home if absolutely necessary once weaned.
Had the mother rejected them or seemed unable to cope then I would have no issue but this seems inherently wrong.
Have to agree that there seemed a bit of 'Tigerman' ego involved and I fear much of this was purely for TV exposure for handler and to lesser extent the zoo. To have a bit about 'marketing' was also telling although they couched in conservation terms.
Programmes like this are normally quite uplifting but this is just unsettling and makes for uneasy watching. Much as I love all cats big and small, and tigers especially, I don't think I will be watching eps 2&3
While I, too, was concerned about separating the cubs from the mother, I prefer to direct my anger at the poachers of these beautiful creatures which results in this sort of action being taken to protect the species.
Jenny_Sawyer
Posts: 12,858
Comments
Purely and simply to make a TV show from what I can tell. >:( They've already said she was a "fantastic mother". Makes no sense.
Me neither I'd understand if she had abandoned them but she hasn't
This is sick. Taking fit healthy cubs away from their mother so some obsessive plank can raise them in his house. With dogs running around? Disgusting
That's how I understood it - I think they said two thirds die in captivity (hardly seems it could be any better odds that in the wild, although I suspect that unfortunately it is a lot better, especially seeing as there's only 500 left in the wild); although I don't understand how separating them from mum improves their chances - I've only heard of it being done in cases of rejection or death.
Yes, but considering his relationship with the mother they could monitor them every day, 24/7 if necessary. They were obviously in a clean, constantly monitored environment. They'd be better off with the mother full stop.
The initial footage of the mother and the commentary saying she was carrying on as normal seems dubious to me. I'm sure that mother Tiger would be extremely distressed by what's happened. But of course they don't want us to see that.
Thats just pure bullshit seems like an excuse they made up. Have you ever seen the lion man? He only takes the cubs away from the mum if she doesn't want them & he tries it a few times before hed take them away as well (he has raised tiger cubs) If they were more vulnerable to disease why doesn't he raise all their cubs.
Didn't he take them home as they have a poor survival rate in captivity, if left with their mother?
Rather dumbed down narration...again!
I was very uncomfortable with removing the cubs from the mother but was eventually sold with the reason of promoting the danger this species is in.
Hard job to convince the Chinese though!
Really upset me. Poor cubs.
Tigers are wild animals and should be raised to be able to behave as naturally as possible an a captive environment. Not be raised in a house with kids and dogs.
I doubt whether they will ever be able to breed enough to release into the wild so these tigers are going to be around humans for all their life even if not as close contact as at that zoo.
But they only seem to bond to those humans who have particularly close contact hence the vet not going into the cage (though I think she later entered to take the blood samples).
Bet he didnt do that much with his own children.
Obviously cubs gain more from being with the mother and drinking her milk that strengthens their immune system......which is why the vet had to innoculate,she said, because the cubs had weaker immunity without mother milk.
Theres logic for you!
There was nothing wrong with the situation and no need to interrupt it.
The whole thing was staged around his male ego when it should have been staged around the mother tigress and relationship with cubs.
"Look at me and what i can do"....ugh!
I wont be watching any more in this series.
Had the mother rejected them or seemed unable to cope then I would have no issue but this seems inherently wrong.
Have to agree that there seemed a bit of 'Tigerman' ego involved and I fear much of this was purely for TV exposure for handler and to lesser extent the zoo. To have a bit about 'marketing' was also telling although they couched in conservation terms.
Programmes like this are normally quite uplifting but this is just unsettling and makes for uneasy watching. Much as I love all cats big and small, and tigers especially, I don't think I will be watching eps 2&3
What beautiful creatures
Cyberdame