TIGERS facing the threat of extinction are being systematically fed and cared for in zoos in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay to help stimulate their instincts, according to a statement from Yangon Zoological Gardens.
Zoo authorities prepare food for carnivorous animals, including tigers, in a manner that ensures proper nutrition, safety and the encouragement of natural behaviour. Officials also monitor whether the animals fully consume the food provided and maintain detailed health records to ensure appropriate care.
Fresh beef is used as the primary food source. Adult male tigers are fed about three viss of beef per day, while females receive approximately 2.75 viss, depending on age and sex. To ensure balanced nutrition, calcium and multivitamin supplements are also mixed with the meat.
Globally, only about 3,600 tigers remain in the wild, while fewer than 150 are believed to survive in Myanmar. Scientific population surveys will continue under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.
In the Hukong Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Kachin State, the world’s largest tiger conservation area, just over 50 tigers are estimated to remain.
In the wild, tigers typically live between 10 and 15 years; however, with proper care, they can live for up to around 20 years. — ASH/KZL
