Re: How do zoos keep Siberian Tigers in their natural cold habitats in summer?

Dear Mark,

Wow, what an interesting project topic!  My response is going to be a 
little bit off the beaten track, but I'll also include some links that 
might help.

It's important to note a couple things:  Siberian tigers are now referred 
to as Amur tigers (more appropriate name given the extent of their range), 
and their natural habitat isn't always snowy and cold.  Most of us in the 
US picture the Russian Far East (Siberia) as blizzardy all the time, when 
actually, temperature peaks can reach 95 degrees F.  Imagine Alaska in the 
summertime-- it can get even warmer in the Russian Far East.

Accordingly, Amur tigers are tolerant of reasonably high 
temperatures.  As stated in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association Felid 
Advisory Group's Husbandry Guidelines for Large Felids 
(see http://w
ww.csew.com/felidtag/pages/Reports/large_felids.htm )

"Temperature - Although large felids may originate from all manner of 
climates, most are tolerant of wide temperature extremes, at least during 
daylight hours. Animals kept outside should always have access to shade, 
especially during warmer months of the year. When acclimated, most species 
without young require only minimal unheated shelter at night.  Clouded 
leopards are more cold sensitive than the other species and should be 
protected from minimum extremes in weather. When kept indoors year around, 
animals should be protected from temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit."

The main way zoos help keep tigers (and other animals) cool in the 
summertime is through enrichment items.  Some zoos provide frozen chunks of 
meat, frozen skins, frozen bones, etc. to carnivores during the hottest 
months, both to keep the animals cooler, and to provide them with new 
stimuli to get them moving around their enclosures, to encourage them to 
exercise their jaws and teeth, and so on.  Tigers can keep busy for quite a 
while gnawing on these frozen treats.  Similarly, many zoos and aquariums 
provide 'fishsicles' to bears, and fruitsicles to many other animals.  
These help keep animals cool, and provide them with new or different 
experiences.

For more information on similar topics, please visit the following web 
sites:

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association Felid Advisory Group(includes 
lots of tiger-related links) http://www.csew.com/felidtag/

Tiger Information Center http://www.5tigers.org/

NetVet and the Electronic Zoo (amazing place to start for general zoo info) 
http://netvet.wustl.edu/

Enrichment 101 http://www.arkanimals.com
/E/Enrich101.html

The Shape of Enrichment http://www.enrichment.org/