Welcome to Tiger Island
Surfers Paradise Queensland.
Please make welcome these magnificent animals!!
It is for some time now that I have had this passion for Tigers. We have had the Tigers here in Surfers Paradise
Dreamworld for 5 years now. On October 23rd these four beautiful cubs were born. Let me introduce you to them.
We have Rama on the left, then his sister Sita, Taj who takes after his father, and Sultan. I really really wanted
to go over to Surfers when they were first born, but was unable to so I had to wait patiently until I could go. Well
this year was my year. We went over to Queensland for the Drags and then went on for a holiday. I knew it was my
chance to see these beautiful animals and all I did was sit in awe of them.
It costs you $295 Australian Dollars to have your picture taken with these Tigers and I knew come hell or high water
that is what I was going to have done. My fellow was also interested in having that done so we managed to book ourselves
in for the photo shoot. I was dying to have my picture with Rama. I seem to always love the last one born. I pick the smallest
and last. Usually you are not able to pick which Tiger you have your picture with, it was pure luck that after I talked
with the keepers that I actually got Rama.
Even though we were warned that we have to remember that these animals were still wild I still sit here and
wonder if I could have just kissed him on the forehead. He was so graceful, so wonderful. All of the Tigers were not wanting
for anything. In actual fact there is seven Tigers there. Rama's mother and brother have gone to a place called Dubbo for
breeding. They still have Mohan the father, Jai a white female, Rakahn a beautiful male who doesnt learn that if you take on
the big guy (Mohan) you can get yourself hurt. This is the older generation and then of course we have
the beautiful cubs.
None of these Tigers are made to do anything. They don't put on a show, they are not forced to jump or run or climb trees. The
keepers leave it to them. If all they want to do is just laze around in the sun that is what they do. You will find that the
keepers will bring out a small treat for them milk or some meat. Which if they want it they will go running and enjoy it. I have
some magnificent shots of these guys doing a running jump, or drinking milk. It is funny all the kids watch the keepers to see
if they have milk and when they see a keeper walking in they run up to him and sniff him down just incase he might have something
for them. The kids play, Poor Sita is not liked by Jai. You know the senario two females? So the keepers have to watch these two
as Jai is always trying to attack Sita. It is funny to see the others watch Jai stalking Sita, you will notice in the picture
that Rama has his ears back. That is because he is getting ready to pounce Jai, she was sneaking up the bank to get to Sita and
all the cubs were watching her, getting ready to pounce. The keepers watch all this and tell them off if there is an altercation.
Plus I have to add that the Tigers listen when they are told off. Taj and Mohan had a coming together while we were there and
when Robert told them to stop they listened and stopped. It was excellent to see that!!
Please continue on to my next page. Page 1.