Sumatran Tiger

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, and others like them, are fast becoming a last refuge for many species as their natural homes are destroyed by the greed of man. The wild tigers of Sumatra are now down to a few hundred which is a fraction of their former numbers. Their forest habitat is being destroyed so fast that the remaining tigers are lucky to be alive and have little chance of meeting to produce another generation. All Sumatran Tigers in care, are being managed, to ensure that one day, if and when really safe areas in their homeland can be established, there will be animals to aid restocking.

Even when they were numerous and their home untouched by humans, the tigers were rarely seen. It is only in these wildlife centres that we can enjoy the privilege of viewing and appreciating this and other species. We have a duty to ensure their perpetuation.

All races are legally protected in pockets throughout their original vast range in Asia. Despite this they are still poached, not only for their magnificent coats of striped fur, but to satisfy a demand for bones and body parts, a mis-conceived Chinese belief, that various body parts make special restorative medicines.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is a strong supporter of The World Zoo Conservation Strategy of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The collection of animals at Thrigby was the first to be signed over in entirety to the Joint Management of Species Programme.