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Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
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Most people know that tigers really like water. In a captive environment where hundreds of thousands of dollars are not available for habitat construction, we sometimes do the next best thing: improvise!
In this picture, Genesis (panthera tigris tigris) is having a grand time in his little "pond", which is a standard, round 8' livestock tank. They work really well for tiger tubs, as they pretty much big enough for them to play in, but don't cost a whole lot, and are reasonable durable.
Genesis has a game: he'll crouch down, hiding with sometimes only his eyes and forehead above water, and "predator" you. If you're daring, then you'll also crouch down, and creep forward towards him. Once you're right at the edge of the cage, you stand up quick, and WOOSH! He will too! On a hot, summer day - there is no other kind in FL! - it's kinda fun because the entire cascade of water just showers everywhere, including you and your camera!
So this is Genesis, vaulting up and out of his tub. I love the picture because you can see him literally exploding out of the water, but I also hate it because it's a total cage shot, which I hate with a passion!
This picture was taken 26-May-04. The image was taken with a Canon EOS 10D and the EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM lens. The original was taken at full frame of 3072x2048x24b, ISO eqv 400, 1/350 shutter, f/4.5. This image was cropped (to get rid of some nasty cage!) and rotated and also shrunken down for space conservation.
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
In this picture, Genesis (panthera tigris tigris) is having a grand time in his little "pond", which is a standard, round 8' livestock tank. They work really well for tiger tubs, as they pretty much big enough for them to play in, but don't cost a whole lot, and are reasonable durable.
Genesis has a game: he'll crouch down, hiding with sometimes only his eyes and forehead above water, and "predator" you. If you're daring, then you'll also crouch down, and creep forward towards him. Once you're right at the edge of the cage, you stand up quick, and WOOSH! He will too! On a hot, summer day - there is no other kind in FL! - it's kinda fun because the entire cascade of water just showers everywhere, including you and your camera!
So this is Genesis, vaulting up and out of his tub. I love the picture because you can see him literally exploding out of the water, but I also hate it because it's a total cage shot, which I hate with a passion!
This picture was taken 26-May-04. The image was taken with a Canon EOS 10D and the EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM lens. The original was taken at full frame of 3072x2048x24b, ISO eqv 400, 1/350 shutter, f/4.5. This image was cropped (to get rid of some nasty cage!) and rotated and also shrunken down for space conservation.
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Tiger
Size 571 x 1024px
File Size 131.7 kB
I tend to really loathe shots with any cage showing, but it's really hard, if not almost impossible, in cases such as this, as he's right up against the wire anyway.
He's definitely having fun, although it might be "tiger fun" that would be entirle suicidal for any human participant should there not be chain-link between Gen and said human. In truth, the behavior of him crouching and then leaping up is an entirely predatory behavior, even as "fun" as it might be for all parties.
In any case, Genesis can snap in an out of predator mode almost at will, so it hasn't ever been a problem, as we don't work inside the cage or take him out anymore. Too big, and not quite as insane anymore. :)
In the end, it's all good enrichment for him, predator-mode or not, which he likes.
He's definitely having fun, although it might be "tiger fun" that would be entirle suicidal for any human participant should there not be chain-link between Gen and said human. In truth, the behavior of him crouching and then leaping up is an entirely predatory behavior, even as "fun" as it might be for all parties.
In any case, Genesis can snap in an out of predator mode almost at will, so it hasn't ever been a problem, as we don't work inside the cage or take him out anymore. Too big, and not quite as insane anymore. :)
In the end, it's all good enrichment for him, predator-mode or not, which he likes.
My biggest regret from all my days with animals was not getting any pix of Shasta. Years later, I found one that I'd taken, but that was it (it's in the gallery somewhere).
Since then, I've gone oberboard to get all the pix I can, so no regrets this time around, which I'm glad for. :) There can never be too many photos!
Since then, I've gone oberboard to get all the pix I can, so no regrets this time around, which I'm glad for. :) There can never be too many photos!
Out of all the tigers I've worked with as of late (the last five years or so) Genesis had the most personality. I love Java dearly - I've not yet posted any of him - but he's a great, big, giant goof-ball. He's extremely friendly and all that, but there's just not a whole lot of synaptic activity going on upstairs. :) Jade, Java's sister, is probably a close second behind Genesis. She's a real cutie.
All are playful in their own ways, but Genesis if my favorite tiger.
All are playful in their own ways, but Genesis if my favorite tiger.
Cats tend to groom themselves quite a bit, so they don't have a whole lot of odor, wet or otherwise. Cats do a thing called "scent marking", which is typically used for marking territory or "advertising" their receptiveness to mate. The strongest (aka most pungent) form of this scent is propelled by the urine (both males and females of all species of cats do this). They also have other forms of scent marking, such as tiny glands in their paws that secrete a scent onto their claws as they slide in an out of the sheathes, that gets put onto trees and logs when they "scratch" them, and just aft of the main whiskers, which is why cats rub their cheeks on things: they're scent-marking.
If you look on a close up of a cat's face, look for the tiny set of whiskers - usually only one or two - on the cheek, aft of the main whisker group. The little scent gland is there. If you ever get the chance, stick your nose into this set of whiskers of even a domestic cat, and you'll be able to smell a subtle scent. :)
As for tigers, their scent is rather unique, and is best described as "stale, heavily buttered popcorn". You'd be surprised how accurate that it.
If you look on a close up of a cat's face, look for the tiny set of whiskers - usually only one or two - on the cheek, aft of the main whisker group. The little scent gland is there. If you ever get the chance, stick your nose into this set of whiskers of even a domestic cat, and you'll be able to smell a subtle scent. :)
As for tigers, their scent is rather unique, and is best described as "stale, heavily buttered popcorn". You'd be surprised how accurate that it.
Oh, i'm learning so much from your page:) The only thing i knew here was the "marking with urine" part(i've seen that in documentaries(sp?))
So that's why cats keep rubbing themselves on me:p I just thought they were like, hugging or something:)
The next time i'm home, i'm gonna grab one of my sisters cats and see if i smell something:p
So that's why cats keep rubbing themselves on me:p I just thought they were like, hugging or something:)
The next time i'm home, i'm gonna grab one of my sisters cats and see if i smell something:p
In some ways, it's very much like a hug. A hug is to sho affection, and while cats aren't necessarily the most social creatures, you have to keep such a scent-marking in perspective, in the realative, "cat terms".
Cat either like you, or they don't. There's not really any in-between. If they /don't/ like you, then you'll either get ignored or snarled at. If it's a big cat, the snarl might be prequal to being cat food. On the other paw...er...hand, if they do like you, they're more ones to just march right up, and claim you as their own, namely, by scent-marking you. By marking you, it means they like you, and intend to keep you. In the down-and-dirty of feline psychology, you're their property now. :)
For the big cats, I've been scent-marked in all the different ways. That just goes with working with them. You take your mind off them for even a moment, and they'll spin around and mark you good if they like you. In truth, it's not real fun to get pissed on, but if you keep it all in perspective, it's really not so bad if you know what it /means/. :)
Cat either like you, or they don't. There's not really any in-between. If they /don't/ like you, then you'll either get ignored or snarled at. If it's a big cat, the snarl might be prequal to being cat food. On the other paw...er...hand, if they do like you, they're more ones to just march right up, and claim you as their own, namely, by scent-marking you. By marking you, it means they like you, and intend to keep you. In the down-and-dirty of feline psychology, you're their property now. :)
For the big cats, I've been scent-marked in all the different ways. That just goes with working with them. You take your mind off them for even a moment, and they'll spin around and mark you good if they like you. In truth, it's not real fun to get pissed on, but if you keep it all in perspective, it's really not so bad if you know what it /means/. :)
Genesis has one of the most fun personalities of any of the tigers I've worked with. But he is very typical of Bengals, which is one of the reason why I'm rather biased towards them.
Not that having Indian heritage has anything to do with it either. :)
But yes, most certainly, Genesis knows how to have fun.
Not that having Indian heritage has anything to do with it either. :)
But yes, most certainly, Genesis knows how to have fun.
(Shasta nods) Siberians are the largest of the big cats, and even in the wild, can weigh into the 700lb (318kg) range. In captivity, the males can reach 900.
In my experience, if found that Siberian Tiger are the gentle giants of the bunch, which I have always appreciated. There's nothing quite like a huge, hugable, mellow tiger. :)
In my experience, if found that Siberian Tiger are the gentle giants of the bunch, which I have always appreciated. There's nothing quite like a huge, hugable, mellow tiger. :)
The first tiger I worked with, back in the 80's, was a huge Bengal (640lbs/291kg). But while he could get into sometimes grumbly moods, he was also very mellow, and fun-loving. His name was Kenti (pronounced "Ken-tee") and had infinite patience with me, which is probably good, as there were times when I really pestered him.
If I bothered him too much, he'd usually stand up, whirl around, head-butt me in the chest putting me flat onto the ground, and then just straddle me and lay down on top of me. So then, being pretty much pinned to the ground, that was the end of the pestering. So, he was pretty amazing, which is probably why I gained such a "first love" slant towards Bengals.
But in truth, I love them all, and even today, I have a fascination and admiration for them that I don't have for anything else. They are just simply magnificent creatures!
If I bothered him too much, he'd usually stand up, whirl around, head-butt me in the chest putting me flat onto the ground, and then just straddle me and lay down on top of me. So then, being pretty much pinned to the ground, that was the end of the pestering. So, he was pretty amazing, which is probably why I gained such a "first love" slant towards Bengals.
But in truth, I love them all, and even today, I have a fascination and admiration for them that I don't have for anything else. They are just simply magnificent creatures!
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