Endangered animal, one of the smallest tiger subspecies, transferring to Fresno zoo

Bryant-Jon Anteola
·2 min read
1

An animal that’s at risk of extinction will have a new home at The Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

The Tulsa Zoo announced Tuesday that it was transferring Dara, a Malayan tiger, to Fresno’s zoo as part of the Malayan Tiger Specifics Survival Plan.

The Malayan tiger is a critically endangered species — with fewer than 200 left in the wild, Malaysian authorities told United Nations News. Ten years ago, there were roughly 500 Malayan tigers in the wild, according to the Associated Press.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is one of 26 facilities in the United States that participates in an active breeding program for Malayan tigers, which is one of the smallest tigers (males weigh between 104 to 285 pounds).

Malayan tigers are known for having white to creamy undersides, orange back, sides, face and tail, and there are black stripes on the body, face and tail. They’re nocturnal animals and spend most of the day sleeping.

Dara’s transfer is expected to help protect the endangered species, hoping the tigers in captivity will breed with tigers to which they are the least related.

In 2014, four Malayan tigers were born at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo (three were later transferred to other zoos).

Fresno’s zoo, which funds conservation field projects that advance people’s knowledge of how to save the Malayan tiger, broke ground in 2020 to expand its “Kingdoms of Asia” exhibit, which includes Malayan tigers, sloth bears, orangutans and a Komodo dragon.

Wild Malayan tigers live only on the Malay Peninsula and in the southern tip of Thailand when in the wild.

Their population has dwindled mainly as a result of illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking, according to the United Nations News.

Dara was born in 2021 at the Tulsa Zoo and is considered a third-generation success story

She is said to have a big personality and presence, which the Tulsa Zoo hopes will serve her adapt quickly to her new home.

“Dara ... stole the hearts of more than one billion people who witnessed her first moments and shared the excitement of her birth through social media,” the Tulsa Zoo posted on social media. “We will miss her dearly but are excited for her new adventure!”