A Sumatran female tiger was killed at the Sacramento Zoo by her mating partner on Wednesday after the two felines were put in the same enclosure for breeding.
The male tiger became aggressive with the 15-year-old Baha minutes after a physical introduction. Staff monitoring the introduction from outside the enclosure had to use a water hose and fire extinguishers to separate the animals.
The Sacramento Zoo said on Facebook Wednesday:
'As soon as staff were able to get the male tiger into a secure location veterinarians rushed to care for Baha, but unfortunately she had already passed, veterinary staff tried to resuscitate her but were unsuccessful.'
Mohan
They say that since arriving at the zoo from Tennessee in December, the 12-year-old Mohan had had visual contact with Baha. Staff decided to introduce the felines because the tigers' behavior indicated it was the proper time.
''Since the arrival of the male tiger in December 2015, staff had been monitoring his and Baha's behavior daily as they had visual contact with each other. Both tigers' behavior indicated that this was the proper time for physical introductions.
Based on knowledge and experience from past successful introductions, staff decided to physically introduce the tigers on Wednesday morning.'
Baha had been at the Sacramento Zoo since 2002 and had successfully bred with three other partners, giving birth to five offspring.
Mohan, who is on loan from a zoo in Memphis as part of a tiger breeding program, had also successfully bred before with other partners, the zoo said.
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