Kerri’s Tigers

The new newborn baby tigers are kept in a glass enclosure 1 m behind a fence so people can’t tap on the glass and bother them. So this is the best picture I could get. One of them had to wear a cone.

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From 2 weeks to 2 months visitors can hold them in a basket in a sterile gown and gloves for 1 hour a day. But there’s a long lineup and it’s really expensive for only a couple of minutes.

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So Kerri decided to pet the 2-4 month old tigers. Because they’d still be small and cute and not scary.

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But tigers grow really quickly.

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Even if they still like their paws.

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And don’t look that big.

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Until you’re in the cage next to them.

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On a cool day when they don’t want to sleep.

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And keep jumping around and getting way too close to the camera.

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Does he look nocturnal to you?

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Tigers are nice to pet, but I’m not getting too close.

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But maybe when he’s sleeping.

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Except now they want me to rest my head on his tummy for a picture.

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And neither me nor the tiger seems to like this idea very much.

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Particularly because his tummy is rumbling.

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Loudly.

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Because I went into the tiger cage at lunchtime.

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When lunch came out I learned that the barriers between the cages are to control people, not tigers. The tigers bound right over them.

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And then I got to feed a tiger.

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From a bottle.

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Even though he seemed way to big for a bottle.

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If I can barely reach what would its mom do?

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2 Responses to Kerri’s Tigers

  1. Oh my Gosh!!! What an awesome experience!! The tigers are cute AND scary! Guys, this post is absolutely fantastic. The story, the pictures, everything. Kerri’s expressive face captured wonderfully, Matt! Great commentary with each photo. Love it!

  2. Oh I want to pet the kitty too! Your dad looked horrified! Great pictures and wonderful experience.