Footage of the transfer of Sumatran male tiger, Joao, into his Tecton enclosure has been made into a video to show the tricky manoeuvre to install one of the world’s rarest big cats into his new home.
The film shows Joao being lowered by crane into Lubetkin’s Modernist enclosure as staff steady the crate and move it into position to allow access to the internal dens.
The whole operation took just under an hour and staff were then able to concentrate on the important task of introducing 20-month-old Joao to his new surroundings.
Joao, who travelled over sea and land from his native Krefeld Zoo, in Germany, will join female, Daseep, as part of a major international conservation programme for this critically endangered sub-species.
DZG holds an impressive breeding record for Sumatran tigers; eight cubs born at the Castle Hill site between 2000 and 2005 increased the world population of the sub-species by two per cent and went on to boost programmes across the world.
