NEGLECTED TIGER CUB GETS HAPPIER HOME.Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer If a cat truly has nine lives, then a rare, sickly Siberian tiger The Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is a rare subspecies of tiger (P. tigris). Also known as the Amur, North China, Manchurian, Ussuri, or Korean Tiger, it is arguably the largest of the 5 extant tiger subspecies. cub named Jodie is beginning her second here at the Wildlife Waystation The Wildlife WayStation is a 160-acre refuge in northern Los Angeles County dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating wild and exotic animals. A charitable corporation located within the boundaries of Angeles National Forest, the facility was founded in 1976 by animal activist . After nearly dying from neglect in Ireland, the 8-month-old cub arrived Saturday at the Waystation, where she will start her new life coddled by the staff veterinarians Veterinarians and veterinary surgeons (vets) are medical professionals who operate exclusively on animals. Well-known and notable veterinarians include:
``She is going to have some young lions and lots of older lions to play with,'' said Martine Colette, director of the Waystation, which is an international sanctuary for wild and exotic animals. Colette said that Jodie flew to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. from London aboard a cargo plane cargo plane n → avión m de carga cargo plane n → avion-cargo m cargo plane cargo n → after a long trip that began in Dublin. Because of federal animal regulations, the cub must remain in quarantine for about 30 days. Although Colette did not know all of Jodie's story, she said that the baby tiger was bought by a collector in Ireland after exotic animal dealers probably got the cub at a circus. ``It was probably sold to a private individual, who almost ruined her completely,'' Colette said. Before Jodie was rescued by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, Colette said the cub had developed a bone disease called rickets rickets or rachitis (rəkī`tĭs), bone disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin D or calcium. Essential in regulating calcium and phosphorus absorption by the body, vitamin D can be formed in the skin by ultraviolet and other ailments that indicated she had been neglected by her owner. ``She was just in pitiful shape and she couldn't walk,'' said Colette, an expert in wild and exotic animals. ``The Irish folks had been nursing her back to health for several months. She is in pretty good shape, and we are going to get her better and grow her up to be big and strong.'' Colette said there are less than 200 Siberian tigers still living in the wild. A lot of good Samaritans helped keep Jodie alive, Colette said, including Burlington Air Express and American Airlines American Airlines Major U.S. airline. American was created through a merger of several smaller U.S. airlines and incorporated in 1934. It continued to buy the routes of other airlines, becoming an international carrier in the 1970s; its routes include South America, the , which flew the cub to Los Angeles free of charge. Colette predicted that Jodie will like her new surroundings, where the tiger will probably spend the rest of her life. ``I think she'll be happy here,'' Colette said. Spanning more than 160 acres, the Wildlife Waystation treats more than 5,000 animals every year, providing free medical care to some of the most exotic creatures. Although the center - where some animals reside permanently - is open only to dues-paying sponsors, outsiders can visit the facility twice a year when the center opens its doors to prospective new members. |
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