Captive Lion and Tiger weights

[peter]

(03-11-2020, 07:22 PM)Shadow Wrote:

(03-08-2020, 03:41 PM)Hello Wrote: what drugs are the keepers on

When we are talking about sanctuaries for animals and weights of those animals, like in this video and what comes to that tiger claimed to be 450 kg, Thor. It´s good to watch this video and remember that it´s not good to believe all claims just like that. Here sanctuary owner/staff claims, that they have a lioness over 400 kg heavy (soon after 2:30). He lies just like that and he has to do it on purpose, whatever is the reason. it´s impossible to think, that these people would know nothing about lions. So only question which remains (for me) is, that why these people lie on purpose?

I believe just as much that person telling, that the lioness is over 400 kg as I believe, that Thor would be legit 450 kg tiger unless I see a photo or video of him showing, that he is clearly obese, when that weight would be at least close to realistic. Knowing, that Jaipur was a bit over 420 kg and so obese, that it´s difficult to watch photos of him, I doubt, that Thor was even closely that heavy. Big and fit tigers are after all around 250-300 kg. I don´t think, that private sanctuaries have some secret gigantic tiger subspecies to raise, they just aren´t shy when exaggerating to get more visitors and publicity (=more money).

People, as usual, are free to believe what they want, but my advice is the same as one biologist gave to me: Don´t believe everything you read or hear :)

Agreed on the maximum weight of captive tigers (and lions) in zoos and the remarks on the size of exceptional individuals in private facilities. I don't think it's superfluous to underline that a fit lion or tiger exceeding 250 kg. and 290 cm. in total length in a straight line is a very large animal. 

Rumour has it Varty now has a male tiger " ... well exceeding 300 kg. ... " (quote from a recent post in this thread). His cats have room to move and seem more active than elsewhere. As some tigers have been weighed in the past, chances are they know a bit more about weights. As far as I know, the heaviest male tiger they had was 229 kg. The other males ranged between 180-210 kg. roughly.  

My guess is Varty would be willing to answer a few questions on weight. Reply