John Varty & Tiger Canyon

[Pckts]

*This image is copyright of its original author

Hello Friends 

When I darted my first lion in the 70's, things were very different. Dart guns were much less accurate than they are today. The darts were heavy metal and aluminium. (On one occasion the metal dart killed a cheetah outright on impact.) Today, a good vet can hit a small target at 40 metres with a modern dart gun. 

In the 70's there was no antidote for lions. I remember staying up many nights protecting sleeping lions that were recovering from being darted. With an antidote, a lion or tiger can be fully awake in 5 to 10 minutes.  

In those days we used a drug called Sernyl or Phencyclidine. (This drug was abused by the drug users in America and was called "Angel Dust". It caused hallucinations in humans). 

Occasionally a lion darted with Sernyl would go into a fit. We would put cardboard between its teeth to prevent it biting it's tongue. 

*This image is copyright of its original author

This last week at Tiger Canyons, Dr Ryan Nienaber and Dr Charlotte Mouiex expertly moved 5 tigers and put 3 tigresses on birth control. All of this in the space of a few hours.

*This image is copyright of its original author

The introduction of contraception is hugely useful in a project like Tiger Canyons, where the numbers have to be carefully managed.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Once the tiger is darted, I am able to insert a microchip (this is for identification), place a satellite transmitter under the skin (this is a device which allows us to track the tiger and map it's home range), take a blood sample (this allows us for create a genetic profile of each tiger). 

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

The mana‎gement plan to create one large area for tigers has begun and the first internal fence (5km long) is being removed as I write this. 

This means that Ussuri's 3 cubs, Antoine, Jameez, and Marguerite have a large area into which they can disperse. Ussuri and Tibo (the white tigress) are now able to greatly expand their territories. 

In theory Tibo's three cubs could be in danger from males that are not the father. However Shy Boy, Tiger Boy, and Seatao have all been moved to other areas. 

On moving Tiger Boy into Corbett's area, he immediately attacked Zaria's cubs. Zaria defended her cubs and a fight broke out. Corbett on hearing the fight, joined Zaria and attacked Tiger Boy. Tiger Boy got Corbett down and was winning the fight when Zaria jumped onto Tiger Boy and attacked him, saving Corbett's life. (I witnessed a similar incident in a fight between two male leopards, Marthly Male and Camp Pan Male. Vomba female jumped onto Marthly Male to help Camp Pan Male out who was the father of her cubs.) ‎After Zaria jumped onto Tiger Boy, all three tigers began boxing and I witnessed the incredible sight of 3 tigers, all a metre off the ground captured in one frame. 

While the adults were fighting, Zaria's cubs ran away but got separated. Tiger Boy killed one of the cubs the following morning. 

I would like to thank the following people who have over many years shared their knowledge of veterinary care and management of big cats with me. 

The late Dr Eddie Young and Dr David Meltzer. Doctors Roy Bengis, DeWald Keet, Peter Rodgers, Charlotte Mouiex and Ryan Nienaber. In addition Ian Whyte, Butch Smuts, Trevor Dealove.

Tread lightly on the Earth
JV Reply