Captive Lion and Tiger weights

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I put here too some things concerning tiger named Baikal, which has been claimed to have been 850 lbs. When checking that claim, it was impossible to find any source confirming that, only places where such weight was told were some discussion forums, no-one could point out any sources confirming anything publicly.

I contacted Assiniboine Park Zoo and from there was told to me, that Baikal averaged 190-200 kg. They had no information about claims concerning 850 lbs. From Cherry Brook Zoo I didn´t get any answer, at least not yet.

Now I found one source about Baikal, which isn´t second hand and can be checked by anyone who is interested. There is said , should I say, in nonchalant way "700 pound", so it is clearly approximate weight. Is it a little bit less or more, who knows. But now we are talking about a tiger around 300 kg, which most people, imo, see as something what a really big healthy male tiger can weight.

Also when you look that blog, there are two "facial" photos, which can be assumed to be Baikal. When looking at pattern there, it looks like to be so, that photo which often is told to be Baikal is in reality some other tiger. Baikal has that clear black spot behind eye which is one clear characteristic. Then also it seems to have some rougher fur on backside of neck also in summertime. These things are similar, when comparing to one other photo, which is said to be Baikal, where it is photographed at winter time.

After finding out this much, I have to admit that I have serious doubts about another tiger weight. I mean tigress Nyla, which was also living in Cherry Brooks Zoo and in some forums is told to be 500 lbs tigress. I have found absolutely nothing to back it up. That weight is also mentioned only in some discussion forums. I have read several articles and blog writings about Nyla, but there has been no indication, that it would have been exceptionally big tigress. Also one video which I saw... nothing too special. So was it or not 500 lbs, I don´t think so. But if someone can show some solid proof it would be interesting to see. It has to be remembered, that it is said to have had cubs at some point. So it can be in some photos/videos looking quite robust.

Anyway for me Baikal is now busted myth what comes to that weight of 850 lbs. 

It seems to be so, that it is important to be very careful when seeing something extraordinary. Usually extraordinary is something which is noticed also in media. Not only by a few people in some forum.

Here quote:
"Well as much as I really did not want Baikal, our magnificent male Siberian Tiger to leave he is on his way to Winnipeg. After a year of paperwork and transport arrangements he is finally on his way West to the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg. Moving an animal of this size is not an easy task but on Wednesday morning we finally accomplished loading a 700 pound animal into a transport crate that weighed 400 pounds and loaded onto a transport trailer."

Source: http://lyndacollrin.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-09-27T09:18:00-07:00&max-results=7&reverse-paginate=true Reply