PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) - The Hattiesburg Zoo has expanded its animal family with the arrival of Ava, a 12-year-old female Malayan tiger.
Arriving from the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma, Ava marks the facility’s first female tiger since the beloved longtime resident Tigger. At 12 years old, Ava is entering her senior years, but with professional zoo care, she could live up to 20 years compared to 10 to 15 years in the wild.
Ava spent her entire life in Tulsa, where she made a vital contribution to the critically endangered species by successfully raising three litters totaling eight cubs through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP). Now officially retired from the cooperative breeding program, Ava’s relocation to Hattiesburg will free up space at the Tulsa Zoo to welcome another tiger into the conservation initiative.
Hattiesburg Zoo’s last Malayan tiger, Bunga, died eight days shy of his 15th birthday in May. Bunga moved to the Hattiesburg Zoo when he was 12, too, and had also participated in a breeding program. Hattiesburg Zoo prides itself on being a ‘retigerment’ home for these giant cats.
Ava has not made her public debut yet. She will have time to acclimate to her new environment, and meet guests when she is ready.
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