How to feed live chickens to captive tigers

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Explore:Feed That Tiger!

Updated:2006-10-29 11:19:08 MYT

 

Feeding time at the Zoobic Safari isn't for the squeamish. Rather than

keeping it out of sight and out of mind, visitors to this Filipino wildlife

attraction are allowed in close--very close--to watch.

 

For most of the animals it's no big deal. The lush 25-ha park in Subic Bay,

a few hours northwest of Manila, houses dozens of Asian, African and North

American animal species in its various walk-through and drive-through

enclosures.

 

There are ostriches, albino buffalo, potbelly pigs and wild boars, deer,

guinea fowl and miniature horses, as well as a serpentarium, rodent house

and honeybee farm.

 

Interesting if you've never seen them before, but not particularly exciting.

 

The main attraction, what gets people there in the first place, is the

animals that can't be fed at the petting zoo--a dozen full-grown Bengalese

and Siberian tigers.

 

Visitors ride through their habitat in a specially designed safari jeep

encased in a steel-mesh cage, which means you're safe even when the tigers

get right up alongside.

 

But once you've seen one up close, witnessed their sheer size and obvious

strength, the cage doesn't feel like much protection.

 

This isn't a zoo after all--you're inside with the animals all around you.

 

As the jeep drives the 15-minute circuit around the enclosure, tigers prowl

through grass-covered hills, laze in the shade or sit neck-deep in a pool.

By nature tigers are fairly sedate, sleeping most of the day and moving at

their leisure.

 

Except when they're hungry and food is about. And this is where the Zoobic

Safari makes its mark.

 

For the equivalent of about US$4, visitors can buy a live chicken to be

served to the beasts. A guide dangles the chicken, tied by its feet, through

a small gate in the jeep's cage. The result is predictable enough, although

the experience of how it happens can vary pretty dramatically.

 

Sometimes the guide can entice a tiger to climb right up onto the side of

the jeep, close enough for you to smell its breath and stare into its eyes.

 

At other times the tiger, used to this little teasing ritual, goes for the

quick strike. While anticipated, it still happens fast enough to be

surprising. A flash of orange and black fur and the chicken is gone.

Hopefully it's a clean take, but often it's messy. That part is definitely

not for the squeamish.

 

Certainly more pleasant is the chance, if there have been any recent births

at the onsite breeding facility, for a close encounter with a tiger cub.

 

Under the watchful supervision of a handler, visitors are allowed to cradle

and bottle-feed some of the new arrivals.

 

Even at a few months old, these cubs have a wiry strength, sharp teeth and

claws. Playful yet demanding, they are not afraid to use both if they want

your attention. Holding onto the friskier cubs and the bottle at the same

time can be a bit of a challenge.

 

Playing with a tiger cub is pretty much at the top of the list in terms of

memorable holiday experiences. There aren't too many places in the world

that will let you do this, and fewer that charge only a pittance for the

privilege.

 

Visitors can also have their picture taken with one of the tigers as it

stretches out across a bench to be petted or bottle-fed.

 

Admission costs $6 on weekdays and $8 on weekends, and the ride through the

tiger enclosure is an additional $1.

 

Subic Bay offers many other adventure and wildlife attractions, as well as

duty-free shopping opportunities. *(By Chris Vedelago, The Nation/ANN)*

Sinchew-*i* 2006/10/29