Week 199 (15th June – 21st June 2007)
Close encounter between Cathay and 327:
From the beginning of this week Cathay was allowed into the quarantine camp when 327 was closed in the breeding centre, so that Cathay could get familiar with the smell of 327 and with the environment of the quarantine camp and breeding centre. She was also able to see 327 through the bars. Initially she didn’t show much interest. She paced with TigerWoods and Madonna for a while. Only after she went back to the 4 ha camp and 327 went into the quarantine camp again, did she turn her attention on him. Cathay ran to 327 and both of them began to run along the fence for a while. Later Cathay stalked him again. She also lay on the ground and rolled in front of him as if seducing him.
On Saturday afternoon, Cathay was allowed into the quarantine camp again. She jumped into the quarantine camp. She went to the cage and began to pace around it. 15 minutes later, Cathay went to the pole shelter and smelt around the ground, then lay down and rolled. After that she spent most of her time walking around the cage, pole shelter and the water trough. The interesting thing was, after staying in the quarantine camp for about 1 hour, Cathay went back to the 4 ha camp. However, she just sat down near the fence for a while, rolled on the ground, and scent marked once, then she got up and went to the gate again. After hesitating for a few minutes she jumped into the quarantine camp again. It seemed she didn’t want to leave 327 alone.
Cathay began to pay more and more attention to 327. When she was put in the quarantine camp for the third time on Sunday afternoon, she didn’t even pay much attention to TigerWoods who was pacing along the fence next to her. She just had a look at him before she continued going to the cage and watching 327. She then went to the corner and defecated there. After that, she went to the pole shelter and rolled on the ground again. Later she went to the cage and walked around it, as if looking for the entrance.
On Monday afternoon, 327 was allowed to stay in the outdoor cage of the breeding centre. He and Cathay met each other with only bars between them. The gate of the next cage was also opened so that if Cathay wanted to she could also go into the next cage to meet 327. She didn’t do so though. Cathay kept walking around the cage where 327 was in. Then 327 was attracted into the neighbouring cage, hoping Cathay would be attracted by the smell of 327 into the next cage. But she still just paced around the cage where 327 was. 327 explored the new cage for a while, scent marking the wall, then turned his attention back to Cathay and paced with her for a while. After pacing for a while with 327, Cathay went to the pole shelter and rolled on the ground. Then she lay down and had a rest. She repeated this action near the cage and the pole shelter several times. Finally 327 also sat down in the cage and did not move again. All this was accompanied by lots of chuffing and there was no aggression from either tiger.