Week 244 (25 April - 1 May 2008)

Getting shocked

Hulooo was in tiger heaven this week with a variety of guests and visitors coming to see him in his new home. Being bonded to humans having been hand reared, he loves having people as company. He is becoming a very strong and boisterous little tiger, often inflicting wounds on the unsuspecting. Late on afternoon, Li took him for a walk down to the river, which meant taking him outside of his camp. He was elated and not scared at all to explore this new environment. When he got to the river he was at first unsure whether he should cross or not, but soon he was playing hide and seek in the reeds next to the river. Eventually he led the way back to his camp with his human companions following behind.

Initially the electricity to the fence in Hulooo’s camp was switched off. By now he was complety at home in his camp and even started attempting to climb the fence around the camp. This could not be allowed, seeing that as he grows older he needs to respect this fence as the boundary to his world. So, midweek the electricity was switched on and Hulooo had to start the slow (and painful process) of learning to respect the fence. As the vehicle arrived at his camp, he excitedly came running to the fence as he had been doing for the past week, however this time the minute he got near the wires he got a shock. The output of the fence is not dangerous and cannot harm him, but it does deliver quite a nasty shock. He got a tremendous fright and gave a roar while running back to the pepper tree. He hid under the tree for a few minutes and then he came out again, but avoiding the fence.

The next day when his springbok carcass arrived, he got so excited he forgot completely about yesterday’s experience and again came too close to the wires. Again he got a shock and one could almost see the surprise and bafflement on his face at this new development. During the rest of the week he got a few more shocks, but by the end of the week he had started gaining the necessary respect for the fence. Poor Hulooo, learning is never and easy process.

Cathay continued being and excellent mother and started bringing her cubs out of the pole shelter into the sun. It became quite cold this week and bringing the cubs into the sun would warm them during the cold days. TigerWoods also continued to be a proud father to Hulooo spending a lot of time near the fence of Hulooo’s enclosure and chuffing at him continuously.