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New Stripes in Town: Zoo Welcomes New Malayan Tiger

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications
Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo is welcoming a new tiger to its naturalistic Banyan Wilds habitat. Male tiger Angin (ON-yin), 14, arrived from Ellen Trout Zoo in Texas and is now roaming the zoo’s Malayan tiger habitat.


Angin, which means wind in Indonesian, is the brother of Woodland Park Zoo’s other male Malayan tiger, 14-year-old Bumi (Boo-mee), which means earth in Indonesian. Tigers are solitary animals, so guests won’t see the brothers or 8-year-old Azul, the zoo’s female Malayan tiger, roaming the habitat together. All three big cats will be on a rotational schedule in the habitat.

Angin weighs about 260 pounds and has been spending the last couple of weeks getting to know his new home and animal keepers. While Angin’s animal keepers have only known him for a short time, he’s already made a big impression and has a similar personality to his brother Bumi and is more reserved; he also enjoys playing in the water.



Do you want to see tigers in action? Woodland Park Zoo has Tiger Training Demonstrations at 11:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday. The zoo’s animal keepers will show how they work with these enormous predators safely, as well as how these trainings allow the tigers to participate in their own health care.

Malayan tigers are a critically endangered species with only about 300 left in the wild. In all, there are six subspecies of tigers: Malayan tigers are a bit smaller than Bengal tigers and are found in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of the southern tip of Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.


In an effort to save these iconic big cats from extinction, in 2012 Woodland Park Zoo created a partnership with Panthera and Rimba, an in-country field partner of the zoo, to launch the Malayan Tiger Conservation Project. This project is now entering its second 10-year initiative with the Terengganu State Government to protect tigers in and around Taman Negara National Park in peninsular Malaysia.

While the population decline of these massive felines is serious, there’s still plenty of hope for their future and many steps everyone can take to protect them. The biggest threats to their survival are wildlife trafficking and habitat loss—much of it related to the palm oil industry.



You Can Help Protect Tigers: 

Find certified, sustainable palm oil.
Palm oil is common in many candies, foods and household products. The Malayan tiger's habitat has been decimated by the creation of unsustainable palm oil plantations trying to keep up with global palm oil demand. Fortunately, many companies have switched to using certified, sustainable palm oil. For sweet occasions, use this treat shopping guide that will delight your loved ones and save forests and wildlife a world away. The guide features companies that are actively working to make a difference.

Learn more about the Malayan Tiger Conservation Project and the successes the program has already celebrated. Visit www.zoo.org/tigers. If you'd like to make a gift to tiger conservation, please visit www.zoo.org/donate, where you can write "Malayan Tigers" in the notes of the designation box to make sure 100% of your gift goes to support this program. 

Be a savvy traveler! When looking for souvenirs abroad, remember that some jewelry and trinkets might be made from illegally poached animal parts. Don't be afraid to ask what the product is made of and where it came from. By making informed choices, you can avoid having your souvenir confiscated and you'll support wildlife conservation around the world. Visit SEAsavvytravel.org to take the savvy traveler pledge and pick up wildlife-friendly tips for your next adventure.

Adopt a tiger. Show your love for tigers with a Malayan tiger adoption. The ZooParent program supports the zoo’s animal care, education and wildlife conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.



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