New tiger graces Calgary Zoo

The Calgary Zoo has a new Siberian tiger, a large male named Baikal, after the oldest freshwater lake in Russia.

The Associations of Zoos and Aquariums recommended moving Baikal from the Bronx Zoo to Calgary under the organization's species survival plan. The program is meant to ensure a healthy and genetically diverse population of endangered, threatened and "flagship" animals in captivity.

The zoo hopes to mate Baikal with Katja, a female tiger born at the Calgary Zoo in April, 2000.

The tiger was sent "special delivery" to Calgary by a courier, accompanied by two zoo employees. Baikal spent a month in quarantine and is now in an enclosure with Katja, Vitali and Kita.

"We are in the process of introducing the tigers to each other and Baikal is settling in to his new home," said Tim Sinclair-Smith, a curator at the zoo. "He is a really awesome tiger and an exciting addition to the Calgary Zoo family."

Siberian, or Amur, tigers are classified as endangered under the International Union of Conservation for Nature's "red list." In the 1930s only 20 to 30 such tigers remained, but today about 300 to 400 live in the wild.