MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The future of a tiger from the Memphis Zoo is unknown after it killed another tiger while on loan to the Sacramento Zoo.
The zoos had hoped to mate the Sumatran tigers, which is considered a critically endangered species.
WREG spoke with animal experts on Thursday who said there are less than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the world.
The Memphis Zoo was lucky to have their own named Mohan.
“We had him from 2006 to 2015. He was just transferred in December of last year,” said Laura Doty with the zoo.
Mohan was sent to Sacramento with hopes of mating him with the Sacramento Zoo’s Sumatran tiger, Baha to help preserve the species.
“Within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and North America a number of zoos get together and collaborate and cooperate breeding and propagation of endangered animals,” said the Memphis Zoo Curator, Farshid Mehrdadfar.
But the Memphis Zoo just got terrible news from Mohan’s second home.
Mohan killed his would-be mate.
“Unfortunately, something didn’t go right yesterday,” said Doty.
According to reports, the Sacramento Zoo was trying to introduce the two.
The Memphis Zoo curator said, unlike lions, tigers are solitary creatures so introducing new ones can be difficult due to them being territorial.
“That’s got to be such a loss and such a tragedy really,” said Cheryl Marshall, a visitor to the Memphis Zoo.
So far, it’s unclear yet whether or not Mohan will be rejoining the Tigers at the Memphis Zoo.
The curator said it’s all about what’s best for the continuation of the species.
“Our colleagues at the Memphis Zoo and our colleagues within the Species Survival Plan are going to look and see what the best match for Mohan is,” said Mehrdadfar.
And although tragic, the Memphis Zoo said it will not have any obligation to Sacramento for the loss of Baha.
“We go in it knowing that at any given time a mishap could happen. It’s unfortunate that this mishap happened as it did,” said Mehrdadfar.
The Sacramento Zoo said it’s possible the Association of Zoos and Aquariums may want to try breeding Mohan again in the future, but where that would happen is unclear.
The Memphis Zoo said Mohan showed no signs of aggression while in Memphis.
