Tiger news from Malaysia (12-08-2005)

[alanhoo]

I am so sad that this sort of thing still occurs.

Alanhoo

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Good samaritan buys tiger cub from restaurant

BY CHIN MUI YOON

SHAH ALAM: A tiger cub was saved from ending up on the dinner table when a Good Samaritan who heard about it being sold to a restaurant bought the cat.

Malaysian trade commissioner to Papua New Guinea Datuk Dr S.H. Foo heard from friends on Monday that a little tiger caught by villagers in Rompin, Pahang, was sold to a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.

Worried that the cub was destined for the cooking pot, Foo, through a contact, offered to buy the tiger from the restaurant.

Foo did not reveal how much he paid for the cub but the amount is believed to be more than RM10,000.

The male cub, estimated to be three months old, was sent to Foo’s house in Glenmarie here on Tuesday.


IN SAFE HANDS: Foo’s children (from left) Suan Hui, three, Suan Mei, 20, and Suan Keong, 17, stroking the tiger cub while Suan Son, three, looks on at their home in Shah Alam yesterday.
The cub appears unharmed but is skinny and clearly stressed.

However, it allowed itself to be stroked by Foo's children and also ate chunks of fresh deer meat.

“I was shocked that such a magnificent animal like the tiger could end up as nothing more than a meal,” said Foo.

“At the very least, the animal should be given a chance to live and grow up in a wildlife centre or zoo especially since it is also an endangered animal.

“It’s an endangered species and I hope more people will see the value of this beautiful wild animal and contribute to its survival instead of gobbling it up.”

Foo said he contacted the Wildlife Department in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday to come get the tiger but was told to go to its office and fill up forms instead.

Foo then sought help from Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau and a journalist helped him to send the cub to the department on Wednesday.

The Wildlife Department’s Law and Enforcement Department director, Misliah Mohd Basir, said the cub was weak, dehydrated and had parasites but was otherwise fine.

She said the cub would be nursed back to health and sent to the Wildlife Department’s animal rescue centre in Malacca.

[alanhoo]

Rescued cub handed over to zoo

STORY AND PICTURE BY CHIA SHIN HANN

MALACCA: The tiger cub that was rescued from the dinner table by a Good Samaritan has been named ‘Nicky’ by zookeepers at the Malacca Zoo here.

“We intend to keep the cub here. When she is ready, we are going to introduce her to the public and put her in our tiger breeding programme,” said zoo director Mohd Nawayai Yasak.

The zoo received the cub on Thursday from Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin of the Wildlife Department headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Nicky was saved from ending up on the dinner table when the Malaysian trade commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Datuk Dr S.H. Foo, heard from friends on Monday that the cub had been caught by villagers in Rompin, Pahang and sold to a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.


ZOO’S LATEST ADDITION: Nicky the tiger cub playing with a blanket that was used to lure her out of her cage at the Malacca Zoo.
Worried that the cub was destined for the cooking pot, Foo, through a contact, bought the baby tiger from the restaurant for an undisclosed sum.

The cub, said to be about three months old, was sent to Foo’s house in Shah Alam on Tuesday and on the same day he contacted the Wildlife Department.

Asked about the cub’s condition, Mohd Nawayai said: “She looks thin and we are feeding her. Our in-house veterinarian, Dr Sandy Chong, is taking care of our new charge.”

Nicky growled and started to chase a photographer of The Star who tried to snap her pictures.

Earlier, Dr Chong used a blanket to lure her out of her cage.

“As you can see, Nicky is very active and playful,” she said as she sidestepped the cub, which managed to get a grip on her trousers.

The cub only let go when some Whiskas (a brand of cat food) was put into her feeding bowl.

Besides the cat food, Nicky is being fed three times a day on chicken wings and milk.

“Within a month, she should look a lot better,” said Dr Chong.

[alanhoo]

Nicky is back to roaring health

BY CHRISTINA TAN


NOW AND THEN: Nicky, the tiger cub which was saved from the cooking pot last week, looking snug in the arms of Karen Lee, 21, a university student, at the Malacca Zoo yesterday. When the three-month-old cub was rescued last week, she was emaciated and fearful of those around her (below).

The cub is now eating, resting and exercising at the Malacca Zoo.

“She's still underweight but she's as active as other cubs now,” said the zoo's director Mohd Nawayai Yasak.


“Nicky spends most of the time resting, which is what she truly needs. She also gets to play around the captive area for a few hours a day, which is light exercise for her,” he added.

The cub is responding well to the new captive environment and has started to take in solid food like chicken mixed with milk and vitamins.

“Nicky eats well and her weight is expected to increase to a normal level in a month,” he said.

Nicky was saved by Malaysian trade commissioner to Papua New Guinea Datuk Dr S.H. Foo, who heard from friends last week that the cub had been caught by villagers in Rompin, Pahang, and sold to a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.

[alanhoo]

Today's news really upset me and prompted me to share with you guys.

Alan Hoo

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Nicky goes missing from zoo

BY CHIA SHIN HANN

MALACCA: Nicky, the tiger cub which was saved from the cooking pot, is missing – possibly kidnapped – from Malacca Zoo.

On Wednesday morning, a worker opened the zoo clinic where the three-month-old female tiger was kept and found her gone, said zoo director Mohd Nawayai Yasak.

“Early investigations have led us to believe that it was human error as we suspect that Nicky was locked out of the clinic when we closed it on Tuesday evening,” he said in a press statement.


Since Wednesday, workers have been combing the 22ha zoo for the cub, looking in likely places such as bushes and thicket.

“She could still be somewhere in the zoo. We’re hoping she’ll come out on her own when she’s hungry,” Mohd Nawayai said yesterday.

“She’s still a cub and needs to be fed. We hope hunger will force her out of wherever she’s hiding,” he said in explaining the 48-hour delay in reporting the missing tiger to the police.

The zoo authorities are expected to lodge a formal report today.

But after two days of searching, Mohd Nawayai conceded that it seemed unlikely the cub was still in the zoo premises.

“The other more likely possibility is that when she was locked out of the clinic, someone took her away.

“I am pleading with the person to return her and I assure the person that the zoo will not press charges,” he said.

He said the cub was placed under the care of three staff members but declined to reveal who they were.

When asked about the chances that it was an inside job, Mohd Nawayai said the police would investigate that possibility.

Anyone found illegally keeping a tiger cub can be jailed six years or fined RM6,000 under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972.

Nicky had been rescued from ending up as dinner when Malaysian Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Datuk Dr S.H. Foo heard from friends last Monday that a baby tiger caught in Rompin, Pahang, had been sold to a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.

Foo, through a contact, bought the cub from the restaurant for a sum believed to be more than RM10,000.

Nicky was sent to the Wildlife Department in Kuala Lumpur which handed her to the Malacca Zoo last Thursday.

Initially emaciated, the cub soon regained strength following a daily diet of cat food, chicken wings and milk.

Foo said in Shah Alam that he was shocked to hear that Nicky has vanished.

“How can a zoo possibly lose a tiger cub?” he exclaimed.

Foo said it was not about the money spent but the opportunity to save and protect a wild and beautiful beast.

“My family was planning to make a trip to the Malacca Zoo this Sunday because all my children want to see the cub again,” he said.

“They have even pooled their savings to donate to the zoo as a small contribution towards the maintenance of the little tiger.

“How can I tell them now that the tiger has gone missing when it was supposed to be in safe hands?”


RM10,000 reward for info on cub
PETALING JAYA: The Star is offering a RM10,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of Nicky the missing tiger cub.
The reward is only for members of the public.

Those with information on the whereabouts of the three-month-old tiger should inform the Malacca Zoo (06-232 4053 office hours / 013-237 7559 after office hours).

The decision to give the reward will be decided jointly by The Star and the zoo.

[Chad Schwinn]

It's sad to say for sure. When I worked at the Baltimore Zoo we took in 3 tiger cubs that were confiscated from a family by UFSW. The family purchased a pregnant female and had another adult pair and when they got cubs they sold 2 and kept the remaining 3. They were allowing their 5 year old and 8 year old to sleep with the cubs at night in the children's beds! Crazy people out there. Fortunately, many loving Vets. zookeepers and Vet. Techs. took these animals in and gave them the best of care. They grew and developed and were introduced to an AZA breeding program at different institutions. Hopefully this animal will have a similar "happy ending".

Thanks for Sharing!

Chad Schwinn
Chad Schwinn Reptiles

[MPenn]

I too am heart broken about the recent news Alan! I hope that she turns back up or the punish the person or persons responsible for her disappearance.
Michael

[dirty_harry]

taht is just terrible... hoepfully they find it, and ASAP!!!

[alanhoo]

I took a week off, so unable to give a prompt update.

I realised that this is not a place for me to post such article, yet I was not rebuked for it. Nice people here. :049[1]:

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Nicky back at Malacca Zoo

BY CHIA SHIN HANN

MALACCA: Nicky, the tiger cub, missing for two days has been found safe in the compound of the Malacca Zoo to the relief of zoo staff and the concerned public.

When shown to the press yesterday, the three-month-old female cub seemed to be none the worse, and looked comfortable in the arms of her minder.

At 7.30am yesterday, tiger keeper Rosli Jantan spotted the cub scampering about the bushes near a tiger enclosure about 500m away from the zoo clinic where she was last seen.

“On arriving for work at the tiger enclosure I saw Nicky and immediately alerted the resident zoologist on the walkie-talkie.

“Thankfully the rain yesterday (Thursday) provided her water to drink,” said Rosli who was not aware that The Star had offered a reward of RM10,000 to any member of the public for any information leading to the safe return of the cub.


FOUND: Malacca Zoo employee Ermy Mohd Amin carrying Nicky after she was discovered scampering near a tiger enclosure at the zoo yesterday. Behind him is Mohd Nawayai.
“I am proud to have found Nicky. I did not even know about the prize money. I’m just glad that Nicky is safe and sound,” he said.

Malacca Zoo veterinarian Dr Sandy Chong said the tiger cub was dry and warm despite the rain on Thursday.

Chong said Nicky was frisky when she was brought back to the clinic, but “she could recognise some of us”.

“She was not dehydrated nor did she appear to have gone without food for two days. We fed her because she was hungry,” she said.

The tiger cub was found missing from the clinic where she was kept when zoo workers opened it on Wednesday morning.

Zoo director Mohd Nawayai Yasak who got a call at 8am about Nicky’ safe return, said: “Now I can breathe easy.

“We are certain that Nicky was locked out of the clinic on Tuesday evening. She could have either ventured out on her own, or someone might have taken her out.

“The person who took Nicky could have realised that tigers are a protected species and somehow managed to sneak her back into the zoo.”

Mohd Nawayai said the zoo planned to call for an independent investigator from the Wildlife Department in Kuala Lumpur to look into the matter.

He said security would be tightened at the zoo, which has 18 other tigers.

Nicky ended up at the Malacca Zoo after Malaysian Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Datuk Dr S.H. Foo learnt last week that the cub, caught in Rompin, Pahang, had been sold to a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.

Foo was relieved to hear that the tiger was back at the zoo. “What a scare the whole incident gave us,” he said.

Foo, who paid a sum believed to be in excess of RM10,000 to rescue the cub, had expressed outrage when told on Thursday that the cub had gone missing.

To this, Mohd Nawayai responded: “I do not blame him. I am very embarrassed and very sorry that this thing happened.”

[dirty_harry]

SWISH! i am glad that everything turned out OK... it would be a terrible loss if such awesome creatures were to become extinct.

[abster_82]

I am so happy to hear that the baby is okay. I love tigers to death and hate what is happening to them.
Thanks for the update.

[alanhoo]

Monday August 22, 2005


Nicky ‘thanks’ her saviour

BY LEE YUK PENG

MALACCA: Datuk Dr S. H Foo received a “warm welcome” at the zoo here from Nicky, the tiger cub he saved from the cooking pot.

The 58-year-old Malaysian Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea said he was happy to meet the tiger cub, which “showered” him with gentle bites as he held it.

“This is not a bite, it’s a kiss from Nicky,” said Dr Foo as he wiped off some blood on his right palm.


TENDER TOUCH: Dr Foo holding Nicky up during his visit to Malacca Zoo, where Nicky is staying. With him are (from left) Suan Keong, Tham and Suan Hui.
Accompanying Dr Foo during the visit were his wife Tham Foong Ying, 50, and three of his four children – Suan Keong, 17, and three-year-old twins Suan Hui and Suan Son. His 20-year-old daughter Suan Mei did not come along.

Dr Foo, who is the president of the Foo Clans World Association, also brought along his friends – all of whom had the surname Foo.

“Maybe Nicky should also have the surname Foo,” joked Dr Foo, whose nickname is Tiger Foo.

His four children pooled RM1,000 from their savings as a donation to the zoo to help upkeep the three-month-old Nicky. Five of their family friends also donated RM700.

“I am impressed with the Malacca Zoo and I can see that the staff here have really taken good care of Nicky,” said Dr Foo.

[Jo_Y]

With the stress of everything going on around here, I am REALLY enjoying this thread. Thank you for sharing it with us (and keeping it updated :) )

[alanhoo]

Jo, happy that you enjoyed it. Your comment makes my efforts worthwhile. :D

------------------------------------------------------------------------Thursday August 25, 2005


Nicky the star attraction at zoo

MALACCA: Nicky has not had a shortage of visitors since being sent to the Malacca Zoo.

The tiger cub, which has won the hearts of Malaysians since her rescue, yesterday had a VIP visitor – the wife of the governor, Toh Puan Zurina Kassim.

“I learnt about Nicky from the newspapers,” said Zurina, who was accompanied by several family members and friends.

The tiger cub, saved from the cooking pot by Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Datuk Dr S.H. Foo, looked emaciated when rescued but was soon nursed back to health by the zoo staff.


COOL CAT: Assistant veterinary officer Jawahir Jaafar (left) holding Nicky as Zurina strokes the cub at the Malacca Zoo.
Malacca Zoo director Mohd Nawayai Yasak said that the cub was eating well.

“She is in good condition now and is very playful. We're feeding her chicken wings, cat food and milk three times a day.

“We are also carefully monitoring her condition and will slowly acclimatise her to humans as we plan to allow visitors to take photographs with her, hopefully in September if the veterinarian gives the green light,” he said.