Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
It’s September, and that means it’s a tiger-ific month – it’s #NationalSaveATigerMonth! 🐯
We’re lucky to be home to two Amur tigers, a subspecies listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to threats including habitat loss and poaching.
As part of their care here at the zoo, our tigers can voluntarily participate in touch training like male Vasili is doing here. During these sessions, our Animal Care, Health & Welfare team uses positive reinforcement to build trust and encourage animals to exhibit natural behaviours that help our team monitor their health and wellbeing. Animal Care Technicians use a combination of signals, gestures and sounds to cue specific behaviours, such as showing their teeth or offering a paw. After following the red baton and giving the desired response, Vasili was rewarded with a delicious piece of meat. Not only does this training allow our team to monitor the health and body condition of an animal, but it also strengthens bonds that make routine medical procedures like weight checks and injections easy and stress-free. 🫶
Thank you to our Animal Care, Health & Welfare team for their paw-fect care! 🐅
#YourZooYYC #AnimalWellbeing
It’s September, and that means it’s a tiger-ific month – it’s #NationalSaveATigerMonth! 🐯
We’re lucky to be home to two Amur tigers, a subspecies listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to threats including habitat loss and poaching.
As part of their care here at the zoo, our tigers can voluntarily participate in touch training like male Vasili is doing here. During these sessions, our Animal Care, Health & Welfare team uses positive reinforcement to build trust and encourage animals to exhibit natural behaviours that help our team monitor their health and wellbeing. Animal Care Technicians use a combination of signals, gestures and sounds to cue specific behaviours, such as showing their teeth or offering a paw. After following the red baton and giving the desired response, Vasili was rewarded with a delicious piece of meat. Not only does this training allow our team to monitor the health and body condition of an animal, but it also strengthens bonds that make routine medical procedures like weight checks and injections easy and stress-free. 🫶
Thank you to our Animal Care, Health & Welfare team for their paw-fect care! 🐅
#YourZooYYC #AnimalWellbeing
