Doug Moe: Killer tiger's sister at Vilas Zoo

Doug Moe  —  1/15/2008 7:02 am

TATIANA, THE Siberian tiger that escaped from the tiger grotto in the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day and fatally mauled a visitor before being shot dead by police, was born at the Denver Zoo in Colorado on June 27, 2003.

Tatiana was one of three cubs in the litter. Her brother, Waldemere, is still at the Denver Zoo, as are the parents.

But Tatiana had a sister, too, that at birth weighed 9 ounces more than Tatiana. The Denver zookeeper named the sister Mariette. Today, Mariette is at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison.

"She is here," Vilas Zoo director Jim Hubing confirmed Monday. "She is not on exhibit."

Hubing said the Vilas Zoo acquired the Siberian tiger in December 2006. She is one of only about 150 Siberian tigers, sometimes called Amur tigers, at accredited zoos in North America. There are believed to be less than 500 now living in the wild.

Hubing said zoo officials had not spoken publicly about Mariette's presence in Madison since the episode last month in San Francisco lest any copycat issues arise, though that would seem unlikely since the Madison tiger is not on exhibit to the public and may not be for some time.

"She is still getting acclimated," Hubing said. "That's not unusual for big cats. When she's ready, she'll go out."

In April 2005, the Vilas Zoo lost a Siberian tiger to old age. Nicoli was 18 years old and in declining health when zoo officials decided to euthanize him. At the time, Hubing called Nicoli "a magnificent ambassador for his species." Big cat keeper Shane Elsinger described Nicoli as "a great cat, even-tempered and reliable, always responding to his keepers with a friendly vocalization. Nick always gave a friendly greeting to zoo staff as they passed his exhibit."

The Christmas Day episode in San Francisco continues to generate controversy and headlines in the Bay Area.

Carlos Sousa Jr. was killed by Tatiana and two of Sousa's friends were injured by the tiger. The families are expected to file lawsuits against the city. On the other side, there have been suggestions that the three young men may have been intoxicated and taunting the tiger. The San Francisco Zoo has received donations in Tatiana's memory.

On Saturday, the San Jose Mercury News carried a story that traced Tatiana's short life, beginning with her birth in Denver in June 2003. Because Siberian tigers are a critically endangered species, the birth of three cubs was a celebrated event.

Mercury News reporter Linda Goldston noted: "When they were born June 27, 2003, Tatiana and her siblings were strong, healthy cubs. Their zookeeper had the privilege of naming them and chose Tatiana for the smallest of the litter (Tatiana was 9 pounds, 9 ounces). Her sister, at 10 pounds, 2 ounces, was named Mariette, and their brother, at 10 pounds, 6 ounces, was named Waldemere."

The Rocky Mountain News in Colorado ran a story last month one day after the attack in San Francisco which said this: "Tatiana was one of three cubs delivered by a tiger named Katarina in Denver. Even as a cub she was noted for her 'quick-tempered' personality, compared to her more mellow siblings, according to a feature story at the time."

Presumably Mariette would today weigh close to what Tatiana weighed when she died on Christmas Day, but media reports in the Bay Area have put Tatiana's weight anywhere between 300-400 pounds. And the San Jose Mercury News story Saturday, citing a necropsy report obtained through an opens records request, listed her weight at 243 pounds.

The Christmas incident in San Francisco was not the first involving Tatiana. Almost exactly a year earlier, on Dec. 23, 2006, a zookeeper suffered deep lacerations on her arm after Tatiana reached for her from inside her cage after a feeding.

Heard something Moe should know? Call 252-6446, write P.O. Box 8060, Madison, WI 53708, or e-mail dmoe@madison.com

Doug Moe  —  1/15/2008 7:02 am