Incredible friendship between Amur tiger and goat cannot last, he predicts.
Shilo heads Novosibirsk Zoo and he has seen other odd friendships, but insists this one will not last. Picture: V.Ankov
Timur the goat was fed to the hungry tiger as his lunch: live prey that should be eaten in the flash of an eye. Except that Timur made friends with his predator and this odd couple relationship blossomed, with Russians agog over what will happen next. Two weeks on, and there has been no calamitous event.
The goat has had a calming influence on the tiger, says the safari park director in the Russian Far East.
The tiger appears to be teaching the goat to hunt as nature's most unexpected male bonding develops, rather than hunting the goat.
Our stories and videos on the bizarre friendship can be seen here and here. But now zoo expert Rostislav Shilo says it cannot last.
'There is an 80-85% chance that he will eat the goat,' he warned.
Shilo heads Novosibirsk Zoo and he has seen other odd friendships, but insists this one will not last.
'We had a vulture living with hares for some years,' he said. 'In winter, a hare can climb under his wing and sleep. I also remember a cat who lived with a rat.
Such things happen. This is not unique, but always interesting.'
85% certain: the tiger will eat his pal the goat, warns Siberian zoo expert. Pictures:Dmitry Mezentsev
The tiger - called Amur - has been hunting rabbits, but at least so far does not see Timur as prey. The safari park has published daily updates on the relationship.
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Comments (10)
It is wrong to 'live feed' the predators for amusement of viewers as it is a 'canned hunt' no better than those that pay to hunt animals in controlled enclosures. You have locked these animals up in unnatural settings, the least you can do is cook them their meals!
Also humans play in the farm with our food.