Odd couple are separated amid concerns big cat Amur is becoming aggressive.
Images and footage of the unlikely buddies wandering their compound together have flashed around the world. Picture: Dmitry Mezentsev
The tiger and the goat have made headlines around the world, with two happy months in the company of each other, a friendship nature never intended. Timur wasn't supposed to last two minutes he was thrown in as live prey for the Siberian tiger at a safari park.
The goat eyeballed Amur, showed no fear, and the big cat gave up his bed so his new friend could settle in.
Crowds have flocked to the Primorsky Safari Park while online updates have been avidly read daily across Russia, and images and footage of the unlikely buddies wandering their compound together have flashed around the world.
BUT... Recently footage has shown the first signs of aggression from the tiger, although the goat simply showed his horns and the cat retreated. For now.
Timur - named for his bravery - was given a separate enclosure 'until the situation changes'. Picture: Sergey Lanin/PrimaMedia, Anton Fedoseev,
Yet suddenly the pair have been separated. Park director Dmitry Mezentsev said a tigress in a nearby enclosure has entered her mating period. This could lead to unpredictable consequences in the tiger's behaviour even though the female - called Taiga - is his sister.
The aim is to keep the goat 'safe from possible changes in the male tiger's behaviour', he said. Timur - named for his bravery - will be given a separate enclosure 'until the situation changes'.
Mesentsev said: 'Males are very sensitive in this period. They become aggressive and very unpredictable.' Another factor was the goat's obesity which seems to show how content he is living with the tiger: he can't stop eating. He also needs a flea check, apparently.
Another issue is that Amur is due to be introduced in the future to his 'bride' Ussuri, another tigress already at the park. Picture: Dmitry Mezentsev, Sergey Lanin/PrimaMedia
'We decided to kill two birds with one stone - to get Timur checked by the vet and take some precautions in case Amur's behaviour changes,' he explained. 'In order not to risk the health and life of Timur the goat, we removed him and combined this with the veterinary inspection.'
Another issue is that Amur is due to be introduced in the future to his 'bride' Ussuri, another tigress already at the park. She shares an enclosure with Taiga.
The goat may not be welcome at this moment. For now the plan is to bring the tiger and goat back together again...
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