LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Zoo is welcoming a new tiger.
Timmy, a 6-year-old male Amur tiger, arrived at the zoo in late fall from the Potter Park Zoo in Michigan. The zoo announced Dec. 12 he will join Sasha, a female, on regular habitat rotation at Tiger Taiga near Snow Leopard Pass.
According to the zoo, its zookeepers are working with Timmy to get him acclimated to his new surroundings. He comes with a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Amur Tigers Species Survival Plan (SSP). He is interactive, has a calm demeanor and enjoys goat's milk, the zookeepers added.
The zoo's former male tiger, Vikenti, was relocated to the Potter Park Zoo with Timmy moving to Louisville. Vikenti's attempts to reproduce with Sasha over the years had not produced offspring.
According to the International Union of Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Amur tigers are endangered, and it's estimated just 350-450 remain in the wild. Facing an uncertain future, breeding recommendations such as the one given to Timmy and Sasha from AZA's SSP help maintain the genetic diversity of managed animal populations under human care.
The zoo is open year-round, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Fall and winter hours are 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Visitors can learn more by visiting its website.