Philadelphia Zoo Tiger Changbai Limping Follow Up

This video (and its accompanying audio) is a composite of several videos I recorded at the Big Cat Falls tiger exhibit during a one-hour period on Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Based on my observations and on videos I recorded during the past three years, I believe the information regarding Changbai's limp you hear in the video is incorrect. I believe Changbai started to limp about two months ago.

And based on information I received from Zoo staff people I trust to stay up-to-date and informed about all the Zoo's animals, I believe the most likely explanation for Changbai's limp, which appears to have started around the middle of January, is that she slipped on the ice at around that time and wrenched or slightly dislodged her shoulder or a joint in her leg. The current limp may be related to an injury she incurred while playing with her sisters as a cub. But she was not born with a limp. And she has not limped since she was young.

One of the ongoing complaints I have had is that the Zoo's Education and Public Programs staff do not know all the information regarding the Zoo's animals. Yet the Zoo's Education and Public Programs staff are the ones who train and supervise the volunteers and interns who are stationed at the exhibits to answer visitors' questions - which means visitors are often given incorrect information.

I do want to repeat, though, that I trust the Zoo's animal care department to provide the best care and medical treatments for whatever is causing Changbai to limp.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Philadelphia Zoo
• zoos
• Big Cat Falls
• Changbai
• winter
• 2011
• March
• Saturday
• limp

[ZooVisitorMM]

@ladybloodrose Yes, according to the Zoo staff, she has been thoroughly examined and has had x-rays.

[ladybloodrose]

could also be slight inflamation with the changing temps in the weather like arthritus. wonder if they have recently x-rayed her recently.