The oldest male tiger on the Dallas Zoo has gone to massive cat heaven.
Manis, a Sumatran tiger, was born in captivity in Seattle on Sept. 13, 2004 and got here to Dallas in 2015. He was 18 years when he died on Nov. 20 from kidney failure, the Dallas Zoo has introduced.
He was one in all seven tigers on the Dallas Zoo, and in line with Lisa Van Slett, affiliate curator of mammals on the zoo, he was one of many sweetest.
“As a result of he’s so laid again, he taught loads of new zoologists how one can work with massive cats as a result of it may be intimidating if it’s the primary time you’re working with a majority of these animals,” Van Slett mentioned.
All the tigers on the zoo are Sumatran. There are an estimated 400 dwelling within the wild, Van Slett mentioned. About the identical quantity are estimated to stay in captivity, she added.
Van Slett described Manis as a “nice babysitter” who might be light with cubs on the zoo, but additionally a playful soul who was a bit tough together with his toys and cherished to get soiled.
On his 18th birthday, zoo officers threw him a construction-themed celebration in order that he may destroy his belongings freely.
Though Manis didn’t have offspring, he lived a full life and was a pleasure to work with, Van Slett mentioned.
“He was all the time rolling round in [the] mud and entering into issues,” Van Slett mentioned. “We used to joke that if he’s too clear that we ought to be nervous.”