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Kiara-Vestigium โ€” Tiger Splash

Published: 2012-07-24 21:57:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 1415; Favourites: 65; Downloads: 0
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Description So this time it's Igor having fun in his pool with tree trunks. He's the brother of Boris ([link] ) and also lives at the SPEA.

Info about the Sanctuary for Predators and Exotic Animals:
Actually the only big cat sanctuary in Germany. Because what do you do when a circus doesn't want it's tigers anymore? Kill them? That's actually the way it usually goes. But since 1994 there has been a shelter for those cats in Wallersdorf (near Ansbach), Bavaria, Germany. All the animals there share a sad background story: Their owners couldn't care for them anymore or were criminals and imported their "pets" illegally. The authorities seized the animals and brought them here. They live a happy life with bigger cages than they were used to. Why not bring these animals to a zoo? Simple: Most of them (actually all who are there at the moment) are not pure bred. The zoos only want pure bred animals because they have the European Endangered Species Programme or EEP. Which is good program as such since they need pure breds to return them to the wild when (or even better before) they go extinct. So these animals find a new home at the Raubtier- und Exotenasyl Wallersdorf e.V. (Cats of prey and exotic animal shelter Wallersdorf). At the moment there are 6 tigers, 2 cougars, 1 Eurasian lynx, 1 Arctic fox, 1 red fox, 2 Japanese macaque [Macaca fuscata], 6 ferrets and some rabbits (nope they are usually not food for the tigers but animals which children can pet, unlike the tigers).
They are glad for any help they can get since they are a non-profit organization and finance themselves only through donations and sponsors. They even have open house every first Sunday a month - entry is free!

I did a 2-week internship there and was allowed to clean the cages, make food, feed the animals and do other stuff around the grounds. That's where I took the photos.

If you want to know more ask me or visit their website: [link] or their facebook page: [link]

Thank you!

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[link] ------------------------------[link]
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Comments: 36

MdnghtShadow [2012-10-14 15:45:20 +0000 UTC]

Someone looks like he's having fun! He'd be an easy one to identify; the markings on his head are very distinctive.

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to MdnghtShadow [2012-10-15 10:59:02 +0000 UTC]

He did have a lot of fun
And yes, it's true his markings on his head are very distinctive (though I never noticed that before :3), but his two brothers have almost the same markings and thus it's pretty hard to identify who is who if you don't know a little trick: they all have stripes on their left forepaw. and depending on how many stripes they have, just as many "s" o they have in their name -> Igor means no stripe on the forepaw, Boris = one and Ussuri = 2

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MdnghtShadow In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-10-15 16:32:24 +0000 UTC]

His markings are quite thick and defined, though, especially compared to Boris (based on your "Siberian Tiger at a Big Cat Shelter" photo). The stripes on their paws would be a great way to tell them apart too!

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to MdnghtShadow [2012-10-15 18:49:24 +0000 UTC]

That's true - if you compare the photos it seems as if Boris' stripes were thinner, however it's just due to the angle of the photograph that they seem so different.
Yep I love the stripes - they are great. At least if you are at the Shelter - on photos it's still hard to tell them apart if you don't have a paw on them ^^

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RiseoftheStorm [2012-07-29 15:45:17 +0000 UTC]

Looked like he was attacking giant lobsters..

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to RiseoftheStorm [2012-07-29 15:49:33 +0000 UTC]

not really - though that would be a cool idea for new food to try out

and thanks for the two s!

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RiseoftheStorm In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-29 16:26:53 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome.

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LexerJ [2012-07-28 21:33:57 +0000 UTC]

The first two words I said were, "awwww so cute!" (In some weird accent. lol)

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to LexerJ [2012-07-28 21:40:59 +0000 UTC]

^^ he is cute. and thank you for the nice comment

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LexerJ In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-28 21:45:11 +0000 UTC]

You're very welcome! I thought this picture was really adorable!

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to LexerJ [2012-07-28 21:47:37 +0000 UTC]

Thank you - and thanks for the s as well!
If you are interested the "Siberian Tiger at the big cat shelter" deviation will actually be available as a print, soon (as soon as DA accepts my request ).

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LexerJ In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-28 21:49:52 +0000 UTC]

When I get some money I may buy it as a print! It probably won't be soon though... Maybe somewhere around in September.

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to LexerJ [2012-07-29 09:05:52 +0000 UTC]

nah, that's fine. I just wanted to tell you, since the artist's comment isn't updated yet.

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LexerJ In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-29 16:11:39 +0000 UTC]

I will look into it though! I have never bought a print before so it would be a cool starter!

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to LexerJ [2012-07-29 16:21:43 +0000 UTC]

thank you
all the earnings (price - DA base price = earnings) will go to the big cat shelter so you would be doing something for them too!

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LexerJ In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-29 16:36:48 +0000 UTC]

Cool!

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Elentarri [2012-07-26 08:03:31 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful tiger.

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Elentarri [2012-07-27 05:48:26 +0000 UTC]

thank you

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Jhingle [2012-07-25 08:56:19 +0000 UTC]

Ah, now I get your comment about being sure to bring a plastic bag for my camera!

For an action shot the sharpness is really impressive, too. Nice shot - it gives the impression that you were actually in the pool with him; but I'm guessing you were standing on the sidelines using the zoom? ;-P

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Jhingle [2012-07-25 11:42:52 +0000 UTC]

of course I was swimming with the tiger ... just kidding.
I stood outside the fence and short through the bars it's not easy though but you get the hang of it once you start practicing.

thank you I do have another one but he was too fast for me so his head is cut off ^^ but it's sharp!

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Jhingle In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-25 16:23:51 +0000 UTC]

Haha, sounds like a great title (even though Tiger Splash sounds, neat, too): Swimming with Tigers, รก la Dancing with the Wolves.

-nods- I had to that in Barcelona once, too (gated fence); only to realize that less than 100 meters away I could take a shot of the same view without having to push my camera through the bars.

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Jhingle [2012-07-25 20:41:38 +0000 UTC]

tehe it does - maybe I'll use it sometime.

that sounds unfortunate. well there is no way around the bars so you really have to practice especially since my lens seems to have just the with of the hole between the jars (it does not fit through).

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Jhingle In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-26 10:06:48 +0000 UTC]

Oh, not that much, actually - I was happy at getting another photo-chance without the fear that I could drop my camera and would then have to figure out how to climb the 2,5m fence to retrieve it! I guess there's advantages and disadvantages to cameras (not) fitting through bars. ^^

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Jhingle [2012-07-28 19:32:40 +0000 UTC]

there are yes.

you stupid furball didn't tell me that you wouldn't be home tonight! I called and I was really, really, really looking forward to talking to you and then you weren't there. So if you plan to disappear tomorrow was well, tell me. Cuz I'm going to call again.

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Jhingle In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-29 10:59:46 +0000 UTC]

-chuckles- Stupid furball, eh? I'm sorry, I just thought it was cute to see that term actually used in a "real-life" comment so far from the Warriors-world.

Eh, not directly no - I thought I'd implied it enough by mentioning I'd be at my aunts' on Saturday; after all, even to Berlin it would've been (even more so) quite the drive. Sorry, though - I do know how you feel; it felt like we hadn't talked (even per phone) in ages!

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Jhingle [2012-07-29 11:18:21 +0000 UTC]

It seemed a fitting term to use in this context

nah, that's fine. I was just looking forward to talking to you so much after 3 weeks!
good news btw about the FT and the article but I won't tell you here. you'll have to wait until tomorrow to avoid further misunderstandings.

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newgirlintown628 [2012-07-24 22:56:49 +0000 UTC]

I like the colors in this picture

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to newgirlintown628 [2012-07-25 06:03:11 +0000 UTC]

Thank you. I love them, too. The orange and blue really contrast

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Rapid-Star [2012-07-24 22:22:31 +0000 UTC]

He looks like he's having a great time! He's acting like a playful little kid!

I hope to get the chance to visit there if I ever get back to Germany!

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Rapid-Star [2012-07-25 11:44:20 +0000 UTC]

He's 6 years old so not too old. And yes it does look like a playful little kid. Especially his facial expression is too sweet.

I'd love to see you there! They do private tours: you just have to give them a call a day or so in advance. and they're free!

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Rapid-Star In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-26 11:05:26 +0000 UTC]

Aw, I bet he gets lots of attention!

I'm hoping to get to Germany next year. And if I do I defiantly know one place I will visit! It would be great to meet you and have you give me a tour!

I'm very happy to have met another animal lover!

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Rapid-Star [2012-07-27 06:04:49 +0000 UTC]

Actually his brother Boris gets more attention because he's considered to be the biggest of the three brothers. However Igor is quite big too and he has an awesome roar

That would be so cool. Maybe you could just send me a mail so I can tell you whether I'll be at the cat shelter at that day/week or not since I'm not working there 365days a year. But it would be so cool if I could give you a tour and show you all of the animals

Me too! And I really like our conversation It's nice to talk to somebody who shares the same interests.

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Rapid-Star In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-27 11:25:29 +0000 UTC]

They sound so amazing! I would love to watch them play and to hear them roar! Tigers are such amazing creatures! I would love to cuddle with one, if I didn't think that I would become dinner!

That's cool, I'll do that if I get to travel there next year. In the mean time I would like to become better friends with you! It's hard to find people who are so passionate about the care of animals! So I hope that we can become better friends and share animal stories and experiences!

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Rapid-Star [2012-07-28 19:30:31 +0000 UTC]

I actually doubt that they would eat you. But they would be so excited about you being in their cage that they probably would cuddle you to death (and play with you to death).

Sure! I'd love to. Maybe we should shift this whole conversation to a note ^^

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Rapid-Star In reply to Kiara-Vestigium [2012-07-28 19:34:00 +0000 UTC]

What an amazing way to die!

Sounds good to me!

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Kiara-Vestigium In reply to Rapid-Star [2012-07-28 19:38:30 +0000 UTC]

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