TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Hsinchu Zoo welcomed a six-year-old female Bengal tiger from Leofoo Village Theme Park, along with a public name competition to welcome the new resident.
To streamline the naming process, the zoo offered a list of five pre-selected names: Kongbao (睏寶), Beibei (貝貝), Niya (妮雅), Ponyo (波妞), and Mengmeng (萌萌). Zoo visitors are invited to cast their vote until April 14.
More information can be found on the Hsinchu Zoo Facebook page.
The Hsinchu Zoo has been caring for tigers since 1981. The best-known tigers were a pair of Bengal tiger brothers named Liu Fu (六福) and Lai Fu (來福), who arrived in 2005, per UDN.
Both tigers died of natural causes after reaching the ages of 17 and 18 in 2022 and 2023. Both enjoyed long lives, as the average lifespan in the wild is around 10 years, while in captivity it can stretch to 20 years.
Hsinchu Zoo is proud to receive its latest Bengal tiger and hopes it will promote wildlife education and animal conservation. Hsinchu Zoo Director Yang Chu-Yuan (楊礎遠) said the zoo is continually adapting, reviewing, and adjusting its animal care program.
He said the zoo is dedicated to improving the habitat environment for its animals and strengthening dietary and medical care. For example, to enrich the tiger’s enclosure, the zoo adds toys and obstacles suited for the animal.
On one occasion, sandbags were strung from trees to encourage the tiger to jump, pull, and bite.
Furthermore, the zoo collects feedback from visitors and seeks to meet all of the public’s expectations.
