Terra Natura Benidorm are moving the two tiger cubs, called Neu and Pluja, in order to constitute a breeding group of this species in the nature park of Cabárceno, located in Cantabria. The action will take place after the tigers have reached three months of age and weaning has taken place to avoid health risks during the transport process. This Saturday, April 29th, visitors of Terra Natura will be able to see Neu and Pluja for the last time, before their departure.
Terra Natura Benidorm currently has a consolidated breeding group of the species, so it has been chosen to transfer the two females hand-reared to a new space. The action of the transfer is part of the programs of exchange and reproduction of animals carried out by the centers belonging to the associations AIZA and EAZA. (Iberian and European associations of zoos and aquariums).
Terra Natura Benidorm participates in several European breeding programs (EEP) of species in danger of extinction and in critical condition in the wild. One of the programs more important was the transfer of the Indian rhinoceros male, called Susto, that was born in February of 2012 and was transferred to Ireland. In addition to this species, park experts also work with other species to promote their reproduction as primates, felines, elephants, among others.
It is estimated that, today, there are only 2,500 tiger individuals of the Bengal subspecies in the wild. The population of these animals in the last decades has been depleted due to the destruction of their habitat, poaching and the use of part of the body of the tiger for Eastern Chinese medicine, a practice that has been banned.