Week 252 ( 20th – 26th June 2008 )

Cold struck Laohu Valley and Cathay finally cracks

This weak started off quite nice, weather wise. But as the new working week started on Monday, so did the cold weather. Every night since Monday night we have had minimum temperatures of -2 and -3۫C. In the mornings all the tiger camps were almost snow white with frost. All the tigers took a bit longer to get active in the mornings as it took longer to warm up. The adult tigers would lie in the sun early mornings as the sun peeped his head over the hill. But the cubs and Hulooo played their freezing bodies warm. Luckily, during the afternoons it warmed up nicely with maximum temperatures reaching 17 to 18۫C.

The cubs just became too much for Cathay. Usually the cubs played with Cathay and jumped on her and she would take it. At the most she would growl at them and it would all be over. But not this time… Cathay was chewing on her bluewidbeest leg given to her this morning. Then the cubs came running towards her and did their usual play routine. Jix was chasing her tail for a while, but then got hold of it. He bit her tail and she flared up and chased them both out of the breeding centre with a lot of noise and roaring. The cubs went hiding in the pole shelter and Cathay continued feeding. After a while she got up and walked to the pole shelter, scent marked it, and then lied down. The cubs came closer cautiously and saw that Cathay wasn’t angry any more. Then they all played like the happy family they usually are, as if nothing happened.

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