Tigers paint a Brighter Future

Latest news from Dreamworld

06-Sep-2005

EVENT: Bengal Tiger Taj’s painting up for auction on eBay. See Taj create his next masterpiece at Tiger Island. DATE: Thursday September 1, 2005 TIME: 9.30am sharp VENUE: DREAMWORLD, DREAMWORLD PARKWAY Dreamworld’s Bengal tigers are getting their paws dirty in a cultured approach to conservation! Home to seven Bengal tigers, two cougars and one Sumatran tiger, Dreamworld’s Tiger Island has found a colourful new way to save tigers in the wild! The Bengals have become budding artists, painting exclusive masterpieces to raise money for tiger conservation projects in the field. Dreamworld tested out the idea in January auctioning off four tiger paintings for Wild Aid. The paintings went under the hammer collecting just under $2000 for field patrols preventing the illegal hunting of tigers in Sumatra. Now the big cats are getting creative again with Taj, one of Dreamworld’s rare white tigers showing particular potential and enthusiasm in his use of colour and form. It could be called the tiger equivalent of finger painting and Taj seems more than happy to lend his paws to the cause. He will paint four new pieces to help his counterparts in the wild. The money going to the Phoenix Fund: A Collective Biodiversity Recovery Program supporting the Amur tiger conservation effort aimed at strengthening anti-poaching and habitat protection activities in Russia. With Dreamworld’s help, The Phoenix Fund hopes to increase the capacity of anti-poaching teams, reduce the hunting of Siberian tigers and their prey and reduce habitat destruction in the Lazovsky Nature Reserve in Zapovednik, Russia. Taj’s masterpieces can best be described as a form of abstract expressionism reminiscent of Pollack, where Taj shows his personality through spontaneity! It’s the perfect addition to your mantelpiece and surely as rare as an authentic Cezanne! People can bid for an authentic Taj on eBay by following the link from Dreamworld’s website at www.dreamworld.com.au. Tigers in the wild face a grim future. At the turn of last century (1900) there were more than 100,000 tigers in the wild. Today, there are less than 4,000. Man has contributed to the tiger's demise in three major ways: hunting, poaching and the destruction of tiger habitat. While both white and gold tigers are endangered, white tigers are so rare only around 400 exist worldwide - and only in captivity. White tigers are not albinos; they possess a special recessive gene, which is responsible for their white coat. Dreamworld is committed to ensuring the survival of the tiger through the Dreamworld Tiger Fund which goes directly to tiger conservation projects in the field. Recent projects supported by Dreamworld’s Tiger Fund and staff include: · The Australian Species Management Program for Sumatran Tigers. · Life Force to help relocate a village currently situated within a large Tiger sanctuary in Satpura National Park, India. · Sumatran Tiger project to help pay for an aerial survey of Way Kambas National Park in Indonesia, to help determine the amount of Tigers within that area and assist in the annual salary of anti poaching patrols within Way Kambas National Park. · Taman Safari Park to help feed Tigers that have been removed from certain areas because of their threat to local villagers. · 21st century Tiger- to help with village relocation and poaching prevention. All Dreamworld's Bengal tigers were born in captivity, as were their parents, grandparents and great grandparents. In the sanctuary of Tiger Island, the tigers live in a stress free environment, obtaining the necessary stimulation from the interaction with their handlers. They receive a good consistent diet, regular veterinary care and experience a quality of life, which doubles their life-span compared with tigers in the wild. Dreamworld’s tigers are trained (never ‘tamed’) by establishing and maintaining a strong bond, based on trust, respect and affection, between the handlers and tigers. Dreamworld's Tiger Island is an educational conservation-based attraction where guests can get up close and interact with the tigers and their handlers.