Siberian tiger moves from Nuremberg to Landau Zoo

A 15-year-old Siberian tiger named Manu has found a new home at the Zoo Landau in Germany, relocating from the Tiergarten Nuremberg. This move is part of the European Ex-situ Programme (EEP), which aims to conserve endangered species through coordinated breeding efforts.

Nuremberg Zoo is restructuring its conservation focus, intending to prioritize the breeding of Asian lions. Consequently, they will no longer house Siberian tigers, necessitating a new environment for Manu. The zoo prepared Manu for the journey with special training, and he traveled smoothly to Landau, accompanied by two familiar keepers.

At Zoo Landau, Manu joins a resident tigress named Daria. Zoo officials will observe the two big cats to see if they can be housed together in the future. Initially, they will be kept in separate enclosures, allowing them to see and smell each other through the bars. Early interactions have been positive, with both tigers showing curiosity and greeting each other with a soft snort, a sound tigers use as a friendly gesture.

Siberian tigers are the largest living cat species and are typically solitary in the wild, usually only interacting for mating. However, zoo directors note that cohabitation can often be successful under managed conditions. Manu and Daria will initially share the outdoor enclosure on alternating schedules, with their eventual integration depending entirely on their behavior and mutual acceptance.