Breakfast with Auckland Zoo’s tigers

Breakfast with Auckland Zoo’s tigers

Today on World Tiger Day (29 July), Auckland Zoo is calling on locals to book in and support a rare opportunity to enjoy breakfast at its tiger exhibit on Saturday 9 August.

The 7.30am -10.00am Tiger Breakfast, part of its Big Cats Weekend celebrations (9-10 August), will be raising vital funds to help the critically endangered Sumatran tiger in the wild.

Guests will enjoy a palm oil-free hot breakfast, be able to view the Zoo’s tigers eating theirs, and find out all about these magnificent big cats from a tiger keeper who will be hosting the morning. The event will also include a special encounter with the Zoo’s cheetahs out in the Zoo followed by a guided walk back to the cheetah enclosure, as well as a serval encounter.

“This is a fantastic opportunity, not only to enjoy breakfast in the unique setting of our pop-up tiger café, but also to help support the amazing efforts of our friends from 21st Century Tiger,” says Auckland Zoo carnivore team leader, Lauren Booth.

“21st Century Tiger is one of several carnviore projects Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund supports. We help fund its Tiger Protection & Conservation Units (TPCUs) in Kerinci Seblat National Park. These incredibly dedicated teams have helped the tiger population here to increase from 140 animals in 2006 to at least 177 individuals today.

However, 21st Century Tiger reports that in the past year they have seen an unprecedented increase in direct and highly focused poaching threats to wild tigers from organised poaching and wildlife trade syndicates.

“This makes supporting their monitoring of tiger habitat, dismantling of snares, their intelligence and prosecution work, and responding to wildlife emergences more vital than ever,” says Lauren.

Tiger Breakfast tickets cost $125 per person* (*children attending with adults must be 5 years+). All profits to Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund to support tigers in the wild. Numbers are limited. To book, phone (09) 360 3805.

After breakfast, guests are welcome to stay on and enjoy other Big Cat Weekend activities, including encounters, big-cat themed story time, face-painting, and other fun games and activities. Full details on the Tiger Breakfast and Big Cats Weekend activities at www.aucklandzoo.co.nz

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