New home for the Amur tiger and other animals from the Far East
NB! Preparations are continuing on the completion of the entire exposition.
Tiger Valley consists mainly of outdoor areas and visitor areas for the Amur tiger and other species from the Far East. Animal welfare was a key priority, but so was creating an environment that offers experiences to visitors. ‘Many people, including a professional zoo designer from the United States, have been involved in the conceptualisation of Tiger Valley. We want to make Tiger Valley a place where the best knowledge in the world is incorporated in its solutions. This will allow us to provide the animals with the conditions they need to thrive, and visitors with a thrilling experience and the chance to play a part in the conservation of this species in the wild.’ This is how Tiit Maran, former director of the zoo, describes the work and plans.
In addition to the Amur tiger, several other species of animals from the Far East will find a new habitat in Tiger Valley: the Amur leopard, dhole, red-crowned crane, black stork, great grey owl, and the Ural owl. The marmot will also be moving there. All species will begin living in an environment similar to their natural habitat, which will help you get a feel for the nature of the Far East. The Amur tiger is the most northerly ecotype of the tiger, commonly found in Outer Manchuria in the Far East. There are currently around 500 Amur tigers living in the wild.
- Amur tigers
In early June, our very much loved Amur tiger, Pootsman, returned to Tiger Valley after his long tour of European zoos. As part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, Pootsman was in the Czech Republic, at the Zlin Zoo (2018); in Italy, at Parco Natura Vivas (2020); and in Slovenia, at the Ljubljana Zoo (2021) for the purpose of breeding. He produced a total of six offspring in the Czech Republic and Italy, and 13-year-old Pootsman is now a grandfather many times over. He came to Tallinn from Slovenia, together with his companion Danuta.
A female Amur tiger, Ohana, born in 2022 at Helsinki’s Korkeasaari Zoo, has also arrived in Tiger Valley, and a male Amur tiger, Alexander, will be arriving from Scotland.
- Tiger Valley
The tigers have been provided with a natural environment of around 2.5 hectares, in which there are large trees, watering holes, and innovative tunnels running through the air.
Tiger Valley is located directly adjacent to the Southeast Asian Tropical Rainforest Exposition Building, where visitors can view the tiger through a glass window in the café. The area includes a Tiger café and three recreation areas with children’s playgrounds.
Construction of Tiger Valley started in 2023, and the new area is open to visitors since 19 June 2024.
- The Zoo thanks
Thank you to everyone involved and to all the generous donors who have helped us to complete Tiger Valley:
zoo designer Julia Hanukanova, Riin Kersalu, Tallinn Property Department, SWECO Projekt OÜ, AS EG Ehitus and INF Ehitus OÜ, Atemo OÜ, Keskkonnaprojekt OÜ, Eesti Loomaaiasõprade Selts, AS Olerex, Pipedrive OÜ, Premia Tallinna Külmhoone AS, Citycon OÜ, Ice Age Centre, students from Saue Gymnasium and Nissi Basic School, Skeleton Technologies, and many private individuals.
Special thanks also to the Amur tiger Pootsman’s godfather – Krah Pipes OÜ – who supported the maintenance of Pootsman in other zoos throughout his absence from Tallinn.
