Ozzy begins his new, majestic chapter

Ozzy was born at Zoo Zlín in May 2024 to the tigress Samba. His early development was entirely uneventful, but after three months a turning point came. “The female developed mastitis, stopped nursing the cub and began rejecting him. We had to separate the cub, otherwise there was a real risk we might lose him. Fortunately, he was already able to eat solid food. To our great joy, in October 2024 we successfully reunited Ozzy with his mother. That was extremely important for his socialisation and further development,” said head zoologist Markéta Horská.

Now approaching two years of age, Ozzy has reached maturity and could no longer remain in the enclosure with his mother. Based on the decision of the EEP coordinator for Amur tigers, he was therefore relocated to Lisbon Zoo. “Before the journey, our external veterinarian anaesthetised the tiger and carried out a basic health examination. Keepers then placed Ozzy into the transport crate; after he was given a reversal agent, he woke up calmly and was ready to travel. He coped with the transport very well and remained calm throughout. He is now adapting to his new indoor and outdoor facilities in Lisbon, and according to reports from the local keepers, everything appears to be completely in order. He will also be introduced to a resident tigress. We believe this will allow the formation of a new, promising breeding pair,” Horská added.

“The departure of every animal born at our zoo is proof that Zoo Zlín ranks among respected European institutions. Ozzy’s transfer to Lisbon Zoo confirms the high standard of care and professional expertise of our keepers and veterinarians. I am proud that Zlín actively contributes to the conservation of critically endangered species and that individuals raised here go on to help establish prospective breeding pairs and strengthen the genetic diversity of the Amur tiger population. My thanks go to the entire zoo team for managing the transport professionally and for their long-term work, which has genuine international significance,” said Zlín Mayor Jiří Korec.

The Amur tiger is the largest cat species in the world. Its original population has been severely reduced by illegal hunting and habitat loss, and the species is classified as critically endangered. Only several hundred individuals survive in a limited area of the Russian Far East. Today, more Amur tigers live in zoological gardens than in the wild. Their breeding under human care follows strict international guidelines, with the programme coordinator ensuring that the population remains healthy and maintains a high level of genetic diversity.