FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Fresno Chaffee Zoo announced that it gained an 8-year-old female tiger named Batari on Tuesday, but also revealed that the zoo’s other female tiger, Dara, would soon be leaving the zoo.

Zoological Specialist Courtney says Batari was born at the Cincinnati Zoo and then relocated to Tulsa before coming to Fresno in September.

Since her relocation, Batari has reportedly acclimated to her enclosure and has come to care for her keepers.

“Batari was a little apprehensive of us at first,” Courtney said. “But we have definitely seen a complete 180 from that first day.”

Batari’s transfer to the zoo isn’t a punishment or a reward, though she is a welcome addition to the Kingdoms of Asia exhibit at the zoo.

Courtney says Batari is part of a conservation effort meant to ensure healthy and stable populations of endangered species.

“We are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP),” Courtney said. “We almost like a Match.com for these tigers. We’re going to try to ensure that we have a very healthy genetic population.”

Through the SSP, Courtney says the transfer of endangered animals is facilitated. So females like Batari can be set up with males of their species, like the zoo’s 250-pound male Malayan tiger, Penari.

But Courtney says the match-making process is not as simple as dropping Penari and Batari in the same enclosure. In fact, Malayan tigers are solitary creatures. So Batari and Penari will not share an enclosure at all and only meet to mate.

“Lions are one of the only big cats that are truly social. They do form of pride. We have our own pride here,” Courtney said. “These cats are going to be found in more jungle, rain-forested areas. So it would be hard to try to keep a large group together.”

According to Courtney, staff at the zoo will continue to watch Batari to see when the best time to introduce Batari and Penari would be.

“We are going to be able to start collecting things like fecal samples that will help us determine her hormone levels,” Courtney said. “When you introduce males and female tigers, you really have to make sure it’s the exact right time.”

According to Courtney, the zoo’s other female tiger, Dara, will soon leave the Fresno Chaffee Zoo as part of the SSP.

“She also, with an SSP recommendation, will actually be leaving Fresno Chaffee Zoo to go to another facility,” Courtney said. “We’re not sure exactly when or where just yet, but we are happy to see her have a new home.”

For now, guests can see both Dara and Batari at the zoo in their respective habitats.

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