By: Kaulana McKeeRight: Namaste is a rare White Bengal Tiger that can be seen at Panaewa Zoo.
Namaste, the white tiger from Bengal, India, lives at the Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo on the island of Hawai’i. This 12-acre zoo is also the only rainforest zoo located in all of the United States. It features more than 60 species of animals and more than 40 different species of plants, flowers, and trees.
Namaste was born in Las Vegas on September 30, 1998. He will be turning 12 years old this year. A magician, Dirk Arthur, donated Namaste at the age of seven months to Rainforest Zoo because he saw the zoo’s tiger facility was available. Namaste is the only white tiger in all of Hawai’i.
The meaning of the tiger’s name is translated “aloha” from Sanskrit to Hawaiian. Tiger feeding is everyday at 3:30. Namaste, who is around 420 pounds, has a daily diet, which consists of around 5-6 pounds of meat and three whole chickens.
“I’ve witnessed him eating a peacock once,” laughed Roger, one of the zoo staff members that feeds and caters to Namaste regularly. When we asked, “What is unique about Namaste besides being a white tiger at a rainforest zoo?” Roger replied, “He is a little cross-eyed.”
Namaste has a greater chance of living to around 15-20 years old, which is 5-10 years difference than tigers not help in captivity. “Namaste is very loving and when his old trainer came to visit him on his tenth birthday, Namaste recognized him right away, but the trainer didn’t go in to pet him like before because he still is a tiger, and tigers are dangerous,” explained Roger. Come to visit your friendly tiger Namaste at Pana’ewa zoo. “You will either find him relaxing around or playing with his toy,” says Roger. Namaste loves the attention, so go to visit him or watch him eat at 3:30.
you're a beast
ReplyDeleteNamaste is a gorgeous white tiger I have fallen in love with. I have been to see him on five different trips to Hawaii, and he is my number one attraction to the island. He will capture your heart. I feel that he is very lonely and needs a mate. I wish someone would donate a female to the zoo, so he would have some companionship with the same species. Happy 14th birthday Namaste. Aloha and I love you. From Jo Ann in Aurora, Colorado. September 30, 2012
ReplyDelete