Playing With Tigers

I’ve had two opportunities in my life to touch a tiger.  The first was at G.W’s Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.  My brother Shane, my husband Jason and I decided to go after years of seeing the billboard on the highway.  It was more amazing than we could have dreamed.  I’ll do a post just about the park soon, but today is about Tigers. 

I have always loved BIG CATS. I think it is mostly because they are just like my beloved cats at home, just on a much larger scale.  At G.W.’s Exotic Animal Park, my dream of touching a tiger was more than realized because not only did I get to touch the tiger, I got to cuddle with him.

Then, a few months ago, my job took me to a place where liability isn’t nearly the concern it is here.  We had a guided tour through an animal park and the tour guide kept saying, “That one: no bite, no bite.”   “That one: bite.”  “That  one: no bite, no bite,” and he’s touching all the animals that “don’t bite”. 

Well, we get to the tigers, and he is explaining that the one we are looking at is about 6 months old.  He reaches his hand in the cage and says, “He no bite.”  I said, “What?!  He doesn’t bite?!  Can I pet him???!!!”  “Sure,” he says, “no bite, no bite.”  So, I throw my camera at one of the other crew members and rush over, elated at the possibility of getting to pet this big tiger.  I reach my hand in and scratch his ear.  Then, he leans in to rub his head against my hand, like cats do, and as his mouth is getting close to my hand, in an obvious gesture to rub his cheek against my fingers, the tour guide says, “Ah, might bite, might bite.”  Needless to say, my wonderful time of petting this amazing creature was abruptly cut short.  

 

  

I’ll leave you with a few more good tiger pics and one recommendation: If you ever have a chance to pet a tiger YOU MUST DO IT!  In fact, I encourage you to add it to your bucket list.