I've got ver-tigger! The scaredy-cat who is afraid of heights

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

King of the jungle gym: Bengal tiger Tanvir has finally overcome his fear of heights and climbed to the top of his 15ft climbing frame
Last year the big male climbed to the top of his 15ft purpose-built climbing frame at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, at Wroxall, north Somerset, and was too frightened to come down for 48 hours.


We all remember the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard Of Oz, but did you know he had a cousin - The Timid Tiger?

Luckily this tiger has finally beaten his fear of heights.

Tanvir, a four-year-old Bengal tiger, was more scaredy-cat than scary cat as he battled to overcome his acrophobia.

Eventually hunger forced Tanvir to climb down when keepers tempted him with a tasty-looking pig's head.

Twelve months later Tanvir appears to have left his fear of heights behind him and can now be seen confidently climbing up and jumping from platforms on climbing frame.


Tanvir made it to the top of his climbing frame soon enough, but the first time he used it he was too frightened to come down for 48 hours.


Initially more of a pussy cat than a dangerous striped hunter, Tanvir has grown considerably in size and character in the year since his arrival at the zoo last summer.

A favourite among visitors and staff, Tanvir now weighs in at 27 stone - about double the weight of a well-built rugby player - and is set to grow bigger, eating between 3kg and 5kg of meat each day.

Big cat keeper Emma Godsell said: 'I've always had a big soft spot for Tanvir, who is a very inquisitive tiger, always on the lookout for attention from visitors.'

'We created a huge multi-level climbing structure in his enclosure to keep him active when he first arrived here last year and he promptly climbed up and wouldn't come back down.'

'Now he's much more confident in his strength and climbing ability and I can use scent and food enrichment exercises on his tower to keep him physically and mentally stimulated, which he really engages with.'


Tiring work: Tanvir takes a quiet moment after having climbed up the 15ft tiger activity centre


source: dailymail