New Malayan Tiger at Naples Zoo

The Naples Zoo and Caribbean Gardens have acquired a new Malayan Tiger and according to their website, the new tiger arrived from the Virginia Zoo mid-May where he and his brother were born in January 2016. They were the first occupants of Virginia Zoo’s Animal Wellness Campus and were named Zero and One.

The new six-years old male Malayan tiger will live in the same enclosure that housed the popular Malayan Tiger Eko and just like Eko, he will be part of the Species Survival Plan. For now, the new tiger is being called One but Naples Zoo plans to give him an official name during a donor supported auction at the 2022 Gala on November 17th.

According to Lee Ann Rottman, Director of Animal Programs at the Naples Zoo, “One is trying to get acclimated to the Naples weather. Virginia Zoo was a little cooler so One is shedding his winter fluff.” Rottman said they are excited to have tigers back “as this is part of our healing process from our experience in January.”

Malayan Tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni) are found in Southern and Central Malaysia. The adult males weigh around 260 pounds, while females average 220 pounds. Tigers are generally solitary, with adults maintaining exclusive territories or home ranges. Malayan tigers are critically endangered, with an estimated population of less than 200 in the wild.

Background: On December 29, 2021 Collier County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding an incident at the Naples Zoo and Caribbean Gardens. CCSO learned someone had jumped a posted safety barrier fence, inserted his hand or arm into the Tiger’s enclosure, and had it bitten by Eko, the Zoo’s eight-year-old Malayan Tiger. A sergeant with CCSO was the first law enforcement at the scene and fired a single shot at the tiger, causing it to release its grip. Eko died on the scene. The bite victim, River Rosenquist, was flown to Lee Memorial Hospital in Ft. Myers. On February 2, 2022, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission concluded its investigation on the Naples Zoo incident and they found no violation as it relates to the Naples Zoo. In a statement made by CCSO, it was concluded that “there are no applicable existing laws with which to charge Rosenquist for his irresponsible acts that ultimately caused the death of Eko the tiger.”

In 2022, the Naples Zoo established the Eko Tiger Conservation and has raised over $50,000 thus far for tiger conservation. 100% of the funds raised will go to helping save Tigers in Malaysia through the efforts of the Wildlife Conservation Society.