While Ballarat Wildlife Park is grieving the loss of its female Sumatran tiger Maneki, the search is on for a new tiger mate for its remaining male Satu.
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Maneki was euthanased last week after vets discovered three large and aggressive tumours in her chest cavity.
Keepers had noticed a sudden change in Maneki's behaviour that they believed to be the result of pain and specialist vets were called in who made the discovery when examining her under general anaesthetic.
"It was totally out of left field, something none of us were expecting," said Ballarat Wildlife Park owner Greg Parker. "We were thinking that she may have had a uterine infection but it turned out ... she was gravely ill and there wasn't any prospect of a recovery."
In the wild, Sumatran tigers are solitary animals but in captivity they do build up companionship and Ms Parker said Satu was missing his mate.
"He's obviously feeling it so we are playing lots of games with him, giving him enrichment toys and objects he loves, he's getting his favourite food and being spoiled rotten. He's gradually settling down and we expect he will be right soon."
The wildlife park is in discussion with the organisation that oversees the global Sumatran tiger breeding program, and the national program in Australia, to find another tiger that could hopefully one day mate with Satu.
"For Satu's benefit, for the company at least, it would be great to get a young breeding female that was genetically good for the program so that's the strategy at the moment - to get a mate for Satu that would benefit the overall program which is part of the global breeding program."
The $1.2 million tiger facility built at Ballarat Wildlife Park opened to the public on January 1, 2019, when Maneki made her public debut. Satu arrived three months later in March.
There are estimated to be just 400 to 600 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.
"Our first thoughts are for Satu and we want to get him another companion. This facility is built for two to three tigers so it would be great to maybe get a couple of tigers, maybe a couple of females, but we will have to see what the species management team come up with.
"They are looking at the genetics and trying to find a suitable, compatible mate for him."
Mr Parker said he hoped to hear fairly quickly whether there was a mate available for Satu but if news does not come quickly he fears it could be a long wait until an appropriate female is found.
He said staff had built close bonds with Maneki and were devastated after her death.
"Because caring for tigers is very involved and they are very intelligent you tend to get very close to them - psychologically and emotionally close to them - when you work with them.
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"They invest an awful lot as the animal's keepers and they are in shock as we all are."
Vets have conducted a full autopsy and testing on Maneki to learn more about the tumours she had developed, and will write up a full report which will be distributed to other zoos in case it is a condition they too need to look out for.
Mr Parker said Australia Zoo, where Maneki and Satu came from, in particular were waiting to read the report as Maneki's twin sister still lives there and will need to be monitored.
