Ti-Liger's Big Birthday Box Tower at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Lakota, our resident ti-liger, celebrated his fourth birthday! This big boy shares his habitat with three females (Joey, Aurora, and Khaleesi). This birthday cemented his place as the youngest member of the Fantastic Four! Watch as they all enjoy Lakota's special birthday enrichment.
Lakota's father was a tiger and his mother was a liger, which is why he is considered a "ti-liger." This man-made species is only found in captivity. He was rescued during our 2016 Colorado Project, along with his habitat mates: white tiger, Aurora; orange tiger, Joey; and Golden Tabby Tiger Khaleesi. Because the Fantastic Four had lived together at the Colorado facility, we kept them together during relocation to the Refuge. Though Lakota is the by far biggest, his sisters aren't afraid to boss him around! Joey and Aurora especially enjoy stealing their brother's toys and telling him where he can sit. At the end of the day, all four are the best of friends and enjoy cuddling up for a nap in the sunshine together.
Our enrichment coordinator used boxes doused in perfume to build Lakota's impressive birthday tower. The perfume led to "stinky faces" galore! "Stinky faces" are what you may observe Lakota and Aurora doing in this video when they stick their tongue out between their teeth and scrunch up their faces almost in a sneer. The proper term is a " Flehmen Response," which is simply a way cats interact with smells around them. In the wild, it is helpful for scoping out territory and locating a mate. We love to see "stinky faces," and not just because they're funny; this healthy response proves that we are properly engaging their senses which can sometimes be understimulated when not in the wild.
Please join us in wishing Lakota a happy birthday and consider visiting him at the Refuge. He has a high prey drive and loves stalking our guests safely on the other side of the fence.
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[@dianebuckler1649]

That was great! Happy Birthday Lakota! Look at that barrel, perfect example of why they're not pets. They're so precious 🐯❤️

[@metalonthemove3762]

Happy PAWSOME birthday!!! 🎂🎂🎂🐾🐾🐅

[@EGSimon-ds1vf]

Great video! Happy Birthday!!! Looks like they all had a purrfect day!!!

[@meridians_]

What a relaxing and informational video!