The BIG cat who likes getting wet and wild

[graphic-designer-joe]

The BIG cat who likes getting wet and wild

by MICHAEL HANLON - More by this author » Last updated at 11:46am on 29th May 2007

Most cats do not like getting wet - as anyone who has tried to bathe a moggie will know.
But as these pictures show, there's always the exception to the rule. For the cat in question is a large male white Bengal tiger called Odin.
Six years old, and at the prime of his life, Odin lives at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Zoo in Vallejo, near San Francisco. He is about 10ft long from nose to tail, and is an excellent swimmer.




Wet 'n'wild: Odin learned to swim by diving in after chunks of meat

White tigers - the colour is caused by an unusual genetic combination - are rare in the wild, although there are several dozen in zoos.
Odin was hand-raised at the zoo. And after he was weaned, his British trainer Lee Munro discovered his remarkable skill: when a lump of meat was thrown into a pool of water, Odin would happily dive in after it.



Go tiger! This Big Cat seems as comfortable in the water as on land




The water is grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!


In fact, although Big Cats generally do not like water, tigers of all types have been spotted taking to the water to hunt and even to bathe for pleasure.
Odin can now be observed in action - a large pool with glass walls has been constructed at the zoo to allow visitors to watch him gliding through the water with all the grace of a polar bear.



Odin with his British trainer Lee Munro

Tragically, within our lifetimes, zoos might be the only places left to see these magnificent animals.
A century ago there were about 100,000 tigers in the wild. Now there are just 2,500 adults, with the Bengal variety almost extinct.

[stripteuse]

What they don't tell you is that only moments after that photo was taken, Odin chewed Lee Munro's limbs off.

[Laura Lynne]

[stripteuse]

I like the way he's chosen to feed the beast using a baby's bottle.

[Toon]

What would you suggest a large Keg of strong lager?

[stripteuse]

lol yeah - or a pint of campari & orange?

[Toon]

Even better

[Kelly Creative]

aaahhh I want one

[El Peligroso]

White Bengal's are my favourite animals, they are also the cutest things ever as cubs (is it cubs or still classed as kittens? either way)

[Toon]

They used to have a couple, (not sure if they still do) in Las Vegas, they kind of sound like thunder when they purr