Video: Slovakia tiger siblings now at their Free State forever home

Global animal welfare organisation Four Paws has relocated two tiger cubs, rescued from illegal private keeping in Slovakia, to its Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary near Bethlehem in the Free State.

The year-old female tigers, named Snow and Sky, with one being white, arrived at their new forever home on 14 August after a 13 000 km journey from Slovakia under the South African sun.

Also read: Watch: NSPCA frees tigers from concrete jungle

 

In mid-April, the cubs, alongside their male sibling, were confiscated by local authorities from cruel, illegal private keeping in Slovakia and temporarily housed at Zoo Bojnice before their transfer to South Africa.

Tragically, the third cub was found dead in its enclosure at the zoo in June, having sustained fatal injuries likely due to the conditions they endured in their previous private keeping.

Fiona Miles, the director of Four Paws in South Africa, told Rekord that the most significant challenge in relocating the cubs was persuading the private owner to voluntarily surrender them to the authorities.

“The cubs were illegally bred, so the authorities had every right to seize the animals. However, by voluntarily giving them up, the private owner avoided numerous court and administrative proceedings, which would have heightened the stress, particularly for the animals,” Miles explained.

“We also faced challenges in ensuring that the correct paperwork was organised before the transfer. Fortunately, Zoo Bojnice assisted by temporarily caring for the cubs while we arranged the necessary documents.”

Miles added that transporting the animals posed additional challenges.

She explained that to mitigate transport-related stress, the team employed various measures, including pheromones with potential soothing effects and anxiety-relieving medication tailored to the specific needs and health conditions of each animal.

“Moreover, a wildlife veterinarian accompanies the animals during the transfer for as long as possible to monitor their health. Sky and Snow remained relatively relaxed and in good health throughout their long journey from Slovakia to South Africa,” said Miles.

Miles mentioned that understanding the tigers’ personalities is difficult as they are still settling in.

“They are both young and currently quite insecure, though we hope they will soon feel more comfortable. So far, Sky appears calmer and less nervous than Snow, but we’ve observed improvements in both.

“Our immediate goal is to gain their trust and help them feel comfortable in their new environment, with the hope of socialising them soon. This will ease their settling-in process,” she explained.

The tigers are both healthy at present.

“Snow is a white tiger. White tigers in captivity are often inbred, which can lead to adverse health effects. Our team will continue monitoring their health to address any signs of illness promptly,” said Miles.

“Tigers typically reach their full size between two and three years of age in the wild. At 13 months old, Snow and Sky are appropriately sized for their age, though they still have some growing to do,” she noted.

According to Miles, tigers are well-adapted to a wide range of temperatures, and the team expects Snow and Sky to adjust well to the Free State’s climate.

“The big cat enclosures at the sanctuary include several features to help the animals cope with varying temperatures. These include pools for cooling down during hot weather, trees and platforms for shade, and cosy houses with warm bedding for the colder winter months.”

Snow and Sky were illegally bred in Slovakia, born to two tigers legally kept by a private owner.

Since 2022, Slovakia has banned private owners from acquiring new tigers through breeding, trade, or import. However, animals obtained before this date are permitted to remain with their owners under a grandfather clause. As Snow and Sky were born in 2023, their birth was illegal.

In addition to rescuing the cubs, Four Paws also organised a veterinary mission to the private owner’s facility, neutering the male tiger and two male leopards on the property to prevent future illegal breeding.

Sky and Snow are currently housed in one of Lionsrock’s six tiger units, where other tigers live nearby. At present, they have no direct neighbours.

The sanctuary is home to 19 tigers, including Snow and Sky.

There are no current health concerns. Before their transport, both tigers were examined by wildlife veterinarian Dr Johanna Painer from the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna at Zoo Bojnice.

“We are still awaiting some lab results on their blood parameters. However, all results we’ve received so far indicate that both tigers are healthy. Their health will continue to be monitored by onsite veterinarian Dr Christine Steyrer at the sanctuary,” explained Miles.

For Miles, the highlight of the rescue was seeing Snow and Sky step out of their crates and onto soil and grass for the first time, into their beautiful new enclosures.

She noted that white tigers are more sensitive to light due to their lack of pigment and are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer over their lifetime.

“However, our enclosures are designed to protect the tigers from the South African sun, offering plenty of shade from trees and the option to retreat to their house if they wish.”

Snow and Sky are currently kept in separate enclosures for their safety. By keeping them apart, the team can assess how well they are settling in.

“Despite being in separate enclosures, they can see, smell, and touch each other through a barrier fence. Our team will continue monitoring their behaviour and begin the socialisation process, with the aim of allowing them to share an enclosure in the near future.”

Miles acknowledged that seeing tigers in South Africa might seem unusual, but understanding the circumstances of their arrival clarifies the situation.

“Globally, there are very few true safe havens for animals like these, and they represent many others from similar circumstances. Snow and Sky were born in a concrete enclosure in Slovakia—a place where tigers clearly do not belong. These animals were captive-born, traumatised by their past, highly sensitive to stress, and can never return to the wild,” she explained.

“Instead, they require lifelong care. At our sanctuary, we provide them with a home that offers peace, safety, and comfort in an environment that helps them feel more at ease and where they can exhibit natural behaviours.

As an organisation, we are committed to giving these big cats the highest quality care and the dignified lives they deserve. Ultimately, it’s about their right to life and having a suitable home,” she concluded.

Watch their journey here: