How long before this goes terribly terribly wrong.
Tigers are known as the best swimmers of all the big cats with modified webbing between their toes to make their feet more like flippers.
The hand-reared tigers are introduced to the water a few months after birth and the trainers then give one-on-one tuition to each of the animals while they are in the water.
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Please read the comment by Brian below. Very informative.
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“At the institute we feel that swimming with the big cats gives them a closer bond between the animal and their human companions,” said Mr Antle.
But despite the apparent danger, he said his trainers are never at risk.
“We found that in the water people and tigers were on a more equal footing when the tiger was swimming around on the top.
“As they were floating around we could manipulate them more easily because they don’t stand up on their back legs.”
With a potential to grow to over 500 lbs and eight feet in length, it is often considered that handlers will only swim with the tigers when they are no more than a year old.
“I personally have had full grown 15 year old adult tigers that I swam with,” Mr Antle said. “But that is me and I wouldn’t put my staff at the same risk.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Sure Japan has one working in a restaurant, but the states had one as president.
USA!