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Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
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This is one of my most favorite pictures of Genesis, a Bengal tiger.
Over the years, I have become close so Genesis than any other tiger I’ve worked with. I’m not sure exactly why that is. Maybe it’s him; maybe it’s me, drawing from his patience and strength. In any case, I have treasured the moments I’ve been able to be with him.
Like most tigers, Genesis “talks”. For those that haven’t ever gotten the chance to hear a tiger “talk” chuff (or “ruffle”, depending on what school you’re from), then the best example I can give, is Chewbacca from George Lucas’ Star Wars series. The Wookies language is actually recorded tiger-talk. So there’s your tiger, movie trivia for the day!
Anyway, I used to have this evening ritual with Genesis. I’d stop off at all my favorite animals’ cages on the way out of the facility in the evening, and I’d go around behind Genesis’ cage. He’d usually be up on top of his denbox, and he’d chuff and then start talking to me. Most often, he had such an intense expression on his face, that I always had to wonder what he was trying so hard to tell me; I felt bad that I was just a stupid human and it was all getting lost in the tiger-human translation. Even so, I’d always get up close and put my face against the cage wire, and he’d lean down and his big, wash-cloth sized, twenty-grit sandpaper tongue would roll out and he’d lick my face. Oh the magnitude of the feelings of joy and contentment from those moments. In return, he’d always settle down with his back to the wire, and I’d reach through and scratch my fingers into his neck-ruff as deeply as I could. He always enjoyed that, so I was more than happy to do it for him.
So this pic is Genesis, in a very calm and serene moment. He’s just relaxing, maybe to drift off to a nap soon, maybe to raise up his head to orient on some new or unusual sound. He’s a very majestic beast, with lots of personality. The Spirits know, I’d give almost anything to know what he’s trying to say to me!
What’s behind the title? It’s a quote from a colleague of mine. “Perchance to Dream? Perchance to have dreams come true! Strive always to live your dreams!” - Blake William Yorrick, PhD In this case, I look at this pic and I am compelled to wonder what GenGen might be thinking about.
In closing, if you’ve ever wondered exactly how big tiger paws are, this is a good illustration: the chain-link behind him is 2-inch squares (5cm). Gen’s paws are about three of them wide. :)
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
Over the years, I have become close so Genesis than any other tiger I’ve worked with. I’m not sure exactly why that is. Maybe it’s him; maybe it’s me, drawing from his patience and strength. In any case, I have treasured the moments I’ve been able to be with him.
Like most tigers, Genesis “talks”. For those that haven’t ever gotten the chance to hear a tiger “talk” chuff (or “ruffle”, depending on what school you’re from), then the best example I can give, is Chewbacca from George Lucas’ Star Wars series. The Wookies language is actually recorded tiger-talk. So there’s your tiger, movie trivia for the day!
Anyway, I used to have this evening ritual with Genesis. I’d stop off at all my favorite animals’ cages on the way out of the facility in the evening, and I’d go around behind Genesis’ cage. He’d usually be up on top of his denbox, and he’d chuff and then start talking to me. Most often, he had such an intense expression on his face, that I always had to wonder what he was trying so hard to tell me; I felt bad that I was just a stupid human and it was all getting lost in the tiger-human translation. Even so, I’d always get up close and put my face against the cage wire, and he’d lean down and his big, wash-cloth sized, twenty-grit sandpaper tongue would roll out and he’d lick my face. Oh the magnitude of the feelings of joy and contentment from those moments. In return, he’d always settle down with his back to the wire, and I’d reach through and scratch my fingers into his neck-ruff as deeply as I could. He always enjoyed that, so I was more than happy to do it for him.
So this pic is Genesis, in a very calm and serene moment. He’s just relaxing, maybe to drift off to a nap soon, maybe to raise up his head to orient on some new or unusual sound. He’s a very majestic beast, with lots of personality. The Spirits know, I’d give almost anything to know what he’s trying to say to me!
What’s behind the title? It’s a quote from a colleague of mine. “Perchance to Dream? Perchance to have dreams come true! Strive always to live your dreams!” - Blake William Yorrick, PhD In this case, I look at this pic and I am compelled to wonder what GenGen might be thinking about.
In closing, if you’ve ever wondered exactly how big tiger paws are, this is a good illustration: the chain-link behind him is 2-inch squares (5cm). Gen’s paws are about three of them wide. :)
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Tiger
Size 1024 x 682px
File Size 87.9 kB
It hard to capture relative perspective in photos. Genesis' nose is about the size of the palm of my hand, and I don't have particularly small hands. :) When he licks my hand, his tongue covers the whole thing at once. Of course, that's not really saying anything, at it covers the entire side of my face too. His tongue is just huge, like a sandpaper washcloth. :)
Be careful of wishes! In truth, a tiger's tongue is just like a mini-kitty's, except it had 1000 more horsepower behind it. It can be good, or bad. Drifter (a cougar) likes to lick, which we affectionately refer to as "tongue burn", which is similar to sun burn, except with the probability of blood being drawn in the process.
Very few facilities allow anyone to get close enough to the animals anymore to actually experience tiger-licks for themselves, mostly because of the sheer liability. A "lick" is not so very far from the "taste-test". For a keeper or handler, who doesn't mind donating a bit of blood to the cause now and then, it's no big deal. For a guest, who may not be aware exactly the unintentional dangers which a big cat can pose, it's a little different.
I would encourage you, however, to look around your local area. For example, there are more than 1000 facilities in the US which keep, house, and care for large felids, and virtually all of them could use help in one form or another. Some countries have less than others, of course, but many around the world have facilities. Do some looking. With some motivation, probably a lot of hard work, and a bit of patience, wishes /can/ come true!
Some people jump off cliffs into puddles of water. Some people dive out of perfectly good aircraft. Some people stick their arms in cages and get tiger-licks. In the end, it's all the same; it's "the stuff dreams are made of."
Very few facilities allow anyone to get close enough to the animals anymore to actually experience tiger-licks for themselves, mostly because of the sheer liability. A "lick" is not so very far from the "taste-test". For a keeper or handler, who doesn't mind donating a bit of blood to the cause now and then, it's no big deal. For a guest, who may not be aware exactly the unintentional dangers which a big cat can pose, it's a little different.
I would encourage you, however, to look around your local area. For example, there are more than 1000 facilities in the US which keep, house, and care for large felids, and virtually all of them could use help in one form or another. Some countries have less than others, of course, but many around the world have facilities. Do some looking. With some motivation, probably a lot of hard work, and a bit of patience, wishes /can/ come true!
Some people jump off cliffs into puddles of water. Some people dive out of perfectly good aircraft. Some people stick their arms in cages and get tiger-licks. In the end, it's all the same; it's "the stuff dreams are made of."
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