Sumatran Tiger - Joanne - fearsome

Sumatran Tiger - Joanne

 

Tiger Trail - Home to six critically endangered Sumatran tigers.

 

Joanne is exhibiting a flehmen grimace, which has become a trademark of these wild cats, and can make tigers appear as if they are snarling. However they make no sound while contorting their faces and their tongue hangs out rather prominently.

 

The tiger will smell its peer while wrinkling its nose and letting its tongue hang out. This facial expression is called flehmen. It allows for the scent to enter the mouth and be drawn into the Jacobson’s organ. This organ has two tiny openings which then steer the air being inhaled to sensitive nerve structures within. These nerves transmit the odour messages to the brain. This chemical process is a fascinating one.

 

The Sumatran tiger is a rare tiger subspecies that inhabits the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The Sumatran tiger is one of the smallest tiger subspecies

 

It was classified as critically endangered by IUCN in 2008 as the population was estimated at 441 to 679 ... Wikipedia.

 

Hope you enjoyed!

Pix.by.PegiSue

 

/www.flickr.com/photos/pix-by-pegisue/

 

Taken at:

SDZ Safari Park

 

Done