Eye of the tiger! KRISTIN'S GRR-EATEST PASSION

After losing three cubs, the keeper shares her true felines about her big-cat crush

- Kasia De Vydt-Jillings

Watching brighteyed 13- week-old Sumatran tiger cub Cahya climb all over her mum Zayana, playing with and tugging on her tail, zookeeper Kristin Mockford can’t take her eyes off the impressive pair.

After being an integral part of the Auckland Zoo team caring for Zayana through two pregnancies and births, and the loss of three cubs in the last nine months, seeing the big cat develop into such a good mother has been a career highlight.

“Our tiger mum Zayana is a very people-focused cat,” enthuses Kristin, 34. “When I arrive in the morning, she’s playful and bouncing, and will move along with you, her face rubbing on the mesh. She’s excited I’m there to feed her.

“Seeing her pass that along to Cahya, who’s turning into a mini-me of Zayana, is amazing.”

The senior keeper is quick to clarify the keepers don’t ever enter the exhibit with the tigers, but work alongside them in their off -habitat area for training, feeding and health checks, with mesh and other measures allowing them to get closer while always being safely separated.

“They’re hand-injection trained to line up against the mesh so we can do it in a nice stress-free way without having to sedate them,” tells Kristin. “Maintaining that level of relationship takes a lot of time and work. But it’s so rewarding to see them slowly making progress and accepting us.”