Tawny and Cosmopolitan (often referred to as Cosmo) were our brother and sister team here at the sanctuary. They were the two Bengal tigers here also known as "Double Trouble". They were born on 10/02/97, and have lived here since they were cubs. Tawny is quite a bit smaller than Cosmo weighing about 300 lbs, while Cosmo tipped the scale at around 550 lbs. They thoroughly enjoyed each others company and would do just about everything together, except for eating. When dinner came, it was Cosmo who went first while Tawny waited patiently for her turn. Tawny is a bit of a mischief and loves to get into just about everything she can get her paws on. On the other hand, Cosmo took a more serious approach to life and enjoyed watching Tawny with her adventures. In the days since Cosmo passed away, Tawny was grief stricken as one can imagine. Her last memory of Cosmo was of him being carried off while sedated. The two were separated before Cosmo was sedated, and during the process, Tawny let it be obviously known that she wanted to protect her brother. Each day, the staff makes several visits to spend extra time with Tawny. Evening is probably the hardest time for her as that is when she and Cosmo would finish their meals, climb up on top of their hutch, and groom each other before taking a nap. While Tawny was the more aloof of the two, since Cosmo's passing, she has come out of her shell more, and shows increased affection towards the staff. The staff will do all that it can to continue building their relationships with Tawny even further while making sure that Tawny's increased emotional needs are met.

About Bengal Tigers

The Bengal or Indian tiger, Panthera Tigris, has the most abundant population in the wild, with estimates placed around 3,000. Although they are the most numerous in the wild, they are still considered endangered and like the other subspecies are faced with the threat of extinction. Originally there were eight subspecies of tiger; we are now left with only five. The five remaining subspecies are the Bengal, Siberian, Indochinese, Sumatran and South China. The Bali, Caspian and Javan are now considered to be extinct. As the world grows the tiger's land deteriorates leaving them with little land and nothing to prey upon. Conservation efforts are our only hope to keep these beautiful beings alive in nature.