Aroma Pets

Endangered Amur tiger cubs take first steps outside

Three endangered Amur tiger cubs have been exploring their outside enclosure for the first time at their home in the Highlands.

Following their first health check and vaccinations, the three cubs will have regular time outdoors from Monday at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Highland Wildlife Park at Kingussie.

The cubs were born in May to mother Dominika and father Botzman.

Since they were born, they have been spending most of their time in the cubbing den with their mother, and their father will be gradually introduced to them as they grow older.

Keith Gilchrist, animal collection manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said: “At ten weeks old, our cubs are getting braver and more playful every day, with their personalities already starting to develop. It is lovely to see just how excited our visitors are to meet them.

“Given how young they are, they won’t be allowed outside for the whole day and will likely only be out for short bursts, followed by long naps indoors.”

Two of the cubs are female and will be named by the wildlife conservation charity’s donors, in tribute to the tigers’ native home of Russia.

RZSS is asking the public to help name the third cub, a male, via its social media platforms.

Mr Gilchrist said: “We wanted to give the trio names which would pay tribute to their native home and help raise awareness of the plight this endangered species and sadly many others, face in the wild.

“Two of our generous donors will be naming our female cubs and we are asking the public to help us name our little boy on our social media platforms, by picking from two names shortlisted by our keepers, Aleksander and Dimitri.

“Aleksander was chosen as the cubs were born on carnivore keeper Alex’s birthday and Dimitri is a Russian name meaning earth-lover after Greek goddess Demeter.”

Anyone wanting to visit the park must book their tickets online in advance as visitor numbers are being restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Daska Mackintosh, head of operations and visitor services at Highland Wildlife Park, said: “Every visit to Highland Wildlife Park helps care for amazing animals in Scotland and around the world, so it is wonderful to see more and more people coming back and hoping to see our Amur tiger family.

“We are so grateful for the support we have had from the public throughout this incredibly challenging year for our charity. If restrictions continue to ease, we are on track to have one of our best summers yet.

“Our visitor numbers are still limited for everyone’s safety, so I would like to remind everyone to check online and book ahead to avoid disappointment.”

People can vote for the male cub’s name by visiting @HighlandWPark on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Dominika was born at Highland Wildlife Park in 2009 and gave birth to her first litter of cubs in 2013.

Botzman fathered three cubs in 2018 at Whipsnade Zoo and arrived at Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie last October.

In the wild, the tigers are now only found in isolated populations around the Amur river valley in the far east of Russia, and on the north-east border of China. 

Reference: Indy 100 Lucinda Cameron 

Orange Sweet (Citrus Sinensis)

History and Character
Smaller than the bitter orange that produces neroli oil, the sweet orange tree is not so hardy and has softer , broader leaves. Native to China, it is now cultivated where ever there is a Mediterranean climate. The oil is pressed out of the orange skin and is mainly produced in Israel, Brazil and North America.

The dried orange peel has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries, the sweet orange being though to increase bronchial excretion. The tree is also a traditional sign of good luck and prosperity. In Europe the oil has been used for nervous disorders, heart problems, colic, asthma, and melancholy.

Energetically, this oil is very happy, positive, young, and playful. Since it is a gentle option for stomach upsets and nervousness that are not deep rooted I use it a lot with youngsters. Orange encourages a more playful outlook on life, helping to move built up stress and frustration. It is a good oil for the perfectionist and those who try too hard. It encourages a more easy going attitude.

Principal Uses - Physical
Constipation - Mouth ulcers - Obesity - Youngsters tummy aches

Behavioural
Anxious to please - Depression - Insecure - Nervous tension -

I most often Use Sweet Orange For:
Young dogs with a nervous disposition who feel stressed by learning to the point of explosion, especially if there is a history of stomach upsets or overeating.
A good "helper" oil when a little lift is needed.

Extraction and Characteristics
Cold-pressed out of the ripe outer peel. The oil is a pale, burnt orange, mobile liquid.

Fragrance: A sweet, fresh, fruity, warm odour.

Actions: Antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, cholagogic, digestive, hepatic, stomachic.

Safety & Cautions
Generally held to be non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing. Since regular cultivation uses high levels of pesticide and can contaminate the oil it is important to use organic orange.

Maximum dilution: 5 drops in 5ml/ 1 tsp.

Reference: The Aromatic Dog: Nayana Morag 

Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha)

History and Character
Myrrh is a shrub or small tree with sturdy knotted branches, trifoliate aromatic leaves and small white flowers. The trunk exudes an oleoresin, which hardens into red-brown tears.

The trees are native to Northern Africa and Southwest Asia, especially the desert regions of the Red Sea. The name is derived from the Arabic for 'bitter'.

Myrrh is the grand old man of essential oils, one of the first substances to be valued for its scent. The ancient Egyptians valued it as a healing ungent, and burnt it to honour the dead. The ancient Hebrews drank it with wine to prepare themselves for religious ceremonies. Jesus was offered wine laced with myrrh on the cross to diminish his suffering.

Myrrh is like a desert wind, drying out dampness and invigorating those who are slow, lethargic or run-down.

Myrrh frees thoughts that are caught in a pattern of restlessness, brings peace of mind, helps close wounds physically and emotionally, and creates a quite place inside to recover from loss or rejection.

Principal Uses - Physical
Excess mucous - Fungal skin infections - Gum infections (hydrosol only) - Rain scald and mud fever - Weeping wounds.

Behavioural
Grief, loss, - Exaggerated concern for others - Quiet anxiety - Sadness - Weighed down by responsibility.

I most often use Myrrh for:
Restless dogs that worry about others, especially if they are prone to damp, oozing skin conditions or excess mucous.

Those who are stoic about pain and past suffering, especially if they have breathing problems.

Extraction and Characteristics:
Steam distilled from the crude resin or (more commonly) solvent extraction from the crude myrrh to make resinoid. The resinoid is a thick brown viscous mass not pourable at room temperature. The essential oil is a pale amber, oily liquid that is very sticky.

Fragrance: Sweet/sharp balsamic smell, resinous and slightly camphoraceous.

Action: Anti-fugal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, cardiac tonic, carminative, cicatrizant, non-sensitizing, possibly toxic in high concentrations. Avoid in pregnancy.

Maximum Dilution: 3 drops in 5ml/1 tsp

Reference: The Aromatic Dog: Nayana Morag

Manuka - (Leptospermum Scoparium)

History and Character
A medium sized schrub with small spiky leaves and pink flowers, manuka grows wild throughout New Zealand. The Maoris used various parts of it for a wide range of complaints : from head colds to fractures, burns to dysentery.

Captain Cook named it tea tree and wrote: "the leaves were used by many of us as a tea that has a very agreeable bitter taste and flavour when they are fresh, but loses some of both when they are dried."

These days the plant is best known in manuka honey, which is recommended by medical practitioners for its immune stimulant and bactericidal properties, especially for topical use on wounds and burns.

The bactericidal properties of manuka are much higher in oil produced from the East Cape, new Zealand chemotype. Energetically, manuka is cleansing and nourishing and settles anxiety. These properties are very similar to tea tree oil, but manuka is softer and more feminine.

Principal Properties - Physical
Bacterial infections and healing of wounds - Coughs, cold and flu - Muscular aches and pain - Ringworm and other fungal infections - Skin Eruptions - Ulcers and wounds, cuts and abrasions

I most often use Manuka For:
Dogs who are rundown, especially if they have eruptive skin conditions or fungal infections or tend to be anxious.

Staphylococcus or other bacterial infections.

Extraction and Characteristics
Steam distilled from the leaves and terminal branchlets of the East Cape chemotype of Leptospermum Scoparium. It is a pale amber liquid with a slightly oily texture.

Fragrance:
Pungent, herbaceous aroma with subtle spicy undertone.

Actions: Anti-allergenic, antibacterial (especially gram+ bacteria), anti-fugal, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, insecticidal.

Safety: Generally held to be non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-sensitizing.

Maximum dilution:
5 drops in 5 ml/1 tsp. Can be used undiluted in emergency first aid.

Reference: The Aromatic Dog: Nayana Morag