One of Delaware’s most beloved animals will get a new home in New York City next year.
Zhanna, an orange and black Amur tiger from Siberia, came to the Brandywine Zoo as a three-year-old cub from the St. Louis Zoo in 2011.
Since then, she’s become one of Wilmington’s stars, winning over those walking by her enclosure as the zoo’s lone tiger.
“Even when I’m out grocery shopping or something, if I happen to have my shirt or my jacket on people will ask me about her,” said Lynn Klein, general curator at the Brandywine Zoo.
She says Zhanna’s age and family history make her a good choice for breeding, which is what she’ll be doing at the world-renowned Bronx Zoo.
Right now, about 500 Amur tigers live in the wild and conservationists are trying to boost the number of those in captivity.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums made the decision in October to move her to breed.
With Zhanna’s departure, Klein say she hopes attendance won’t drop.
“You have to be concerned. …she’s a star and a lot of people come to see her, but we have many, many interesting and beautiful animals for people to see and it’s a new beginning for her.”
Right now, there are no plans to replace the beloved tiger.
People can say goodbye to Zhanna this Saturday from 1-2 p.m. free of charge as part of the zoo’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration.
She’ll leave Wilmington sometime in January.
