Curiosity fills the zoo's new cat

Oz steps out to meet his new audience at Auckland Zoo yesterday. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Oz the tiger spent some time yesterday doing what anybody does in a new home - checking out the neighbours.

In between showing himself to admiring onlookers, the new arrival at Auckland Zoo tried to catch sight of his next-door neighbour, Saigon the Asian golden cat, who was staying well hidden.

Not so Oz, who appeared happy to oblige his human audience with a view of a Sumatran tiger from almost every angle, including a lazy saunter up to the glass viewing window that separates him from visitors.

He also lay down to have a wash, stood lookout above his rock pool and gave a giant yawn to show very large teeth.

The 20-month-old tiger arrived in Auckland on Thursday morning after a marathon flight from his former home at Israel's Tel Aviv Zoo.

Auckland Zoo staff were going to give him a couple of days to get used to his new home, but decided to put him on show early.

"We were just amazed at how quickly he relaxed," said carnivore keeper Justine Woosnam.

"He was tired after the journey and within an hour was lying down asleep with his paw over his face."

Lynne Crawford's grandson William was on his first visit to the zoo, and although the two-year-old seemed more interested in zoo sponsor Bakers Delight's brown and orange "tiger buns", Oz was a bonus.

"It's almost like he's posing for us," said Mrs Crawford.

Oz's first meal was chicken and meaty bones but his fondness for Whiskas cat milk is helping zoo staff.

"He licked it off my hand through the cage, which was good because we want him to know we're the good guys," Ms Woosnam said.

Oz weighs about 110kg but could reach up to 160kg. He was "incredibly important" to Australasian's captive breeding programme, as he would introduce a new bloodline once he mated with Hamilton Zoo's Molek.

Molek is the younger sister of Auckland Zoo's female tiger Nisha who died from a stroke this year.

Oz and Molek would eventually be introduced "very slowly".

"If you rush it, she may decide she doesn't like him," Ms Woosnam said.

Only 400 of the critically endangered Sumatran tigers are thought to be left in the wild.