Tigers (and Jaguars) are known as the best swimmers of all the big cats, with webbing between their toes to make their feet more like flippers. We found that, in the water, people and tigers were on a more equal footing when the tiger is swimming. We can manipulate them more easily as they are floating. When they are young, they love taking baths and then we slowly introduce them to the pool. As part of their training, they are taught many lessons that assist us in their adult life, making them more comfortable with examinations and medical treatments. The guest becomes part of the training, in teaching them to ignore distractions and abide by their training as they would do in the exhibits when receiving examinations. In the Florida heat the tigers will gravitate to the pools on their own for a cool down. They love to have this opportunity to interact and cool off as do the trainers.
So come for a once in a lifetime experience and become a tiger trainer's assistant while swimming in Florida's beautiful weather!
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