National Geographic: Tigers of the Snow Page #2

---

Still, the dosage required

is always in doubt.

Too much endangers the tigers.

Too little, the researchers.

It's a three-year-old male.

When fully grown, at about age six,

he'll weigh six hundred pounds

or more.

But even now he's an armful.

"This is about all we can do, guys.

He's just too heavy. This is good."

They carry the tiger

to better ground.

"Gonna lubricate his eyes."

His eyes must be

artificially lubricated

since the blink response is sedated.

"Let's get this snare off."

These massive jaws can crack

the spine of a wild boar

with a single bite.

"Young male tiger."

Its feet are like thickly padded

snowshoes... with retractable claws!

"Boy, he's a beautiful animal."

"Yeah, gorgeous."

The radio collar allows them

to track the tiger

and help answer some

crucial questions:

How much territory

do the tigers require?

How many elk and deer and boar?

How do they react

to human encroachment?

Suddenly, the tiger is having

trouble breathing.

They desperately try to revive him.

"I'm gonna give him something."

"And someone should keep..."

"His eyes are moving."

"Yeah, but his breaths are real low."

"Give it to him."

"That collar's cut, Maurice?

That collar's cut?

'Cause we might have a cat

that comes up real quick."

The tiger must be given a stimulant.

Slowly he resumes

his normal breathing rate.

"Yeah, he's breathing.

"Yeah, he's breathing.

I think the danger's passed.

Whew, man, that was...

"Yeah."

The biologists must now

take their samples hastily...

before the great beast fully awakens.

They're reluctant

to lose sight of him

before he's safely on his feet -

but also eager not to be in his way.

Now at a safe distance,

the team receives a signal

from the radio collar.

The tiger is up and about...

and on the prowl again.

In another part of the reserve,

the team is concerned about the

signal from a tigress named Olga.

She was the very first

collared with a radio.

Olga, it appears, has remained in

the same area for a long time,

a sign that she may be dead -

or that she has found a den

and given birth.

Dr. Evgeny Smirnov,

Russian tiger specialist,

determines that Olga is, in fact,

moving about her den site.

The researchers decide

they'll attempt to enter the den

to earmark the cubs.

They'll need to wait until night

when the tigress should be

out hunting.

Hopefully, far from home.

"I asked if he thought, uh, it would be dangerous

or we'd, we'd be in trouble if we went there and he said,

'Of course, it'd be dangerous,

there's only one variation there,

to approach when she's not there,

because it's simply too dangerous

to make an approach

with the, the mother present."'

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes