Max, one of the tigers ADI rescued from a circus in Guatemala, had a serious seizure recently.

Fortunately, an ADIWS Resident Welfare Team member was there and able to film it, and it went straight to Dr Caldwell. He immediately prescribed medication. Max got to his feet after the seizure, but his legs buckled, and he fell. His brother, Stripes, came over and nuzzled him and checked him all over. Max also seemed to find comfort by being near his mother, Lupe, next door.

He is currently in the feeding camp, and the pool has been drained to a low level while we observe him for a while. So, Max lay in his water trough and then systematically smashed the cover and broke the water valve which controls the water level. We know it’s naughty, but we were all rather proud and glad to see he was his usual self.

Max was rescued as a cub and has benefitted from good nutrition from six months of age, enabling him to grow to full size – he is a lean, fit 350lbs+, so larger than the older tigers rescued from the same circus. However, it appears he may not have escaped the genetic problems that in-breeding has caused in this family.

Three tigers from the same circus (Sombra, Bimbi, Itza) have died following seizures while Max’s mother, Lupe, also suffers seizures. It may be that the medication can only hold them off for so long. Simba, from this same family and one of the three tigers we flew to Big Cat Rescue (now at Turpentine Creek), is being treated for seizures as well. Lupe and Max also suffer from allergies, leading to skin reactions and breathing difficulties – we have to be careful what bedding they can have.

We will continue to monitor Max as he bounces back from this incident, and hope that Stripes continues to avoid these issues.