TIGER

Updated 10/19/26

Meet Natasha! 

At 12 years old, Natasha is an Amur tiger, a subspecies native to the forests of the Russian Far East and areas bordering China. She is especially well-suited to life in cold climates. Her thick fur and large paws help her navigate snowy, frigid environments, making Alaska a pretty comfortable place for her! 

Like most tigers, Natasha prefers her own company. In the wild, Amur tigers are solitary animals, with adults generally living and hunting on their own. 

Natasha's story is a little unusual. She was born as part of a tiger breeding program, but after developing cancer of her reproductive organs, she was no longer part of the breeding program. After arriving at the Alaska Zoo, she received treatment for her cancer - and we're happy to say that she was successfully treated and cured. 

Natasha also participates in an important part of her own health care. She is target trained, which means she has learned to voluntarily participate in veterinary checkups. This allows her keepers and veterinary team to examine her without needing to sedate her for routine examinations. It's a great example of how training can make medical care safer and less stressful for the animal. 

Amur tigers are the largest of the big cats. Males are generally larger than females and can weigh anywhere from about 250 to 650 pounds. That's a lot of tiger! 

They are carnivores, and in the wild, their menu can include deer, elk, and wild pigs, along with fish and smaller prey such as hares. 

And here's a fascinating bit of tiger camouflage: many of the animals tigers hunt have difficulty distinguishing certain colors, including orange. To their prey, a tiger's orange coat can appear more like the color of the surrounding grass and vegetation. To another tiger, however, those orange stripes look distinctly orange! 

Amur tigers are classified as endangered, with an estimated 250 to 450 individuals remaining in the wild. Their biggest threats include poaching, habitat loss, and low genetic diversity. 

In the wild, Amur tigers typically live around 10 to 15 years, while those under human care can live to around 20 years. 

If you're lucky enough to spot Natasha, you may find her lounging on her platform, keeping a close eye on her surroundings - or suddenly pouncing on one of her toy balls! 

Natasha is built for cold weather, equipped with the skills of a powerful predator, and still has plenty of energy for an unexpected tiger-sized pounce! 

If you’d like to support Natasha and all of the animals at the Alaska Zoo, consider making a donation or becoming a member of the Alaska Zoo today.