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Tigers lured by unwanted Christmas aftershaves and perfumes: ‘The smellier the better’

The Blair Drummond Safari Park is appealing the public to send unwanted pungent gift sets

Kate Ng
Friday 25 December 2015 17:19 GMT
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Strong scents keep the tigers' sense of smell stimulated
Strong scents keep the tigers' sense of smell stimulated (Getty)

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Tigers enjoy the pungent scent of unwanted Christmas aftershaves and perfumes, staff at a safari park have revealed.

Staff at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling say the animals like the scents “the smellier the better”, and spray them over toys and treats before hiding them for male and female Amur tigers Genghis and Bella to hunt down.

They say big cats especially like the strong aromas as it keeps their keen sense of smell stimulated.

The two tigers, aged 19 and 13, were recently moved to a new enclosure within the park called Tiger Ridge.

Hiding the alluring toys and treats around the enclosure will help them explore the rock formation, cave and waterfall at the centre of their new home.

Keeper Sam Clark said: “ We all get gift sets from grannies and aunties that we no doubt appreciate but probably don’t ever use.”

He suggests handing the gifts over to the park so they can be put to use keeping the animals entertained, rather than “clogging up bathrooms”.

“All tigers have a very sensitive sense of smell and new scents keep them stimulated and are good for enrichment,” he said.

Genghis and Bella are not fussy about brands, and will quite happily settle for anything, according to Mr Clark.

Cuteness Alert! Three Tiny Bengal Tigers Play Together for the First Time

“In fact it seems the smellier the better for them.”

Blair Drummond Safari Park reopens on March 19, 2016.

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