No! Sedated tigers are a persistent myth that has been debunked many times by visiting vets, researchers, volunteers, and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, who have undertaken independent blood tests.

We are a regulated and licensed zoo, meaning we must abide by strict rules; this includes acting ethically and providing the best animal care possible. We have a team of veterinarians who work alongside animal husbandry technicians who ensure the good health of the animals. We only ever use sedation when performing annual health checks or during medical emergencies. Some of the reasons why we would never sedate the tigers other than when strictly necessary are:

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• Sedation and anesthetics are dangerous; we would not want to jeopardize the health of our tigers.

• Sedated animals are unpredictable; it would be too dangerous to approach a sedated animal.

• Sedating such large animals is expensive, and doing so would compromise the viability of the zoo.

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Sedation is not required to be able to visit the tigers safely. Tigers sleep for 18-20 hours per day, so the likelihood is that the tigers will be relaxed during your visit, especially if the weather is hot.