Siberian Tigers, Moscow to the U.S.-Smithsonian

An informational film about unique strategies for the preservation of the Siberian tiger (also called Amur tiger) with Dr. Ulysses (Ulie) S. Seal and an unidentified reporter who narrates throughout. Inbreeding is of specific concern for the biggest cat species on Earth and efforts to ensure their survival through genetic diversity will result in a healthier population for these animals. Dr. Seal has coordinated a program where the United States and Russia will trade animals (despite being political enemies during the Cold War), including rare and endangered species. Russia will get a California sea lion in exchange for the 3 two-year-old sibling Siberian tigers, sisters Elisa & Astra (headed to zoos in Omaha and Minneapolis) plus their brother Tulip (headed for the Bronx Zoo). Footage of the Moscow Zoo includes animals previously traded and thriving in their new habitat. Dr. Seal prepares the tigers for transport, beginning with their sedation using a blowgun and tranquilizer darts. The narrator mentions that the time and length of this trip will be very stressful for the tigers. Dr. Seal and the three Siberian tigers will fly commercially from Moscow to Montreal on a 10-hour flight, followed by a 400 mile drive to Bronx, New York in a private van -- this trip will be 22-hours door-to-door, from Moscow to the Bronx Zoo. Dr. Seal supervises every detail of the transfer, keeping his blowgun and tranquilizer darts handy "just in case." This international air lift program will result in generations of healthy new animals., The original film reel was digitized by Universal Information Services in 2015., UNO Libraries' Archives & Special Collections' Archives & Special Collections, 00:10:39
View this Object: https://library.unomaha.edu/_video/MSS0046_00X_m_vi_000001.html
Abstract/Description: An informational film about unique strategies for the preservation of the Siberian tiger (also called Amur tiger) with Dr. Ulysses (Ulie) S. Seal and an unidentified reporter who narrates throughout. Inbreeding is of specific concern for the biggest cat species on Earth and efforts to ensure their survival through genetic diversity will result in a healthier population for these animals. Dr. Seal has coordinated a program where the United States and Russia will trade animals (despite being political enemies during the Cold War), including rare and endangered species. Russia will get a California sea lion in exchange for the 3 two-year-old sibling Siberian tigers, sisters Elisa & Astra (headed to zoos in Omaha and Minneapolis) plus their brother Tulip (headed for the Bronx Zoo). Footage of the Moscow Zoo includes animals previously traded and thriving in their new habitat. Dr. Seal prepares the tigers for transport, beginning with their sedation using a blowgun and tranquilizer darts. The narrator mentions that the time and length of this trip will be very stressful for the tigers. Dr. Seal and the three Siberian tigers will fly commercially from Moscow to Montreal on a 10-hour flight, followed by a 400 mile drive to Bronx, New York in a private van -- this trip will be 22-hours door-to-door, from Moscow to the Bronx Zoo. Dr. Seal supervises every detail of the transfer, keeping his blowgun and tranquilizer darts handy "just in case." This international air lift program will result in generations of healthy new animals.
Subject(s): Nebraska
Omaha (Neb.)
Zoos
Animals
Motion pictures
Visual works
Films
Videos
Digital moving image formats
Date Created: circa 1985
1985

Statement on Harmful Material: Materials in UNO Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections are historical in nature and reflect the society in which they were produced. As such, they may contain racial, gender, sexual, religious, and other language and imagery that are offensive by today's standards. The documents, images, publications, and other materials have been retained in order to fully represent the materials in their original format. If the offensive text is not in the original, but in a finding aid, catalog record, or other description created by library employees, please contact Archives and Special Collections to bring this to our attention. Archives & Special Collections is guided by the core values of the Society of American Archivists. If you have questions about this statement or about Archives and Special Collections’ work, we welcome your feedback. Please contact us at unoasc@unomaha.edu or 402-554-6046.