A little background on this. We were there the first day the buffalo were introduced and it was quite an amazing sight. Upon introduction they were allowed by keepers to roam where they please along the mjt. When we were there they were I guess you would call it, behind the tiger fountain, kinda way in the back and not in the tiger zone per say. The 18 year old female was out in her usual area and just sat behind her water fountain staring over at these gigantic beasts she has never seen before. Each species, the buffalo and the tigress just minded their own businesses, checking each other out and then after a while we witnessed the real manuerism of a tiger, She began wandering around HER area making it known it was her area just wandering around marking her spots, then she would just lay down again and watced the buffalo as they wandered grazing on some tall grasses. Neither paths were crossed and there was no confrontation of any kind. Just a peaceful check me out kind of thing. As we spoke of this with the guide she mentioned that this 18 year old female is the last surviving of the 3 sisters that were basically born at the park, or introduced here on day one and is still there. Her life expectancy is basically now but routine physicals are positive and the vets believe she could live well into her 20's however she may retire from stage within the next few years,
Also introduced in her area was the male tiger just prior to the buffalo being introduced. THe vets say that he is doing ok with fitting in though he only goes to one spot, where guests stand facing the water fountain way out to the right at about 1pm hand hiding in the brush. They say he likes to just sit in there and observe and has not really come in contact with the female. Due to the male introduction they are leaving only the 18 year old female who can not procreate with him and will later on introduce him to the other female who is on the other stage across the way for mating purposes.
Back to the buffalo, mesmerized by what was happening on this stage we returned to the trek to observe and the okapi or little deer I call them who are on the stage just after the tigers were freaking out big time as the buffalo were close to their comfort area. All you could see were every last one of them in a pack , prob like 15 of them together just staring at the buffalo in a defensive stance. Kind of like if the buffalo, who could not be seen by humans but you knew what they were staring at, if they moved an inch the okapi would book it the other way and they would fly out of there fast. I actually felt bad for them cause its been their home for so long and all the animals in this stage are now sharing with these huge beasts...I personally feel the buffalo would be better placed on the safari stage, the trek stage seems a bit small for them.
Another side not, the crazy ducks that were once just past the komodo dragon are now in this area where the okapi are and they are still causing a ruckus with the regular ducks, picking fights.
We were happy to see a new Mandarin Duck on stage as well but there still is no new Golden Pheasant on the bird stage.
