Most animals do not live as long as humans, but some manage to live impressively long lives and surpass expectations.
And a few lucky ones can even be counted among the oldest of their kind in the whole world. Like this beautiful tiger, who at 25 years old is still going strong, and has just earned the official title of the world’s oldest tiger.
Bengali is a tiger who has been living at the Tiger Creek Wildlife Sanctuary in Tyler, Texas since 2000. She is 25 years old and will turn 26 on August 31st next month.
Her age far exceeds the normal lifespan of a tiger – the species usually only lives about 12 years in the wild and 15-20 in captivity.
This week, Guinness World Records officially announced that Bengali has set the record as the “oldest living tiger in captivity in the world.”
“We are very honored and very proud to know that we have the oldest living tiger with us,” the Tiger Creek staff told Guinness. “We care deeply about every animal at Tiger Creek, and keeping Bengali healthy and happy for so many years is an incredible achievement for the sanctuary, our staff, and of course, our Bengali.”
The Bengal tiger is an endangered species, with a declining population in the wild due to poaching and habitat loss.
But the staff at the sanctuary are committed to protecting these beautiful animals, and Bengali’s record lifespan is evidence of the excellent care they receive.
“The staff here serves Bengali meals on a silver platter! Well, it’s stainless steel, but it’s still silver in color,” they said. “She never goes hungry and doesn’t have to worry about where her next meal will come from.”
The staff mentioned that Bengali was initially shy, but she has adapted to her surroundings and is now living her best life.
As she gets older, the staff makes sure to celebrate each birthday in style. According to Guinness, they gave her something to play with on her 21st birthday.
“Bengali and all the other residents of Tiger Creek have constant access to fresh, clean water, spacious yards open to the sun and wind, with plenty of shade trees, platforms to climb on and play under, pools to take a refreshing dip in during the summer months, logs to sharpen her claws on, and all kinds of toys to play with.”
Congratulations to Bengali and all the people caring for her on this incredible world record!
We wish her a very happy 26th birthday next month, and many beautiful years to come!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNpoN8nrv8w
