Paws, piñatas and a party: Gunther the tiger turns 17 at Little Ponderosa Zoo
Gunther, the Siberian tiger that was rescued by The Little Ponderosa Zoo and Wildlife Rescue near Clinton, is shown here on his 16th birthday in May 2024. Gunther’s 17th birthday party will be held this Saturday at the zoo. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
Activities will begin at 10 a.m. at the zoo, which is at 629 Granite Road in the Dutch Valley community near Clinton.
“Watch him enjoy catnip, scents, piñatas, boxes, and other birthday treats,” The Little Ponderosa said in an announcement of the event. “He will be let out into his yard at 10 a.m., and then will have all day to enjoy his birthday fun.”
The zoo held a party for Gunther’s 16th birthday last year, and the big cat seemed to know something special was going. When he was let out into his yard, he immediately spotted some of the decorations and the new toys.
Zoo staff said he particularly seemed to enjoy the paper streamers, which he promptly began batting down, and he obviously loved the large bowling-pin shaped toy that he could knock down and watch it right itself. He seemed right way to figure out how to get it to pop back up into a standing position when it failed to do so immediately on its own.
As they did last year, the staff will urge Gunther’s fans to join in the singing of “Happy Birthday.”
Gunther arrived as a rescue at the zoo as a very young cub, said Mary Lou Redmond, the Little Ponderosa’s manager.
The zoo will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Weekday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Animal “Meet and Greet” sessions are available every day after noon.
“Want to get up and personal with a unique critter interaction?” the zoo says on its website. “You can have 30 minutes of interaction, one on one, or with your group of up to 10 people with one of our amazing animals. You can choose from a Baby Water Buffalo, Baby Antelope, Baby Alpaca, Baby Calf, Baby Goats, Bunnies or a Ball Python.”
For more information about the zoo and the meet and greet opportunities, call 865-457-5536, or visit the website littleponderosazoo.com.
People may donate to Gunther’s care via PayPal by going to the zoo’s website, or by calling and donating over the phone. Donations are also accepted in person in the zoo’s gift shop.
