Remembering Padma: A Gentle Soul at Tiger Creek
- autumn
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
On August 31st, we said a heartbreaking goodbye to one of our Bengal Tigers, Padma. Padma came to Tiger Creek after her previous home in Florida was destroyed in a hurricane. As our resident Floridian, she never seemed to mind the hot and humid days of the Texas Summer, often lounging on her platform or napping in a soft patch of grass. During the hustle of the day, Padma was a sweet reminder to her keepers and staff to slow down and enjoy the simple things.
Padma's days consisted of breakfast, playtime with her enrichment, which was often catered towards Padma's known favorite items, and interacting with her keepers. It was staff-wide knowledge that Padma had a favorite ball. Bright orange and 50 pounds, we would all take turns pushing it up the hill in her expansive habitat, so that she could nudge it down to chase after it. This would all repeat the next morning as staff lined up outside her yard to watch her play! We worked hard to cater to Padma's every want, to give her the absolute best days. One of Padma's favorite enrichment activities was her training sessions. She was always eager to please her keepers, acing every training session and gratefully accepting her reward. The relationship Padma built with her keepers was one comparable to the comfort of an old friend. She was a comfort on the days that felt endless and always seemed to find a way to put us at ease.
Padma was a gentle soul, always seeking out the softest patch of grass to lie in, keeping a watchful eye as squirrels ran through her yard, and chuffing at anyone who said hello. For Padma's birthday in February, I was excited to create her favorite enrichment item: a surprise box. She spent a few moments parading around her yard with the box in her mouth to show her keepers, walking right along the perimeter and chuffing at us all.
While all losses are heavy, Padma's reminds us to slow down and enjoy the time we have. It is easy to get caught up in the bustle of day-to-day life, but let Padma be a reminder to slow down and take it easy some days. This loss will weigh heavily on Tiger Creek. We love you, Padma. May you rest in peace.