The Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield has a new tiger.

Jango is a seven-year-old male Malayan tiger.

He’s one of only about 200 such tigers known to exist.

The zoo hopes Jango will be able to help bring the species back from the brink of extinction.

He’s off exhibit while he gets to know his surroundings and meets Berisi, the female tiger.

Press Release

Dickerson Park Zoo is proud to announce the arrival of Jango, a seven-year-old, male Malayan tiger.

Jango arrived in early November and recently received his quarantine exit exam by Dickerson Park Zoo veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Zec.

While under anesthesia, Jango also went through another procedure to help protect his species.

As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), Jango’s semen was collected in order to save his genetic material for potential use in the future.

“Jango is a very special tiger,” said Shelley Sandmaier, post-doctoral research fellow, Reproductive Sciences at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. “He currently ranks as the number one most genetically valuable male in the Malayan tiger population.”

Zoos and aquariums accredited by AZA, which includes both Dickerson Park Zoo and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, share in the mission to save species from extinction.

The Malayan tiger population is estimated to be fewer than 200 individuals, making the efforts to bank Jango’s semen essential to the future of tigers.

“As we improve upon artificial reproductive technologies in big cats, his sperm may be used for artificial insemination procedures, ensuring his genetics can still be represented in the future. Jango now has the potential to contribute to the Malayan tiger population decades from now,” Sandmaier shared.

Currently, Jango is off exhibit from the public.

He is spending time adjusting to his new caregivers as well as slowly starting the introduction process of meeting Berisi, the female tiger.