The tiger in the Zoology Museum finally received a name as part of the Museum’s competition Name our Tiger.
4 year old Cara Dick’s suggestion was voted by museum staff and volunteers as the most appropriate name for the University’s tiger.
The museum’s tiger is now known as Rani which can mean ‘queen’ or Lady’ in many Indo-Aryan languages.
The mounted Bengal tiger has been a treasure of the museum for many years and a firm favourite with visitors.
The tiger was presented to The University of Aberdeen Zoology Museum by HM Customs and Excise in recognition of its involvement in conservation education with young people.
The Bengal tiger was seized by HM Customs and Excise at Aberdeen Airport in 1996. Probably a zoo animal, it had been mounted in the North East of Scotland and was being exported to the Middle East but without the necessary permit.
The announcement of the competition coincided with Night at the Museums which forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums programme.
Over 800 visitors enjoyed getting hands-on and creative in the university museums, with science experiments, competitions, live animals, tours, cupcakes and crafts.