You've heard of swimming with dolphins or manatees or even sharks, but tigers?
Some people won't even swim with their dogs for fear of getting scratched raw, and giving the cat its annual bath can be just as harrowing. So the thought of swimming with tigers may seem like a bad idea.
But a zoo in Pasco County is hoping cat lovers will pay $200 a pop for the chance to take a dip with a tiger cub.
Dade City's Wild Things, a nonprofit sanctuary zoo, will host the 30-minute swims Tuesdays through Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The two male Siberian tiger cubs, named Rajah and Ruari, are 8 weeks old and were born at the zoo.
Elizabeth Daymude said she could not resist a chance to swim with the cubs.
"I really enjoyed it," Daymude said. "I've always wanted to play with tigers so it was such a neat experience."
And the tigers love it too, zoo president Randy Stearns said.
"They do love the water," he said. "Tigers actually have webbed feet. ... They are excellent swimmers. And, just like us, it's 100 degrees, what else do you want to do?"
The cubs weigh about 17 pounds. In about six weeks, they'll be at least 40 pounds, and the public will no longer be allowed to handle them.
Zoo staff will supervise the encounter and snap photos to preserve the once-in-a-lifetime event.
To schedule the swim, call the zoo at (352) 567-9453.
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