The Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) in Entebbe has commenced the process of naming tigers and other animals under its care.
In a ceremony that took place on November 19, 2022, at the Entebbe Zoo, UWEC management announced the name of the nearly 4-year-old male Bengal Tiger.
The Tiger was named by Yuti Breweries Limited (YBL) which contributed Shs30m towards the tigers’ welfare. They named the white male tiger – Yura which means beautiful.
Two years ago, the public was invited to take up an animal guardianship role and support conservation education efforts.
“Yura is the biggest of the two existing tigers and just like the flagship of our home-brewed beverage, YURA BEER, he symbolizes leadership, strength, majesty, and fearlessness,” said Punit Shah, Managing Director YBL Uganda.
“As Yuti Breweries, we shall have activities and donations every year to inculcate awareness among the public on the importance of protecting and conserving this endangered species. I would like to encourage many brands to take on this naming initiative and support the conservation education efforts of UWEC.”
Since debuting to the general public on November 25, 2020, the two tigers have been growing rapidly.
According to UWEC Public Relations Officer, Eric Ntalumbwa, Yura is full of energy and learns new things every day.
He says his roar can be heard as far as 3km away. He feeds on 8kg to 10kg of beef daily and other foods like liver, chicken, and fresh goat.
Native to India and Bangladesh, Bengal tigers are the second largest members of the cat family and are known for their power and strength.
Over the years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced tiger populations. An estimated 3,726 to 5,578 tigers currently live in the wild and are globally listed as Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
