Racine Zoo welcomes 16-year-old Amur tiger, 'Changbai'

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Racine Zoo is welcoming a new resident. 

Changbai, a 16-year-old female Amur tiger, recently arrived in Racine from the Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut. 

The zoo says Changbai gave birth to three cubs at Beardsley and was then donated to the Racine Zoo "to live out her golden years."

Staff members say Changbai loves ripping up boxes and rolling in her favorite perfume that keepers from her previous residence sent with her. 

"Changbai is very beautiful and has such a strong personality! We are so happy that she is with us at the Racine Zoo!" said Racine Zoo’s Curator of Animal Care and Conservation, Dan Powell.

The zoo says Amur tigers are mainly found in Russia and are considered critically endangered, with only an estimated 350-400 left in the wild. Poaching and habitat loss account for 85% of all wild Amur tiger deaths, according to the Racine Zoo. 

To learn how to help save the Amur tigers, you can visit conservewildcats.org.