While living in the SF Bay area, I developed a close relationship with the folks at Marine World- Africa USA. I went there on a regular basis, participating in many special events and taking reference photos of their special exotic creatures.
One of my favorite tigers was Kismet, a unique mixed breed of Siberian and Bengal tigers. (You’ll never see one in the wild; their territories are thousands of miles apart.) We enjoyed taking photos of her as a playful small cub. She later became the subject of my instructional video – Passion for Painting, Vol.1-Bengal Tiger Cub.
Fast forward about three years.
My first thoughts were “My how she had grown!” Now reaching her adult size at over 300 pounds,
she seemed happy to see me. Her greeting was a little welcoming nudge with her head. Unfortunately,
I was standing on a slope and her “nudge” sent me rolling down the hill with Kismet pouncing playfully after me. Luckily, her handler had a good grip on the heavy chain around her neck; preventing her from landing on me.
No injuries: we all had a hearty laugh.
Now I’ll think twice before getting up-close with such a big animal.
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