Blind Tiger Brewery Renews Sumatran Tiger Sponsorship with the Topeka Zoo

In conjunction with the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center the Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant announces today the renewal of our sponsorship of the Sumatran Tigers at the Topeka Zoo for 2024.

Every pint, half pint, growler, squealer, and keg of Tiger Bite IPA sold at the Blind Tiger Brewery provides financial support for the Sumatran Tigers at the Topeka Zoo.

The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center has been and continues to be extremely successful with the Sumatran Tiger program.  There was one litter of three cubs born in 2014, and a second litter of four cubs born in 2018 for a total of seven tigers added to this endangered population.  The Topeka Zoo has a beautiful large habitat and a superb, well trained, dedicated staff who do a fantastic job caring for Topeka's tigers.  In January 2023 our new male tiger, Thomas, arrived from the Kansas City Zoo.  In February 2023 our new female tiger Kinleigh-Rose, also known as Nisha, arrived from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida.  Topeka's new breeding pair can be seen at the Topeka Zoo every day.

Tigers are solitary in the wild and only get together for mating.  Our Topeka Zoo staff of keepers is expert at knowing when to get our breeding pair together for positive results.

The Sumatran Tiger sub-species is very endangered with fewer than 500 tigers estimated living in the wild on Sumatra, and about 80 under human care in America.  The Topeka Zoo works with multiple other zoos around the country through the Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP) to maintain and build up the population and the gene pool of the Sumatran Tigers to preserve this very endangered species.  The other zoos that are members of the SSP have great respect and affection for the Topeka Zoo because of our great breeding success.

Some of the money from the Blind Tiger Brewery sponsorship goes to Sumatra itself to employ a ranger who works to prevent poaching and to maintain the existing natural environment for the wild Sumatran Tigers.  One of the Topeka cubs from our 2018 litter, Badar, was named to honor this hard working ranger.

So, Craft Beer enthusiasts in Topeka are saving tigers in Sumatra.  Brendan Wiley, former Director of the Topeka Zoo, said, "Buy a Beer - Save a Tiger."

Jay Ives, owner of the Blind Tiger Brewery, said, "We will keep coming through for the tigers with our sponsorship.  It is one of the most satisfying community support efforts that we do.  The wonderful staff at the Topeka Zoo does such a great job taking care of the tigers and preserving the species.  We are proud to be a small part of that effort."

Here is another aspect of our tiger sponsorship.  The Blind Tiger Brewery maintains a close relationship with a Buffalo (Bison) rancher right here in Shawnee County to provide The Kansan, our popular, delicious, lean Buffalo Burger that has been on our menu for many years.  As the Buffalo herd increases, the excess animals are humanely harvested and processed by a local, licensed, and inspected meat processing facility.  The Buffalo meat comes to the Blind Tiger Brewery and becomes our Buffalo Burger that we call The Kansan (plus Buffalo Steaks on special occasions).  The Buffalo bones are provided to the Topeka Zoo to enrich the lives of the Sumatran Tigers as part of our on-going sponsorship.  Check the zoo calendar for Bone Days for both the tigers and the lions.

The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant and the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center - a true community partnership.