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07/05/2012 10:15 PM

Ross Park Zoo preparing for new residents

If all goes according to plan, a pair of fresh felines will be on the prowl at the Binghamton Zoo this time next month. YNN's Chris Whalen stopped by Ross Park to see how they're preparing for their new residents.

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y -- In just a few weeks, the penguins and otters at the Binghamton Zoo will have a new next door neighbor.

"We're putting together all the amenities any tiger would love to have and by the end of the month, if all goes well, we're going to have the two tigers, Terney and Koosaka here with us," said executive director Steve Contento.

Ross Park has been without a tiger since last summer, when Misha, a ten-year-old Siberian tiger, passed away in her sleep. Her brother, KJ, was euthanized earlier in 2011 after complications from kidney disease.

Since then, the zoo has been renovating the exhibit in anticipation of the two new tenants.

Contento said, "The ceiling of the exhibit we're in had to be replaced. We replaced all the logs with new logs. This pool that is empty now, that'll be made available. We're just re-checking everything throughout the exhibit for strength and integrity too."

As for the arrival of the animals, the zoo's Executive Director says the end of July is the target date, but the weather could potentially cause a delay as the tigers will be transported by land in large crates from Billings, Montana.

"We've been experiencing a pretty high temperature and high humidity day, if the temperature is prohibitive, that could affect the shipping timing too," Contento said.

But Contento is hoping that won't be a factor and the zoo and its patrons will be able to enjoy the company of cats by the end of the month.