Siegfried And Roy Get New Tiger Cubs

5 New Cubs For Illusionists' Vegas Habitat, Siegfried Hopes It Will Be Therapeutic For Roy

(AP)  Siegfried and Roy might want to move the good furniture into storage for a while.

The famed illusionists welcomed five new tiger cubs to their exotic habitat on the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday, a move Siegfried Fischbacher said would be therapeutic for Roy Horn, who was critically injured when he was mauled by a 380-pound white Bengal tiger onstage in 2003.

"That gives him a reason to get up in the morning," Fischbacher said.

Horn did not answer questions from reporters but played with the small tigers, holding them for the cameras, kissing them and nibbling on one's small ear. The playful, 15-pound, 6-week old cubs were brought to Las Vegas three weeks ago to be part of the longtime duo's animal breeding program.

The cubs - two white females, two white striped females and a golden male tiger - were to be taken to a nursery for public display at the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage hotel-casino. The exhibit houses lions, tigers, leopards and a black panther.

"Our life is a purpose," Fischbacher said. "Our purpose is to keep them from extinction."

Fischbacher said Horn had named the golden cub Svengali because it was a name for a womanizer - and the cub was growing up with four females.

"He has to hold court," he said.

Fischbacher said the illusionists were moving ahead as promised with a one-night-only comeback next year to benefit the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute. But he's not sure whether the young tigers will be a part of the Feb. 7, 2009, performance.

"I'm always getting questions, 'Are they going to be in our show?"' he said. "They are just a part of our life."

Horn was critically injured when the white tiger, Montecore, sank its teeth into his neck and dragged him offstage in front of a horrified audience at The Mirage in October 2003, ending one of the most successful casino shows in Las Vegas history.

The near-fatal mauling left Horn partially paralyzed, damaged a neck artery and crushed his windpipe.

The pair have said they believed Montecore sensed Horn was having a mini-stroke and was dragging him to safety, rather than attacking him.

[keithle1]

I have seen a good part of the world, idiot. Probably more than you.

[rosesnpearls]

Poor, poor, Keithle1. Such a limited mind that can''t see the animals being protected from extinction through their introduction to people who would never see or understand them without zoos and through protection from poachers and development. And so much hate for tourists. I think Keith needs to step away from the computer and take a trip so he can see the world and relax a little. Lose the hate.

[extremophil]

Q: What was Roy Horn''s first words after his mauling accident?

A: Yoo hoo tiger, I''m not mad at you!

[aerodog]

Ole Roy may have a damaged body, but the guy''s still got b.alls.

[sistatee-2009]

That tiger cub seems to be clawing at Roy''s jugular vein.

[carlylaine]

Keithle1: You''re certainly not on psychosis trip. Gadszooks...go see a shrink.

[patriot12436]

I read a story a while back about a lady who was watching a tiger in a cage at a zoo. Every time he would walk by her she would spit on him. Finally the tiger walked up stopped , raised his leg and pissed in her face. Very intelligent animals.

[patriot12436]

I support anyone who supports animal welfare programs. Tigers are a very beautiful animal. I have been livihng in Thailand for the past 18 months. I have an elephant that comes by my house about once a week and i hand feed him. Whenever i find a cobra i give it to the red cross in Bangkok for their antivenom program. I have visited a village that worships the king cobra and was allowed to hold a ten foot long king without controlling his head. He was totally docile when handled properly. There is a monastery here that allows wild animals to come in and they feed them. They also have bengal tigers and raise money by allowing the tourist to have their pictures taken with these beautiful animals. They keep several monks available to handle a situation if it should arise, so far they have had no incidents. Fantastic experiences for an animal lover.

[keithle1]

Screw Roy. No tears for him. You mess with the bull, you get the horns. These animals are not supposed to be prancing around on a stage in Vegas doing tricks.
They made a ton of money for Siegfried & Roy. If it wasn''t for them, the boys would be hairdressers or something. Funny the way they act like they have this special rapport with the animals. Too bad the tiger didn''t kill both of them.

You think these big cats are like your widdle
p u s s y c a t Snookums?

Boycott zoos. Pacing up & down on a concrete floor in a cage while fat tourists stare at them is not how lions, tigers, etc, are supposed to be spending their lives. It''s not normal or natural.

Circuses are bad too. Go see Cirque de Soleil or The Lion King instead.