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ARTICLE
"Scents
of calm" |
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A
solution was needed for a tiger who at times, was risking her
own safety and that of her keepers. But who would have thought
that her life would have been turned around by scent?
The success achieved by aromatherapy pioneer Caroline Ingraham
in introducing a sense of calm to a fearful tiger could offer
hope for other big cats in captivity, not to mention domestic
cats with issues!
Ronja is a three-and-a-half-year-old Siberian Tiger who was
imported from Germany to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation (WHF)
in Kent
two years ago. |
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From her arrival she showed extreme rage towards men. Her attacks
were so fierce that she would hurt herself and damage the fence she
was hurling herself at.
Caroline says: "She became known within the zoo and exotic animal
community as one of the most aggressive tigers they had ever known."
Looking after her was not easy. It was impossible to shut her into
her house when her enclosure was due to be cleaned. Instead the neighbouring
tiger was shut into his house and she was ushered into his enclosure.
If ever she was shut in her house her reaction was so violent that
staff were afraid that she would seriously hurt herself. Caroline
adds: "It was at the point whereby they needed to decide if it
was fair and safe to keep Ronja alive."
WHF Director Mark Edgerly invited her over in August. Although intrigued
by the possibilities of what could be achieved using essential oils,
Mark admits that he had initially been rather sceptical.
Caroline first step was to put undiluted drops of five chosen essential
oils and one fixed oil on six-inch strips of plywood. Here's what
she used and Ronja's reaction:
• Linden blossom: physical injury/dislike
of men; no response.
• Rose otto: past trauma; slight interest.
• Ylang Ylang: lack of self-worth/confidence:
no interest.
• Vetiver: offers stability; no interest.
• Frankincense: fear; selected this aroma often.
Caroline notes: "She would walk a few
steps away then return for more. She did this
many times over a period of an hour."
• Hemp fixed oil: Calming to the central nervous system. She
approached and licked it.
Caroline explains: "When Ronja selects her remedy she will walk
to the chosen plank of wood, circle it to lift the aroma and as she
almost completes her circle she will grimace to draw in the aroma."
There was a stunning immediate result.
"She walked into her house to retrieve her food while two men
were stood by, something she had never done before."
Five days later, the positive changes were apparent. Caroline recalls:
'As I stood by Ronja's enclosure she walked close to Mark, her keeper
and director of WHF; he had never been so close to her before without
being the subject of attack."
Caroline has since tried other oils, chosen to match Ronja's temperament
and her habitat and allowed the tiger to select her favourites.
• Frankincense: fear; interested.
• Valerian: deep sedative; interested.
• Angelica root: opens the animal up to healing; interested.
• Sandalwood: Fear and supports the kidneys, a weak area for
both big and domestic cats: a very strong interest.
• Peppermint: stimulant; interested.
Caroline takes up the story: "Ronja walked straight to the Sandalwood.
This oil prompted the strongest interest of all the oils to date.
She returned to it many times over a period of two hours, displaying
the flehmen response each time she inhaled its aroma. She paraded
up and down the side of the enclosure where the oils were placed,
each
time returning to the sandalwood, circling it and taking up the aroma.
After about half an hour into the sandalwood selection she walked
over to the peppermint, put her head down and inhaled it, going back
to it several times before selecting Angelica root, which she returned
to a number of times, while still intermittently selecting her sandalwood,
which she was very attracted to. Eventually Ronja returned to her
comfort patch." |
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Soon
after Caroline had finished, a group of photographers arrived,
part of a regular arrangement. Ronja's usual reaction was to
go for the attack or more usually hide in her house. As she
did the latter, Mark decided to see if the essential oil inhalation
would have positive results allowing her to be shut in. To Mark's
amazement she did!
The house is designed so that the keepers can walk in and be
protected by wire fencing. |
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At
the first sign of the door opening in the past, Ronja would throw
her entire body weight at the fencing by the keeper's door. It would
normally be too distressing and dangerous for both the keeper and
Ronja.
"Mark went to the door, opening it slowly. Instead of throwing
herself at the fence, Ronja lay in her bed, growling. As he took steps
in, the growls turned to loud roars, however she still remained in
her bed."
The next experiment was for Mark to wear Ronia's favourite oils so
that she would see him in a more positive light.
"Rose had previously been selected but was not one of her favourites
at the time, however from past experience I have observed that rose
helps most animals cope with stress," Caroline explains.
So, Rose was applied to Mark's chest, sandalwood to an arm, Angelica
root and Frankincense on the other arm.
This time the effect was quite startling.
Ronja allowed him to walk in, giving only the odd growl. He was able
to sit down cross-legged in front of her (a wire fence "she became
known within the zoo and exotic animal community as one of the most
aggressive tigers they had ever known:"
separating them) while she closed an eye. He stayed there for a good
ten minutes. That was the closest she had been to anyone in the time
they had known her, something they had only experienced when she was
anesthetized."
Mark says: "I went into the, corridor expecting her to rant and
rave like she used to, but.' she didn't. She curled up and put her
head between her
paws. I was just amazed!"
Since Caroline began to visit' Ronja has not attempted to attack men
as violently as she did in the past and she is no longer considered
a danger.
Since October, Ronja has even allowed herself to be shut in the house
without a fuss.
"We haven't quite cracked the problem, but we are really pleased
with her progress," says Mark.
"Zoo professionals who saw her a year ago say they have noticed
a remarkable difference in her. We don't experience the rages that
we used to get with her.
"Sandalwood is still her favourite. She will even take strips
of wood with the oils on to the area of her enclosure where she eats."
As far as Mark knows, she is the only big cat to experience the benefits
of essential oils. He hopes that the success they are having will
help others like her.
Article from 'Your Cat' Magazine, February 2006 |
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