Researchers look to gain insight from Siberian tiger’s final rest at Alaska’s Museum of the North

Two tiger siblings, Korol and Kunali, recently found a new home at the UA Museum of the North in Fairbanks after their deaths. Kunali, who lived at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, was donated to the museum for scientific research and educational purposes. Aren Gunderson, who manages the mammal collection at the museum, was tasked with preparing Kunali’s body for research.

Gunderson, along with his co-workers, skinned the tiger and removed most of its flesh from the bones. They also dried the skin for professional tanning and used beetle larvae to deflesh the bones. This process will provide valuable reference material for researchers studying ancient cat species that once roamed Alaska.

The Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger, is considered endangered, with fewer than 500 left in the wild. Kunali and Korol were both residents of the Alaska Zoo before being donated to the museum. Kunali’s skeleton will join the extensive collection at the UA Museum of the North, providing visitors with a glimpse of the impressive size and biodiversity of these magnificent animals.

Gunderson, who usually works with smaller mammals, described the experience of preparing the tiger as one of the most exotic and coolest things in his career. The donation of Kunali’s body will not only contribute to scientific research but also serve as an educational opportunity for visitors to the museum.

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