First Meeting

Shivers rolled down Quigley’s spine as Olga bellowed a fierce roar. He wasn’t sure what the angry cat would do next. Would she stand still? Would she run off? Or would she pounce?

The biologist remained calm as he carefully aimed his tranquilizer gun at the tiger. Then he squeezed the trigger and a dart soared through the air toward the cat.

Bull’s eye! The dart struck Olga in her shoulder. She staggered and slowly slumped to the ground–asleep.

As the cat slept, Quigley and his team of scientists went to work. They had to be careful; a female tiger can weigh 370 pounds. They wanted to finish their work before the cat woke up.

The scientists took blood samples, checked Olga’s heartbeat, and measured her body from head to tail.

They also put a radio collar around her neck. The collar sends a radio signal–a series of beeps–that helps scientists track an animal’s movements.

Radio collars like this one help scientists track a wild animal’s movements. Each collar is specially designed for a particular species, or kind, of animal.

collar

radio tracking device