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14:56 November 4th, 2009

“Birds” star Tippi Hedren says Michael Jackson’s tigers doing fine

Posted by: Alex Dobuzinskis
Tags: Fan Fare, , , , , ,

Back in 2006, actress Tippi Hedren adopted Michael Jackson’s two tigers from his Neverland Ranch, the Central California property that Jackson all but abandoned after his 2005 trial and acquittal on child molestation charges.tippi-hedren

How are the big cats doing? Just fine, Tippi says.

“They’re just great, and they were beautiful when they came to us,” Hedren told reporters on Tuesday, on the red carpet of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, which was celebrating its 100th anniversary.

“It took awhile to adjust, because anytime anybody moves, it’s a period of adjustment. But they’re wonderful and very beautiful,” said Hedren, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 movie “The Birds.”

The tigers are named Thriller and Sabu, and they are kept at Hedren’s Shambala Preserve, less than 40 miles from Los Angeles. The preserve was threatened by a wildfire that began in late August and lasted into September. It was in the mandatory evacuation zone, but fire officials determined that moving all the animals, which includes more than 70 big cats, would be a “logistical nightmare” and they decided against that.

On the red carpet in Hollywood, Hedren said that the preserve is well-equipped for fire, with water tanks, hoses and a generator on-site.

Hedren, who never met Jackson before his June 25 death, also said that to her knowledge, there is no provision in Jackson’s estate to pay for the care of the two tigers she adopted from him.

“I was hoping that his legacy would include his tigers,” she said.

3 comments so far

I’d vote for tiger maintenance over an allowance for papa Joe!

- Posted by Tammy A.

Maybe the Jackson family will donate some monery for the tigers’ care from all the money they’re making off his latest movie. Oh, right, we’re talking the Jackson family…I forgot.

- Posted by Cheryl

Does Tippi Hedren have a blog or website for responses to questions about her films? Thanks

- Posted by Bob Bloomer

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