A 28-year-old Canadian zoologist from the Bowmanville Zoo near Toronto and a graduate of Laurentian University's Biology Honors Program, Dave Salmoni arrived in South Africa in January 2000 with Ron and Julie in tow — two captive-born, baby Bengal tigers. His previous training and experience were devoted to handling big cats: lions, tigers and jaguars. Now, his life revolves around Ron and Julie.

Salmoni has developed and refined wildlife management techniques in the field in South Africa, working with project founder John Varty to prepare the two tigers for their eventual release.

For almost four years, Salmoni has been the tigers' constant companion and surrogate parent: "I get embarrassed when they're rude and proud of them when they succeed and disappointed in them when they don't." He's also their hunting instructor. He carries a little white stick — like a conductor's baton — and that's all. Despite the dangerous nature of his work, he doesn't believe in toting a gun.

"If cat training is a dangerous job, I'm walking a very fine line," Salmoni says. "I'm teaching tigers how to kill — to go out there and be aggressive — then to come back here to me and be docile. There's no room for error. This pair is not like a zoo cat that might go for your arm. My cat can kill a male eland in about four seconds. Ron just breaks its neck. He's got a whole technique for killing. From the beginning, I've had to define for them what is a food source and what isn't."

Now that the training phase of the project is all but over and the tigers are ready for release, Dave will spend the next couple years monitoring every aspect of their movements as he works toward earning a master's degree.

"For me, this project is about having an opportunity to work on something I have passion for and believe in," Salmoni says. "I love my daily routine. I believe the tigers need conservation and I think I can put some of my skills toward that."

Meet John Varty >>