NEW HOME FOR BANDAR, A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SUMATRAN TIGER

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay recently announced the arrival of a male, 9-year-old Sumatran tiger named Bandar who joined the park’s diverse collection of more than 200 animal species. Bandar was transferred from the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington and is the park’s first Sumatran tiger to join the existing streak of tigers. In his new habitat, he will join Rukayah and Zahra, a Malayan and Bengal tiger, respectively. Park guests are now able to get up close with Bandar, who resides in the Jungala realm of the park.

“Watching Bandar settle into his new home is exciting and inspiring,” said Jenny Mendoza, vice president - zoological for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “We are very thrilled to provide him with a home for him to thrive, share his story with our guests and have our zoological facilities serve as a building block for the prosperous future of all tigers.”

The Sumatran tiger is a critically endangered species on the brink of extinction. With less than 400 known Sumatran tigers in the wild, Bandar is part of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The mission of the SSP is to cooperatively manage specific species populations within AZA-accredited facilities, such as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, which has successfully managed tiger populations for more than five decades. Guests interested in experiencing a unique and up-close look at Bengal, Malayan and Sumatran tigers can purchase a Tiger Insider Tour to gain an insider’s perspective of the care of this endangered species and learn how our parks help to protect this powerful species in the wild. Through these engaging and educational opportunities, guests can learn how they can make a difference for their counterparts in the wild.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure, ofering 300 acres of fascinating attractions based on exotic explorations around the world. Busch Gardens is a unique blend of thrilling rides, an AZA-accredited zoo with thousands of animals representing more than 200 species and exciting seasonal events all year providing unrivaled experiences for guests of every age.

Guests can learn more about all the events, special deals and future announcements at Busch Gardens by visiting https://buschgardens.com/ and following Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Custom Hair Helps Customers Regain Confidence After Hair Loss

Things often get ‘hairy’ at Custom Hair Tampa Bay, but for this business that’s precisely the goal.

Owned by Dan and Lori Younkman, Custom Hair Tampa Bay ofers nonsurgical solutions for men and women with hair loss as a result of male and female-pattern baldness, chemotherapy, transplants and burn scars, alopecia, autoimmune diseases and other hair loss conditions.

Located at 117 N. Kings Ave. in Brandon, solutions that the Younkmans ofer include 100 percent Remy human hair wigs, toppers and custom hair solutions for men and women. Expert staf members are available to assist clients in choosing from its selection of wigs or one of its hair systems.

“We’re here to advise you every step of the way and walk you through the entire process,” said Lori, who is not just the owner but also a customer.

She understands exactly how a thick head of hair can restore confidence.

Customers meet with technicians in private consultation rooms where their heads are measured, hair color and texture are matched and hair systems are created to make each person look their best.

Hair replacement systems are lightweight, breathable and secure thanks to the surgical-grade adhesive that holds the

By Michelle Caceres

hair in place for four to six weeks.

“Wake up every morning with hair,” said Lori. “Wash it, swim with it and just live your life.”

Her favorite part of the process is when the hair system comes in and customers see the total transformation.

For Apollo Beach resident Jim Klein, his new hair has given him increased self-confidence. “I have the hair I used to have and look so much younger,” he said.

Brandon resident and longtime customer Susan Saylors, whose hair started thinning as a result of lupus, echoed Klien about the increased self-confidence from her hair replacement system.

“Stylists at Custom Hair have given me long hair, shorter hair, have changed the color,” said Saylors. “What’s great is it’s such a high quality that nobody knows it’s not my own hair unless I tell them.”

Custom Hair Tampa Bay has been helping customers enjoy long, thick and healthy hair worthy of a Pantene commercial for more than 50 years.

Custom Hair Tampa Bay is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit www.customhairtampabay.com or call 813-6519484.