Esso Advert Tiger 'Tango' Dies At Lincolnshire Wildlife Park

Almost 1,000 people post messages of sympathy on the park's Facebook page, saying the "magnificent" Tango will be "sadly missed".

14:52, UK, Monday 12 September 2016

Image Caption: Tango was one of several tigers to appear in the 1990s Esso ad

A tiger who starred in the famous Esso "Put A Tiger In Your Tank" adverts has died of old age.

Tango, thought to be Britain's oldest tiger, was one of several big cats to appear in the 1990s advertisement.
He passed away at the Woodside Wildlife Park in Lincolnshire.
Almost 1,000 people have posted messages of sympathy on its Facebook page since his death was announced, with former visitors saying the "magnificent" and "beautiful great big cat" would be "sadly missed".
Park director, Neil Mumby, who orchestrated a £250,000 project to rehome Tango in 2014 after he was rescued from a European circus, said he had "an extremely good innings".

Image Caption: Tango was rescued from a European circus in 2014

"A normal age for a tiger to reach would be approximately 15 - so at 22 he was over 100 years old in human terms," he said.
"He had a mixed life in his circus time on the continent.
"We were happy to give him a good, peaceful retirement for two-and-a-half years - we have seen him chasing butterflies, swimming and behaving like a tiger deserves to."
He added: "From my point of view, we are extremely proud to have given him his retirement."
Esso first used an image of a tiger in its ads following the end of rationing after the Second World War.
The campaign is considered to be one of the most successful in advertising history.

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