The tiger was one of the foremost attractions in Leeds as soon as it was exhibited. At the annual conversazione of the Leeds Philosophical Society in 1863, the Reverend T. Hincks stated that "he was afraid that the tiger ... had been too much the great lion ... and that they had neglected many other noble beasts surrounding it." This exhibit - so beloved of the Leeds populace - has a strange history. It was a tiger skin rug when purchased for £90 and presented to the Museum by William Gott in the 19th century. The present exhibit was likely constructed of more than one tiger skin because: "researcher Ebony Andrews believes that the skin might have been trimmed after it was tanned, leaving missing sections underneath the tiger's chin, neck and up all four legs."