by Zoo celebrates birth of critically ᴇɴᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴇᴅ Sumatran tiger cubs
“Tigers represent all that is powerful about nature, so it’s sʜᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ that an iconic, apex ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀ is at ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟᴇ risk of ᴇxᴛɪɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. These cubs represent 1 per cent of remaining wild populations”. It’s always a happy day at a zoo when a new animal is born, giving everyone the opportunity to see a beautiful baby animal.
But it’s even better news when the newborn is a member of an ᴇɴᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴇᴅ species: each new birth is a step towards protecting their population, ensuring they live on for another generation. And recently, one Oregon zoo had double the reason to celebrate, after two critically ᴇɴᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴇᴅ Sumatran tiger cubs were born. Phoebe and Luhahn are the first tiger cubs born at the park since the early eighties, and the first Sumatran tigers. The cubs, one male and one female, were born on July 11th at the Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. They were the first tiger cubs born there since the 1980s, the park’s ᴄᴀʀɴɪᴠᴏʀᴇ supervisor Sarah Huse told KPIC. They were also the first cubs born to new mom Riya, a 9-year-old Sumatran tiger, who has been taking good care of them. “Mom cleaned the cubs off immediately and they have both been nursing away,” Sarah Huse said. Keepers expect that over the next 4-6 weeks, the cubs will find their feet, groom and play more with each other, and clamber out the nest, when Kartika will have a ʜᴀʀᴅ time keeping them under control. The cubs just started opening their eyes today and will be on display in about six weeks. After about two years, a decision will be made whether they’ll stay at the park or be moved elsewhere to breed. Sumatran tigers listed as “critically ᴇɴᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴇᴅ” on the IUCN Red List, citing detrimental habitat ʟᴏss and illegal ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ of tiger parts as reasons for a declining population, so the birth of these cubs is a positive step towards keeping this species alive. “Sumatran tigers are critically ᴇɴᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴇᴅ with an estimated less than 400 left in the wild.” Wildlife Safari is known as “America’s most successful cheetah breeding center,” according to the park’s news release, and they were excited to do their part in helping the Sumatran tiger population. “We are always excited to be able to share with our supporting public when we have these major milestones,” park executive director Dan Van Slyke told KPIC. “We’re all about sharing new animals and new experiences with the public.” The cubs are currently spending time bonding with their mom, but they will soon be available for public viewing at the park. In the meantime, you can see them on the park’s Facebook live streams.
Congrats to Wildlife Safari on the birth of these beautiful newborn tigers, who will go a long way in helping this critically ᴇɴᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴇᴅ species survive! Share this amazing news!
