Rare Sumatran tigers born at London Zoo
- Published
These three Sumatran tiger cubs aren't just adorable, they are critical to their species' survival. They are three weeks old and live at London Zoo. They were born to mum Gaysha and dad Asim.
This little one is happy to be carried around by mum Gaysha who is 10. The cubs have just opened their eyes and are enjoying exploring their enclosure. In the wild, these tigers would live in the jungles and forests of Sumatra, Indonesia. However because of hunting and habitat loss they are now critically endangered.
Oh missed a spot! This cub is enjoying a nice bath from mum. Keepers are very impressed with the cubs so far and have said they fed and took their first steps almost immediately.
In the 1970s it was estimated that there were about 1,000 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, compared to their current number of around just 300. A spokesperson for London Zoo said: “Should their numbers continue to decline at this rate, Sumatran tigers will face the very real threat of extinction within the next decade.”
And stretch! The keepers haven't been able to name the cubs yet because they can't identify if they are male or female until they are three months old. Imagine having to wait three whole months to get a name!
But mum, we want to play! The zoo keepers say that the cubs have been interacting well with their dad Asim as well, which is good news for everyone.
- Published19 July 2022
- Published19 July 2022
- Published22 July 2022
