Critically endangered cubs born at Tennessee zoo for first time. See the little babies
Three “precious” Sumatran tiger cubs have been born at the Nashville Zoo for the first time, Tennessee officials said.
Anne, a 7-year-old Sumatran tiger, gave birth to the cubs the evening of Oct. 20, the zoo announced in a statement. Anne was brought to Nashville earlier this year from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park as part of a species survival plan to encourage the critically endangered cats to breed, the Nashville Zoo said.
“As a first-time mom, Anne is behaving perfectly as she and the three cubs bond and remain nestled in the privacy of their indoor den,” zoo officials shared in the Oct. 23 Facebook post.
The zoo confirmed Anne was pregnant in late August after she was paired with a male Sumatran tiger at the zoo named Felix. The animal team trained her to participate in ultrasounds so they could monitor her pregnancy, which typically lasts around 100 days, officials said.
“Each birth is vital for the conservation of this species,” zoo officials said.
There are fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, experts estimate. Sumatran tigers are native to Indonesia and are critically endangered, facing threats such as poaching and habitat loss, the zoo said.
They are the smallest of the living tiger species and have darker orange fur than other subspecies to help them blend into their tropical habitats better, according to the International Tiger Project.
The World Wildlife Fund estimates that up to 80% of Sumatran tiger deaths come from poaching the animals for trade.
“Congratulations Anne and Felix!!” one Facebook user wrote. “Your little cubs are beautiful!! The Sumatran Tigers are my favorites at the Nashville Zoo and I’m looking forward to seeing the babies.”
All the cubs are nursing and will likely stay behind the scenes until they get a little older, the zoo said.
“So beautiful and precious!” another person wrote on Facebook.
This story was originally published October 26, 2023 at 10:43 AM with the headline "Critically endangered cubs born at Tennessee zoo for first time. See the little babies."