They are developing healthily, eager to eat and play – say the authorities of the Wrocław Zoo about the tigers born this summer. There are only 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.
Three males and a female were born on July 22 this year, but the Wrocław Zoo announced it only on Friday. “A sensational birth in the Wrocław zoo!” – this is how the garden titled its message sent to the media. As the authorities of the facility emphasize, such large litters are rare among Sumatran tigers.
These animals belong to one of the most endangered species. The Wrocław Zoo is the only garden in Poland where Sumatran tigers are bred.
– The young tigers weigh over 8 kg, are developing well and have no health problems – said Paweł Sroka, head of the department of predatory mammals at the Wrocław Zoo.
Sumatran tigers from the Wrocław zooZoo Wrocław
The tiger cubs' first walk
The four young predators went out into the outdoor enclosure for the first time on Wednesday. – In the case of such large litters, often not all kittens reach adulthood. We are even more happy that all four tigers are developing healthily, are active, eager to eat and play with each other and with their parents – said Sergiusz Kmiecik, acting president of Zoo Wrocław.
This year, Sumatran tigers were born in only four zoos in Europe. The Wrocław Zoo has a long tradition of breeding Sumatran tigers, dating back to the 1960s – Nuri's great-great-grandmother (the mother of the four tigers), named Abra, was also born in this garden.
Sumatran tigers are the smallest subspecies of tiger. These animals are in danger of extinction, with only about 400 individuals living in the wild. Apart from poaching, the greatest threat to Sumatran tigers is habitat loss, caused by, among others, expansion of oil palm and coffee plantations.
Main photo source: Zoo Wrocław