New Tiger Makes His Debut Today at the Zoo

At 11:00 this morning (March 29) the Point Defiance Zoo’s newest Sumatran tiger will be making his debut in the zoo’s Asian Forest Sanctuary waterfall exhibit. Just in time for a lunch of “fozen Meatsicle.”

Malosi the male Sumatran tiger has been in quarantine since his arrival from the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii. The weather today is probably a little colder and wetter than Malosi was used to in Hawaii, but we’re guessing he’ll still be curious enough about his new surroundings after a month in quarantine to want to check them out. Just in case, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for at least a break in the rain.

Hopes are that Malosi and Jaya, the PDZA’s other tiger, will mate and produce more tiger cubs. Jaya had two cubs in 2010, one of whom is still at the zoo. Sumatran tigers are endangered, their native habitat threatened by logging and other factors. Malosi’s placement in Tacoma is part of an agreement between zoos trying to increase the large cat’s population.

If slightly smaller kitties are more up your alley, the zoo is also offering a Clouded Leopard Adoption Special. They’re inviting zoo fans to become Zoo Parents through the Adopt an Animal Program. Beginning tomorrow (March 30th), for the special price of $50 (down from $60) you can take home your very own (plush) clouded leopard. The package is only available while supplies last, and you have to get down to the membership gate to purchase it.

(And don’t forget to mark your calendars for Zoobilee, Friday, July 20. It’s being billed as a “more exclusive” black tie only event…)

Read more on Malosi’s arrival at the Point Defiance Zoo from The News Tribune