3 Endangered Sumatran Tiger Cubs Born at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

TACOMA, Wash. – An endangered Sumatran tiger gave birth to three cubs early Wednesday at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The cubs appear to be healthy and nursing, said Dr. Karen Goodrowe Beck, the zoo’s general curator.

They were born at 2:35, 3:45 and 4:05 a.m., Goodrowe Beck said. Jaya is the mother,  Malosi is the father.

Zoo staff will monitor mother and cubs around the clock to ensure that she is caring for them. The new family is in a den behind the scenes in the Asian Forest Sanctuary area of the zoo.

Through a video camera that is in place, staff can see and hear the cubs, Goodrowe Beck said.

It will be several days before veterinarians are able to further assess the health of the cubs and perhaps learn their genders. Tigers generally need time with few disruptions to nurse their cubs and bond with them, Goodrowe Beck said.

Still photo captured from video feed shows Jaya nursing her cubs Wednesday morning.

It’s much too early to say when the new family might be viewable to the public. The zoo will periodically post video clips and still photos to the website at www.pdza.org and to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PtDefianceZoo.

Sumatran tigers are critically endangered. The cubs bring the population in accredited North American zoos to just 79. Only an estimated 300 of the species remain in the wild on the island of Sumatra. Their numbers are dwindling due to poaching and habitat loss.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is home to three Sumatran tigers in addition to Jaya, Malosi and the newborn cubs. Bima, 4, Dumai, 2, and Kali, 1, all were born at the zoo to Jaya. Berani, a 2-year-old Malayan tiger, also lives at the zoo.

This is the fourth litter of cubs for Jaya, 11, and the third for Malosi, 6.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium provides support to anti-poaching efforts in Sumatra and participates in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan® for Sumatran tigers. Goodrowe Beck, who has a doctorate in reproductive biology, is vice chair of that program.