Endangered Sumatran Tiger Expecting
There is both art and science to establishing the fact of pregnancy in an endangered Sumatran tiger. And there is pure joy when the result is positive.
Jaya is expected to give birth at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in early October.
Zoo staff detected two cubs during recent ultrasound procedures confirming the 11-year-old tiger’s pregnancy.
“Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, with fewer than 300 remaining in the wild,” Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium general curator Karen Goodrowe Beck said.
“This pregnancy is a vital piece of worldwide Sumatran tiger conservation programs.”
Goodrowe Beck is vice chair of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan.®
There’s a great deal of science plus knowledge of tigers – as a species and as individuals – that takes place in the pursuit of adding to the world’s population of these rare animals, Goodrowe Beck said.
Sumatran tiger Species Survival Plan® members keep meticulous records on the genetic heritage of each animal and make breeding recommendations to ensure genetic diversity in the population. Tigers may be moved from one zoo to another to create the best matches in genetics and temperament.
The father of Jaya’s litter is Malosi, now 5, who arrived at Point Defiance Zoo in early 2012 from Honolulu Zoo.
After a recommendation is made, zookeepers are watchful for signs of estrus in the female and interest by the male before the tigers are paired for breeding. Keepers closely monitor mating sessions.
Then the pregnancy watch begins. Zoological staff members look for behavior changes in the female and collect fecal samples to send out for hormonal testing to determine if there is a possible pregnancy.
The most recent ultrasound took place on Monday.
The gestation period for a Sumatran tiger is just over 100 days.
Confirming a pregnancy by ultrasound is a study in science and ingenuity and a testament to the knowledge and skill of veterinarians and zookeepers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium deputy director John Houck said. It’s not an easy task. Monitoring a 215-pound mother-to-be takes a patient combination of respect and trust – on both sides.
Goodrowe Beck, he points out, has a doctorate in reproductive biology and is a nationally recognized expert in the zoological community.
Jaya is trained to stand inside of an enclosure while staff on the other side slide tools through sturdy mesh to rub gel on her belly and gently maneuver a specially designed probe over the area of her uterus. Jaya gets some meat as a reward for her participation; while the goal is for her to stand quietly, there’s often a lot of movement from a sometimes impatient tiger. That can make it difficult to get a clear ultrasound reading, Goodrowe Beck said.
But the tests confirmed Jaya’s pregnancy and two cubs were visualized during ultrasound exams, she added.
There are only 76 Sumatran tigers in AZA accredited North American zoos, and just four Sumatran tiger cubs in two litters have been born through SSP conservation efforts this year, Goodrowe Beck said.
This is the fourth pregnancy for 11-year-old Jaya, who came to Point Defiance Zoo in 2002. Three offspring from those previous pregnancies also live at the zoo. Bima is 4, Dumai will be 2 on Aug. 22 and Kali is 16 months old.
Malosi, the father of this litter, also sired Dumai and Kali.
“This news is exciting for Point Defiance Zoo visitors and welcomed by those who work every day for tiger conservation around the world,” Goodrowe Beck said.
“Our guests frequently let us know how much they care about tigers and are generous in their support of those conservation efforts,” she added.
Point Defiance Zoo is currently home to six tigers. Jaya, Malosi, Bima, Dumai and Kali are all Sumatran tigers. Berani, nearly 2, is an endangered Malayan tiger.
They rotate on and off exhibit spaces in the zoo’s popular Asian Forest Sanctuary area.
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