Sumatran Tiger Cubs , Paignton Zoo

Tiger cubs born at Paignton Zoo 10/02/2009



Paignton Zoo’s rare Sumatran tigers have had four cubs.

They were born overnight on Wednesday 4th February to male Tenang and female Banda.

Mother and cubs will spend the next month hidden from view. All being well, the cubs could be on show within four to six weeks. Zoo staff are working to erect video screens to show recorded footage of the youngsters in the den.

Tenang and Banda had their first litter of two in May 2006. They were the first tiger cubs to be born at Paignton Zoo since 1988. Male cub Topan sadly died of a heart condition and female Kirana left Paignton Zoo for Chester Zoo in October 2008.

Females give birth to between 2 and 4 blind cubs after about 103 days.
The cubs typically weigh about 1 kilo (2 pounds) at birth. One cub frequently dies at birth. The cubs live on mother´s milk for 6 to 8 weeks before moving on to meat. Cubs are dependant on their mother for about a year and a half; they can start hunting on their own at this age. Female tigers reach sexual maturity at about 3 years old; males reach maturity in about 4 years.

Staff will keep their distance over the next few weeks to give Banda and her cubs as much peace and quiet as possible. It is important not to get human scent on the cubs if they are vet checked. They will have vaccinations at
10-12 weeks, 16 weeks, six months and one year and be micro chipped at
10-12 weeks.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “While visitors cannot see the cubs yet, we wanted to share our good news. Banda is mothering well. We hope the youngsters will be out and about by Easter. In the meantime, we hope to put up video screens to show recorded clips of the new arrivals in the den.”

Paignton Zoo is a member of the European Endangered species Programme
(EEP) for Sumatran tigers, which means it is part of the global effort to save this endangered species from extinction. Captive and wild populations are protected and managed in an attempt to prevent Sumatran tigers following the Bali and Javan tigers into extinction.