What:
West Woodland Elementary 3rd graders will make papier mache animals for the zoo’s endangered Sumatran tiger cubs Jaya (jie-yah) and Suriya (soo-ree-ya). Then, on December 23, the tigers will get a chance to rip the paper animals apart as a special treat to celebrate a very significant milestone: their first birthday. The papier mache animals are part of the zookeepers’ ongoing efforts to help enrich the lives of the zoo’s wildlife residents and to provide enjoyment for zoo visitors.

The tigers, born December 16, 2002, marked the first litter between the 11-year-old mother and 10-year-old father and the first of the endangered species born at the zoo in a decade. The cubs currently weigh more than 150 pounds each.

When:
Papier mache making: Wednesday, December 17, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Tiger birthday celebration: Tuesday, December 23, 10:30 a.m.

Where:
Woodland Park Zoo’s Rain Forest Food Pavilion. Enter through the zoo’s ARC near the West Gate at N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave. N. and proceed to the restaurant.

Other:
To celebrate the tigers’ birthday, the zoo is offering a special admission discount coupon available on the zoo’s home page under “Winter Admission”.

The birth of the Sumatran tigers is significant to help sustain the population in North American zoos, which is steadily dropping due to aging tigers, a limited number of breeding animals and a low birth rate. Woodland Park Zoo participates in the Sumatran tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP). Through the support of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, SSPs work to ensure genetic diversity and demographic stability of endangered species in North American zoos and aquariums. Additionally, SSPs involve a variety of other collaborative conservation activities such as research, public education, reintroduction and field projects.

Of the five remaining tiger subspecies, all endangered, the Sumatran is very rare with an estimated 400 existing in the wild. The primary reasons for the decimation of wild tiger populations are illegal poaching, traditional Asian medicines, human overpopulation, and other activities that result in the destruction and fragmentation of habitat.

Info:
Zoo winter hours are 9:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission ranges from free for toddlers to $10.00 for adults. King County residents receive a discount. Zoo members receive free admission year-round.

Parking: $3.50. Parking is limited. Please call Metro at 206-553-3000 for bus service to the zoo. For more information about how to become a zoo member, call 206-684-4800 or 684-4026 (TTY.) Also visit the zoo’s Web site at www.zoo.org for more information about Sumatran tigers.