SEATTLE - Woodland Park Zoo animal management have separated a 6-week-old Sumatran tiger cub from its mother. The male cub will remain at the zoo’s nursery where animal health staff will administer round-the-clock care and supplemental feedings. The endangered tiger is one of two male cubs born at the zoo to 12-year-old mother JoJo and 11-year-old father Rakata (RAH-ka-ta). Both unnamed cubs remain off public view.

According to zoo General Curator Dr. Nancy Hawkes, the cub stopped gaining weight. “We don’t know why he’s not experiencing the same weight gain as his brother, but our goal is to get him back on track to a normal weight gain,” explained Hawkes. “If we can do that in a reasonably short time, we have a better chance of reintroducing him to his mother and brother fairly soon.” The cub, which currently weighs 11 pounds, is showing steady progress and has gained half a pound since he arrived at the nursery.

The pair of cubs represents the second litter between the parents. “The mother successfully raised her two cubs born at the zoo in 2002,” added Hawkes, “and she also has shown the same maternal care to this litter.” The sibling cub, which remains with his mother, is thriving and weighs just over 15 pounds. Staff will continue to examine him daily and monitor his weight.

The zoo plans to debut the cubs to the public in mid-December. Meanwhile, visitors can attend tiger keeper talks at the zoo’s Auditorium 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays to hear updates and see video footage. The talks are free with zoo admission. Tiger fans also can visit the Species Spotlight section the zoo’s Web site for images, video and periodic updates.

All five tiger subspecies are endangered with only 6,000-8,000 tigers remaining in the wild. The Sumatran is the most rare with only about 400 believed to exist in the wild. The primary reasons for the decimation of wild tiger populations are illegal poaching, human overpopulation, and other activities that result in the destruction and fragmentation of habitat. Tiger bones and other body parts are used in traditional Asian medicines.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, top award-winning Woodland ParkZoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.