SEATTLE - Woodland Park Zoo took an unprecedented step forward and achieved a feat that is virtually unheard of in zoos. It has successfully reintroduced a 2-month-old Sumatran tiger cub to its mother. The cub’s slow, uneven weight gain and blood tests showing signs of a systemic infection prompted zoo animal management staff to separate the male cub from his mother in late October to provide round-the-clock care, supplemental feedings and medical treatments at the zoo’s animal health facility.

The endangered tiger cub is one of two male cubs born at the zoo in September to 12-year-old mother JoJo and 11-year-old father Rakata (RAH-ka-ta). The unnamed cubs, which remain off public view, represent the second litter between the parents.

Known for its state-of-the-art animal care and exhibits, Woodland Park Zoo monitored the cub closely for several days and explored different options with colleagues around the country before deciding to pull the cub. “The plan was to boost the cub’s weight in a short period of time and reunite it with its mother as soon as possible,” explained zoo General Curator Dr. Nancy Hawkes. “We knew that removing a cub from its mother to hand raise it and then placing it back with its mother posed potential safety risks to the cub,” added Hawkes. “A mother tiger’s behavior can be unpredictable, but given this mother’s track record of providing excellent maternal care toward her cubs from two previous litters (first litter at Memphis Zoo), we believed that she would accept her cub back without any aggression.”

Both cubs continue to bond with mother and are nursing and sampling adult ground meat. They currently weigh 17.5 and 18.5 pounds. The zoo plans to debut the cubs to the public in mid-December. Meanwhile, zoo 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 of the zoo's Web site for images, video and periodic updates.

All five tiger subspecies are endangered primarily due to illegal poaching and human overpopulation. The Sumatran is the most rare with only about 400 believed to exist in the wild.

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.