SEATTLE - A set of stripes arrived early Monday evening at Woodland Park Zoo with the birth of two Sumatran tigers. The endangered cubs, which are off public exhibit, are the result of successful matings that took place during the first week of June. The cubs represent the second litter between 12-year-old mother JoJo and 11-year-old father Rakata (RAH-ka-ta). The gender of the cubs is not yet known.

The last birth of Sumatran tigers at Woodland Park occurred in December 2002. "Every tiger birth is very significant in order to help sustain the population in North American zoos, which continues to drop due to aging tigers, a limited number of breeding animals and a low birth rate," noted zoo General Curator Dr. Nancy Hawkes. Three Sumatran tiger births occurred in North American zoos in 2003 and four in 2004 in addition to this litter.

"Animal management staff are monitoring the cubs via closed-circuit monitor to minimize disturbance to the new family," explained Hawkes. "The cubs are nursing normally and bonding with mom."

Cubs are born with their eyes closed and open their eyes within a week or two after birth. Due to their delicate size and helplessness, they will remain off public view for a minimum of three to four months. Within the next few weeks, zoo visitors may watch pre-recorded video footage of the cubs via a closed-circuit monitor in the corridor of the zoo's Adaptations Building. Rakata can be viewed in the tiger grotto outside the same building during zoo hours. As they become available, video and updates will be provided on the zoo's Web site.

Of the five remaining tiger subspecies, the Sumatran is the most rare with only about 400 believed to exist in the wild. "The Sumatran tiger cubs represent a symbol of hope for their wild counterparts," explains Hawkes." Connecting with tigers in zoos is a fundamental step toward understanding the need to preserve tigers and their natural world."

All five tiger subspecies are endangered and among these, only 6,000-8,000 tigers remain 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.

The Sumatran tiger SSP is among 35 SSPs that Woodland Park Zoo participates in, including the western lowland gorilla, Aruba Island rattlesnake, red-crowned crane and orangutan. Under the auspices of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), the cooperative breeding programs work to ensure genetic diversity and demographic stability 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. AZA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation, with more than 205 zoos and aquariums as members.

For more information about the zoo's tigers and its conservation efforts, check out Woodland Park Zoo's Web site at www.zoo.org. Zoo fall hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. For general zoo information, log on the zoo's Web site or call 206.684.4800.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, award-winning Woodland Park Zoo 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.