SEATTLE - Stripes arrived at Woodland Park Zoo not as a candy cane, but in the form of a Sumatran tiger cub. One cub, whose gender has not yet been determined, was born in the wee hours of Tuesday morning in a den box prepared over the weekend for the mother. The cub was born to 14-year-old mother JoJo and 13-year-old father Rakata (RAH-ka-ta). The parents produced two female cubs in 2002 and two male cubs in 2004. Mother and cub are currently off public exhibit.

Circular highlighted area shows position of cub next to mother. Images courtesy of Woodland Park Zoo Closed-Circuit Camera.

At this time, animal management staff are monitoring mom and cub via closed-circuit monitor to minimize disturbance. “The mother demonstrated excellent maternal skills to her previous offspring,” explained Woodland Park Zoo General Curator Dr. Nancy Hawkes, “and so far she is doing the same for this cub, which appears to be nursing normally and bonding with mom.”

The gestation period for tigers is 95-110 days. Cubs are born with their eyes closed and open their eyes within a week or two after birth. Due to its delicate size and helplessness, the cub will remain off public view for a minimum of three to four months. Within the next few weeks, the zoo plans to have video footage of the cub available via a closed-circuit monitor in the Adaptations Building. Rakata can be viewed in the tiger exhibit outside the same building during zoo hours. As they become available, video and updates will be provided on the zoo’s Web site at www.zoo.org.

“ We’re very excited about this birth,” said Hawkes. “Every tiger birth is significant in helping to 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.” Only five tiger subspecies remain on the planet and the Sumatran is very rare with only about 400 believed to exist in the wild. “This cub represents a symbol of hope for its counterparts in the wild. Connecting people with tigers in zoos is a fundamental step toward helping us all understand the need to protect tigers and preserve their natural habitat.”

Woodland Park Zoo supports a field conservation program for Sumatran tigers in Southeast Asia. All six 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 Species Survival Plan (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 Association of Zoos & Aquariums (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 210 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 winter hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. For general zoo information, log on the zoo’s Web site or call 206.684.4800.

Woodland Park Zoo
Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, 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.