SEATTLE – SEATTLE – On Sunday, Woodland Park Zoo’s animal management staff separated a 12-day-old Sumatran tiger cub from its mother due to the cub’s declining health. The cub is currently being housed in the zoo’s nursery where animal health staff is administering round-the-clock care and supplemental feedings.
The unnamed cub, born December 12, remains off public view.
According to the zoo’s Associate Veterinarian Dr. Kelly Helmick, the cub was separated from her mother because of a decline in maternal care, leading to lack of weight gain, low body temperature, and fading health. “We don’t know why the mother started spending less time caring for this cub, but veterinary staff was able to address the significant health concerns. The cub is now stable and gaining weight in the nursery,” explained Helmick. “We are hopeful that as the cub grows stronger, we can consider providing her with some socialization time with the mother.” Currently the cub remains under veterinary care. At 15 days old the cub now weighs a little more than 5 pounds.
The endangered tiger was born at the zoo 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.
Due to its delicate size and helplessness, the cub will remain off public view for a minimum of three to four months. Video footage of the cub is shown daily at Zoomazium. The father can be viewed in the tiger exhibit outside the same building during zoo hours. As they are made available, video and updates can be found on the zoo’s Web site. Log onto www.zoo.org and click on “Species Spotlight.”
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 fundamental toward helping us all understand the need to protect tigers and preserve their natural habitat. Zoo winter hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. For more information about the zoo’s tigers and its conservation efforts, check out Woodland Park Zoo’s Web site at www.zoo.org.
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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.
