Exceptional birth at the zoo. Endangered species fights against extinction
11:07 AM EDT, October 31, 2023
The Sumatran tiger, officially recognized as a critically endangered species, faces serious threats to its survival. With an estimated 600 individuals in the wild, the birth of three tiger cubs has brought great joy.
On October 20, three tiger cubs were born at Nashville Zoo. The announcement of their birth was delayed to avoid jinxing it.
Three Sumatran cubs born
"It’s two girls and a boy!This morning, our veterinary care team performed a routine check-up on the cubs and gave Anne, mom, a short break. All three cubs are doing great and are now reunited in their private den area continuing to bond with mom" - reads a post published on the Nashville Zoo's Facebook profile.
The Sumatran tiger is the smallest tiger species in the world. It primarily inhabits the Indonesian rainforests, but its range has significantly decreased over recent decades. Sadly, today they are mostly found on the island of Sumatra and in zoos.
Poachers pose significant threat to Sumatran tigers
According to TRAFFIC, an organization monitoring wildlife trade, at least 40 Sumatran tigers are killed by poachers annually. Unfortunately, about 80 percent of all recorded tiger deaths are due to poaching.
The bones of these tigers are used in traditional Chinese medicine and made into wine, believed to cure various ailments.
Sumatran tigers are also severely threatened by the extensive deforestation of rainforests. The shrinking territory forces these tigers into increasing contact with humans and farm animals. The resulting attacks often lead to retaliatory killings of the tigers.
The staff at the American zoo explain that captive breeding of Sumatran tigers is essential because every birth makes a significant contribution to the preservation of the species.
