Tiger Cubs Expand Their World
Posted at 10:20 am March 2, 2007 by Marcia Redding
Delta and Utan’s three Sumatran tiger cubs are thriving and growing incredibly fast (see Marcia’s previous blog, Tiger Cubs at the Wild Animal Park). On February 11, the little male weighed 18.5 pounds (8.4 kilograms), female #1 weighed 18.6 pounds (8.47 kilograms), and female #2 weighed 17.9 pounds (8.15 kilograms).
On February 27, they received their second round of vaccinations, which went very smoothly. Delta has been very willing to transfer next door to give us access to the cubs, so we have been handling them frequently to prepare them for their exam. This certainly paid off: all striped babies took the shots in stride! They have developed individual personalities: the male is very calm and laid back; female #1 is a little more feisty; female #2 is the live wire of the group, making her feelings known with an assortment of hisses, snarls, and growls.
A big event took place last week: Delta and the cubs were allowed the run of all the off-exhibit rooms, including an outside exercise area. A great time was had by all! We have provided Delta with a variety of enrichment items all along, and the cubs have been playing with whatever we give her that day. Piles of hay seem to be a favorite, along with paper towels and boxes. Most of our lion cubs also favored these items. The little tigers have all started sampling some of Delta’s food and seem to like the carnivore diet. They also love the big bones we provide; everyone has a good time gnawing on and attacking them.
I will be sure to post when the cubs are named, which should be soon. It will probably be awhile before they are big enough to go on exhibit, but I will post ASAP when they are available for viewing. We are so pleased with their progress so far. Keep up the good work, little tigers!
Marcia Redding is a senior keeper at the Wild Animal Park.
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March 2nd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Marcia, thanks so much for your updates on the tiger cubs. I can’t wait to see them. Will they be given the run of the immense tiger yard, or will they be eased into it gradually. With tiger cubs, lion cubs, baby elephant (and one due any time now), and the about-to-open new tramway, the Park is such an exciting place to visit now!!
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Thanks Marcia for the update on the tiger cubs. They sound like lots of energy and fun. I love watching the Sumatran tiger cubs at NZP. They have also grown quickly. I saw them in person in late Sept and early Oct when they were 4 months old, and couldn’t believe how much they grew between visits. Now that they are bigger and sleeping and resting more when they are on exhibit, it is fun to think of new little ones out in sunny SD.
My boss is going to SD this coming week so I will suggest he stop by and see all the new babies at the SDZ and WAP.
I wish I could hitch a ride and see all my animal friends too.
Please keep us updated with pictures as they grow so incredibly fast.
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Thanks for all of the updates on the precious tiger babies. They certainly are beautiful, I can hardly wait to see them in person especially since it has been a very long time that we have had tiger babies at the Wild Animal Park.
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:38 pm
COOOOOOOOOOOOOOl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to see more pictures and I can’t wait to hear the cubs’ names. write more blogs. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the cubs have sure grown. it’s amazing how female#1 weighs more than the male (by an ounce though).
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Shirley, we have already begun to accustom the cubs to the great outdoors. We have a small off exhibit pen that they have mastered; we have another that is larger & rocky. When they can negotiate this,they will be ready for their public debut. The exhibit is very large & the cubs are still pretty small, but they are getting more agile every day. Hopefully it won’t be long until everyone can come see them.
March 3rd, 2007 at 3:12 pm
We can hardly wait to see these beautiful babies! Thank you for the update.
March 5th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Please make a tiger cam!!!!!!!!!
March 9th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
I second that! Tiger Cam please! Tigercamtigercamtigercam!!!