For the first time in over 20 years, guests can visit tiger cubs at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The three cubs, all born in this past December, made their public debut this morning at the Zoo’s Rosebrough Tiger Passage. As the cubs adjust to their new habitat, guests will have a chance to see them daily between 10 a.m. and noon. The three cubs are being raised in a unique social group of two endangered subspecies of tigers. Amur tiger cubs, Luka and Anya, were born here in Cleveland and Malayan tiger cub, Indrah, joined the pair from Tulsa Zoo after a recommendation from the Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program. While the Mayalan tiger and Amur tiger differ as a subspecies, raising the Malayan tiger cub with the two Amur tiger cubs allows for essential behavioral and social welfare after the cubs’ mothers did not display maternal care. Over the past few months, the trio has grown to approximately 30 pounds each and reached several new developmental milestones including transitioning to a meat diet, and gaining strength and agility. Amur tigers are an endangered species and Malayan tigers have been deemed critically-endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Both Amur and Malayan tiger species are estimated to have only a few hundred animals remaining in their native regions. Rosebrough Tiger Passage includes four interconnected habitats for the cubs and two adult Amur tigers to explore. Visitors can learn about the threats both tiger sub-species face including habitat loss and poaching.
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