Critically endangered newborn Sumatran tiger cubs cuddle up with their mum.
The video shows one of the tigers feeding from its mother while she cleans it while the other tiger cub sleeps nearby.
The images then cut to the mother tiger resting on her side while the two newborn cubs snuggle up and feed.
Newsflash obtained a statement from Berlin zoo saying: “Sumatran tigers are critically endangered. Only an estimated 400 – 600 tigers remain in the Indonesian rainforests.
“Now, there is renewed hope for the preservation of this rare species: Tiger female Mayang, 13, and father Jae Jae, 15, have become parents for the second time. The first cub was born on February 25th at 7:59 pm, followed by the second at 9:57 pm.”
Zoo director Andreas Knieriem stressed the importance of protecting highly endangered species like the Sumatran tiger.
He said: “Zoos are key to the success of preserving this species. Captive breeding is an important component of the international network working to protect the last remaining tigers. Restraint is crucial in raising tiger offspring. We have full confidence in Mayang, who has already demonstrated what a great mother she is.”
The statement said: “Male tiger Jae Jae moved from Parc des Félins (France) to Tierpark Berlin in January 2022. He has already fathered several healthy offspring and bonded instantly with Mayang. In the same year, Louise and Lotte were born, who have since found their new home in Zoo Berlin.”
The statement quotes curator Matthias Papies as saying: “So far, everything is going very well. Mother and cubs are doing fine and are in the den. As in 2022, male Jae Jae has been with them from the start, and the tigers have access to the entire indoor enclosure and rear areas.”
The statement continued: “Since the Tierpark team avoids the entire area around the den, they only discovered the cubs on the screen the next morning. In the coming weeks, the den will be left entirely to the tigers to provide the tiger family with plenty of peace and quiet.
“The parent tigers can move between different areas of the enclosure. The Tierpark team also keeps its distance. Therefore, the parent tigers will not be visible to guests in the Alfred Brehm House for periods of time.”
Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) Red List of Threatened Species, the highest threat category before extinction.
The zoo explained: “The Sumatran tiger is exclusively native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra and represents the southernmost subspecies of tigers still in existence. Its natural habitat ranges from dense rainforests to moist swampy areas.
“The number of Sumatran tigers has been greatly reduced due to poaching, particularly for medicinal purposes. Another significant problem arises from the ongoing destruction of their habitat through deforestation, leading to increasing conflicts with the local population.”
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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