This is the moment a cute Sumatran tiger cub takes its first tentative steps outside its enclosure at London Zoo.
The cute scene was filmed at ZSL London Zoo, the world’s oldest scientific zoo, in Regent’s Park in London and the footage was shared on social media on 13th January with the message: “Cute Alert! Brand new footage from our zookeepers shows our adorable month-old tiger cub taking it’s very first wibbly-wobbly steps outside with proud mum Gaysha looking on…”
The zoo added: “Visitors may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of our new arrival.”
The Red List of threatened species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorises Sumatran tigers as ‘critically endangered’.
The tiger cub was filmed taking its first “wibbly-wobbly steps outside” one month after its birth in mid-December.
Zoo tiger keeper Kathryn Sanders said: “The cub has so far mostly stayed tucked up with Gaysha in their cosy behind-the-scenes cubbing den, but with such lovely weather yesterday it’s clear she decided it was time for her little one to take its first steps in the outside world.”
“We were all holding our breath with excitement as the cub tottered around, using all its strength to clamber after mum – it was incredible to watch the youngster find its ‘tiger feet’ for the first time.”
The zoo said the cub, not yet named, will undergo its first health check in a few weeks when they will learn if it is male or female.
The Critically Endangered Sumatran tiger cub took its first wobbly steps outdoors in the London Zoo in the United Kingdom on the 12th of January 2022. (ZSL – Zoological Society of London/Newsflash) The Critically Endangered Sumatran tiger cub took its first wobbly steps outdoors in the London Zoo in the United Kingdom on the 12th of January 2022. (ZSL – Zoological Society of London/Newsflash) The Critically Endangered Sumatran tiger cub took its first wobbly steps outdoors in the London Zoo in the United Kingdom on the 12th of January 2022. (ZSL – Zoological Society of London/Newsflash)
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: James King, Agency: Newsflash
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