Tigress “Naga” has now made it public: she has become the mother of – as far as is known – a cub. The birth has already taken place 5 December. The nut/mother withdrew for it however not into the for it area, but into a small separation cage in the winter house of the tigers. There no cameras are installed, and view during the once daily controls and supply is also only limited possible. On Sunday (11 December), however, she carried a cub out of this litter box and suckled and guarded it in the large show room. In doing so, the cub appeared in good condition and well-fed.
The cub is a legacy of the male tiger “Kabus” who died of lymphoma on October 17. Last matings of Kabus and Naga were registered at the end of August, and from them the birth took place. For the conservation breeding program (EEP) for Sumatran tigers, it is a “wish child”: the tiger pair should reproduce again to support the population in European zoos genetically and numerically with the offspring.
Tiger Naga is an experienced mother. In January 2019, she gave birth to the cubs Leopold, Zuma and Tipah, which she raised practically in front of the eyes of the zoo visitors much noticed. From there, cautious optimism prevails also with this birth, however, one must still expect setbacks in the rearing at such an early time.
The view into the winter room is currently still closed off for zoo visitors or only possible from a distance. We will inform about the further development in due time.