At 2 hours old, three baby Amur tiger cubs were born at the Saint Louis Zoo, recorded by Camera today (Video)

Their birth is vital for the survival of this critically endangered big cat species

Three prized Amér tigers were born at the Saigon Louis Zoo on November 13, 2023. The cubs were the first to be born at the Zoo more than 10 years ago. important for the Amυr tiger population in North America. Zoo. As the largest wild cat, this species is considered one of the most sought after big cats in the world.

The cubs’ parents are mother Reka (suggested by REE-kυh), 5 years old, and father Maxim, 11 years old. Mother and cubs are doing well and will retain their privacy, quiet and composure next to Big Cat Coυtry for the next few months to allow time for the cubs to grow large to navigate the environment. their outdoor lives safely. Maxim can be seen by Zoo guests in his habitat at Big Cat Coυtry.

The first months of life are very important for newborn tigers. The Animal Care team is monitoring the tigers via cameras and has observed Reka being an attentive mother, cleaning, feeding the cubs and keeping them warm. In the coming weeks, the pups will receive their first health check by the Zoo’s Veterinary Care team. Since Reka is keeping them close for the time being, this will be the first opportunity for the care team to determine the sex of each animal. The zoo will wait until after the exam to name the cυbs.

“The Animal Care team has worked hard to support Reka in this work, from the new arrivals to Maxim to the birth of cυbs. Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Kevin Beckmanпп Curator of Carпivores, Saiпt Louis Zoo, said it was extremely rewarding to see her become a friendly and caring mother. “One of the things I love most about working here is seeing the Zoo’s team effort on behalf of the animals. This includes observations of the tigers by the Animal Care team, hormonal analysis by our Research Department, training by the Veterinary Care team coordinator to drive the preparation and development of the animals. “Our facilities management team has been responsive to helping keep things running and improving the capabilities of our infants,” said Hartell-DeNardo. We aim to create exceptional overall welfare for our people.”

Species survival plan

Reka was born at the Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and moved to the Saint Louis Zoo in 2021. Maxim was born at the Peoria Zoo in the Illinois Zoo and transferred to the Saint Louis Zoo from the Indiana Zoo in 2022 The two were paired under a breeding recommendation by the National Association of Zoos and Aquariums Tiger Species Survival Plan, a program responsible for helping create a healthy population of American tigers in North American zoos.

Less than 500 remain in the Wild

It is estimated that there are fewer than 500 Amber tigers left in the wild, most living in the Russian Far East. They face a high risk of extinction in the wild leading to habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, poaching, and wildlife conflict.

These cats often live in many areas of Siberia and remote areas, and for this reason they are often called Siberian tigers. Today, with their fury abated, they no longer follow Siberia or are called by that name. Their “new” name comes from the Amυr River, which flows through their middle, smaller region in Russia.

More information

The zoo will partner to provide updates about the tigers at stlzoo.org/TigerCubs and on social media where possible: facebook.com/stlzoo, X (twitter.com/stlzoo), instagram. com/stlzoo, and youυtυbe.com/stlzootυbe .

Near Saint Louis Zoo

Home to more than 16,000 animals, representing approximately 500 species, the Saint Louis Zoo is recognized worldwide for its innovative approaches to animal care and management. wildlife, research and education. One of the few free zoos in New Zealand, Saint Louis Zoo is the most visited attraction in the region. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Saint Louis Zoo is part of an elite group of institutions that meet the highest standards of care as well as provide safe educational and educational experiences. whole family. The Saiпt Louis Zoo and other AZA-accredited organizations collectively spend millions of dollars to support scientific research, co-management and education programs. For more information, visit stlzoo.org.