Last week, the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas announced the births of two female Sumatran tiger cubs in a Facebook post, marking a first for the facility.
“The littlest, BIGGEST news you’ll EVER hear!” the zoo wrote, alongside an adorable photo of the pair. “For the FIRST time in Fort Worth Zoo history, Sumatran tiger cubs have been born! The Zoo is earning its stripes with TWO of the cutest new faces!”
As People magazine reports, twin sisters Barani and Malu were born on July 1 to first-time mom Ndari and dad Rakan, the zoo added in a news release. They’re not only the first Sumatran tiger cubs ever born at the zoo but the first tiger cubs of any subspecies born there since 2008.
Barani and Malu are Growing Up Fast
When they were just 1 week old, they weighed no more than 4 lbs. and were between 10 and 12 inches long, about the size of a teddy bear, the zoo said. Now, at 12 weeks old, they weigh 18 and 20 lbs. respectively and are about 25 to 29 inches long, similar to a large pumpkin — and they’ve still got plenty of time to grow.
Barani and Malu have spent their short lives so far behind the scenes at the zoo, playing, sleeping and bonding with their mom. Zookeepers have been monitoring their growth and development, and in recent weeks the tigers have been learning to run, jump and climb, beginning to eat meat alongside Ndari’s milk and practicing their balance.
Ndari is “exhibiting ideal maternal behaviors,” the zoo explained, allowing her babies to nurse frequently, bathing them, playing with them and carrying them around. Barani, the smaller sister, enjoys starting play-fights with her sister, the zoo added. Malu, meanwhile, is a little more independent, and often likes to nap on her own.
Their names, meaning “brave” and “shy” or “reserved” respectively, are taken from Indonesian languages in a nod to their heritage, per the release. In the wild, the subspecies lives exclusively on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Sumatran Tigers are on the Critically Endangered Species List
With fewer than 650 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, the zoo takes part in a Sumatran tiger breeding program with other zoos across North America to ensure the critically endangered species has a healthy managed zoo population.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Sumatran tigers in the wild are threatened by poaching, illegal trading, a decline in prey species and habitat reduction.
As Barani and Malu are the first cubs born in the new ‘Predators of Asia & Africa’ tiger habitat, per the release, zookeepers are mindful to ensure they’re big and strong enough to hold their own. However, the zoo is hoping that they’ll make their public debut in the next few weeks.
“It’s always exciting to welcome new babies and watch them grow here at the Zoo,” said Ramona Bass, chairman of Fort Worth Zoo, in the release. “But we’re hopeful that these cubs will inspire a new generation to learn about and care for their wild counterparts and the future of this critically endangered species.”
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Photo Credit: Vladimir Wrangel / Shutterstock.com
