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Medan Zoo welcomes birth of two Bengal tiger cubs
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Animal parade: Zoo keepers display a white Bengal tiger during a parade on Aug. 20, 2017 to mark the 72nd anniversary of Indonesian independence at Indonesia Safari Park in Bogor, West Java. (JP/Theresia Sufa)
M
edan Zoo in the provincial capital of North Sumatra has welcomed the birth of two healthy Bengal tigers (Panther tigris bengalensis) on Thursday.
The sexes of the striped bundles of joy have not been determined. The zoo has seven tiger cubs that were born there, including the two newborns.
Medan Zoo veterinarian Sucitrawan said that the two newborn cubs were healthy, but that zoo keepers could not approach them just yet. She said newborns usually needed to be left alone at least a week before they could interact with humans.
“We will just let them nurse for the time being,” said Sucitrawan.
Indonesia Zoo Association chairman Rahmat Shah welcomed the news, saying that even though the births were not particularly significant, it was nonetheless encouraging. Rahmat said that Bengal tigers in Indonesia were more productive breeders compared to Sumatran tigers, whose numbers had steadily decreased over the years.
“Indonesian zoos are lacking Sumatran tigers, but not Bengal tigers,” he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Rahmat said most of zoos in the country had many Bengal tigers. The Bali Zoo, for example, had 20 Bengal tigers ,while the Bogor Safari Park had 50.
“The Bali Zoo only took four years to [expand to] 20,” he said. “The key to managing rare animals like the Bengal or Sumatran tiger is daily care, including [proper] food. If that is met, then they will breed fast.” (swd)
