Pair of rare Amur tiger cubs debuting at Minnesota Zoo are raising hopes for the endangered species
APPLE VALLEY, Minnesota — Two rare Amur tiger cubs are making their debut at the Minnesota Zoo, raising hopes for the survival of the endangered species, which is native to Russia’s far east and northern China.
Andrei and Amaliya were allowed to go outside for the first time on Wednesday since the birth of their 12-year-old mother Dari on May 23 and feel the grass of their new home under their paws.
“They’ve done really well since then,” said zoologist Trista Fischer. “We’ve been watching them really closely. Dari’s been fantastic. She’s been providing excellent maternal care. And now we’re at the point where they’re fully vaccinated and they’re about 40 to 45 pounds (18-20 kilograms) now.”
Scientists estimate the wild population of Amur tigers is only 400 to 500. They were on the brink of extinction in the 1930s and 1940s, but have since recovered somewhat. They are difficult to breed, and about one in four Amur cubs never makes it to adulthood, whether in the wild or in captivity, she said. Poaching is another major threat.
But the Minnesota Zoo, located in the Minneapolis suburb of Apple Valley, has a long history of protecting tigers. Its Amur tigers have produced 57 cubs, 46 of which have lived for at least 30 days. Of those 46, 21 have had litters of their own, for another 86 cubs. The births of Andrei and Amaliya brought the zoo’s population to seven Amur tigers, including their father, Luka.
Fischer is the main coordinator for the Survival plan for the tiger species, a breeding program in the United States with facilities in other countries that works on a global level to conserve big cats. The plan manages three groups of tigers: Sumatran, Malayan, and Amur.
“This litter is so valuable to the population right now,” she explained, saying the genetic diversity of healthy tigers cared for by humans could one day be used to support populations in the wild.
Zoo spokesman Zach Nugent said the cubs will stay with their mother for about 18 months before Andrei, the male, is moved to a separate enclosure, around the same time a male cub would venture out on its own in the wild. Amaliya, the female, could spend more time with Dari, up to 24 months. At that point, Fischer will determine whether any of the cubs should be bred and possibly moved to another accredited zoo, which typically happens when the cubs are 2 years old.
“Aww, I love when they get their little Yoda ears,” Fischer said, referring to the Star Wars character’s pointy ears as she watched Amaliya and Andrei explore the new terrain of their enclosure. She said it was an emotional, exciting and proud moment for her and her team.
“Our work is not over yet, but all the work so far is really paying off, because these cubs are adapting to a new environment almost immediately,” she said as the little tigers wandered outside with their mother. “They are showing a lot of resilience, which is something we work hard on in human care. We want these animals to be very confident and adaptable to new environments, just like they are doing now.”
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AP journalist Steve Karnowski reported from Minneapolis.