Endangered tiger cub triplets born at safari park

On January 17, a wonderful event took place at West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley, Worcestershire. Three adorable Sumatran tiger cubs were born, and they are already capturing the hearts of everyone who hears about them. These cubs are critically endangered, which means there are very few of them left in the wild. The cubs are small and have the striking orange and black stripes that Sumatran tigers are known for. For the time being, they are spending their early days in a cozy den with their mother, Dourga, who is 13 years old. The keepers at the park have decided to let the cubs stay with their mother for a few weeks before they check on their health. This is important because the cubs are still very young and need to bond with their mom. It is expected that visitors will be able to see the cubs later this summer, but for now, they are safe and sound in their den. Dourga gave birth to the cubs in an indoor den, where they are learning to suckle and take their first steps. Kasha Carter, the head keeper of carnivores, explained that the staff will not disturb the family until the cubs are around eight weeks old. She said, 'We have to let mom do what she wants to do. ' This means that the keepers are allowing Dourga to care for her cubs naturally, just like a tiger would in the wild. Tiger mothers spend a lot of time nursing their young, and the keepers want to respect that bond. After eight weeks, the keepers will enter the den to perform health checks, which will include vaccinations and microchipping the cubs. This is similar to what pet owners do for their cats and dogs at home. By that time, the keepers will also be able to determine the genders of the cubs. Once the sexes are known, the cubs will receive names that all start with the letter N, following the park's tradition for animals born this year. The cubs' father, Nakal, is 10 years old, and they also have an older sister named Lestari, who is 18 months old. Nakal and Lestari can already be seen by visitors at the park. The park has shared that there are fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild, mainly due to habitat loss and illegal poaching. Among these, only about 400 are Sumatran tigers. The tigers at West Midlands Safari Park are part of a breeding program run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, which aims to help protect these magnificent animals. Kasha Carter expressed her excitement, saying, 'Being part of this European breeding program is fantastic, and we are thrilled to contribute three new little members to it.