Heidelberg – Great joy in the zoo’s predator house: Sumatran tigress Karis has had young! Why is this a reason to celebrate and when visitors can visit the little ones:
On the night of February 28, the time had come: Sumatran tigress Karis gave birth to three cubs in her litter box in the predator house of Heidelberg Zoo. In the first two weeks, the tigress spends her days and loved ones in the litter box, suckling the little ones and taking care of them. It only leaves its offspring to eat. Karis had already given birth in the summer of 2020, but her cubs died shortly after birth. The mortality rate of the young is very high in the first litters, it only decreases with the experience of the tigress in rearing it.
“It’s nice to see the development Karis has taken and how she does a lot of the details in this litter. She takes care of her offspring around the clock – the little ones look full and satisfied “, explains district manager Bianca Weißbarth. Tiger dad Tebo has nothing to do with raising offspring.
Tiger mother Karis now also carries her offspring to other protected areas in the indoor enclosure of the predator house. The first four weeks after the tiger babies are born are critical. Only in the course of time will it be seen whether all of the young animals will get through.
Heidelberg Zoo: offspring with the Sumatran tigress Karis.
© Heidelberg Zoo
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It will be a few more weeks before zoo visitors can see the three small, striped big cats. The baby tigers are still too small to romp around in the outdoor area. The zookeepers disturb the tiger mom and her little ones as little as possible. They are only observed by cameras. You can see the first recordings on the zoo’s homepage.
Heidelberg Zoo: important contribution to species protection
The endangered Sumatran tiger is the smallest subspecies of the tiger and only occurs on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Due to the destruction of its habitat and poaching, the number of Sumatran tigers in the wild continues to decline. The illegal trade in tiger products, especially for traditional Chinese medicine, is another contributing factor. The natural occurrence of the animals is currently only estimated at a few hundred specimens, and the trend is still decreasing.
Heidelberg Zoo: Sumatran tigress Karis with her three cubs.
© Heidelberg Zoo
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The European Endangered Species Program has recommended that Sumatran tigers Karis and Tebo pass their genes on to the tiger populations of European zoos in order to keep the gene pool varied. Only a healthy population can ensure the survival of the subspecies. Heidelberg Zoo has been participating in the European breeding program for Sumatran tigers since 1998 and thus contributes to the preservation of the endangered tiger subspecies.
Heidelberg Zoo: First tiger offspring in over 10 years
“I am happy for the whole zoo team, which has worked incredibly hard for this breeding success. Forming a harmonious breeding pair is not always easy with tigers and both the keepers and the curator have fully committed themselves to this goal. And I am happy for the many zoo visitors who have been waiting for this moment for over 10 years “says zoo director Dr. Klaus Wünnemann.
List of rubric lists: © Heidelberg Zoo
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