Watch the adorable video here!
Adelaide Zoo’s two-and-a-half month old Sumatran Tiger cubs are growing up growly, stripy and ready to pounce!
The fluffy felines had their second health check last week with the zoo’s dedicated keeping and veterinary team.
Given a clean bill of health, along with a once-over of paws, claws and tiny roars, the trio were microchipped, vaccinated and weighed.
The male cub tipped the scales at 8.7kg, while his sisters weighed in at 7.5kg and 7.6kg respectively.
Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Arliah Hayward, said Delilah and Kembali’s cublings love playing together and jumping on their mum.
“We can tell by their paws, they are going to be impressive tigers! They are growing up quickly and are definitely developing their own little personalities,” she said.
“The team were really happy with their health check and we can’t wait for them to be out and about to meet our visitors.
“They also just recently saw their dad Kembali for the first time from a distance, so it will be amazing for them to get closer and get to know him.
“The little boy loves following Delilah around and playing with her. He is the most vocal of the trio and loves his minced meat!
“His sisters are opposites; one is quieter while the other is very independent and confident!”
Delilah ventures out on exhibit a couple of times a day, to eat and interact with Kembali, who keenly waits to see her from the next-door exhibit.
Adelaide Zoo will soon announce a public naming competition and more information about the cubs big debut – watch this space!
Visitors to Adelaide Zoo can see the latest Delilah and cub vision via a TV in the Immersion zone as well as regular updates online. Keeper talks with updated information regarding the cubs will continue to take place.
The one male and two female Sumatran Tiger cubs were born on 21 December last year to mum seven-year-old Delilah and eight-year-old Kembali. The birth of any Sumatran Tiger is significant as there are less than 400 of the species left in the wild. Their population is rapidly decreasing due to poaching for the illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction for the unsustainable production of palm oil, an ingredient found in around half of all supermarket products.
Zoos South Australia works alongside sixteen other zoo-based conservation and wildlife organisations across Australia and New Zealand to drive the global transition to Certified Sustainable Palm Oil.
The mission of the Responsible Palm Oil Network is to work with Australasian manufacturers to move to using Certified Sustainable Palm Oil and to introduce clear palm oil labelling.
Zoos SA hopes that the arrival of Delilah’s cubs will give us the chance to open up the conversation about CSPO and how we can all shop with a purpose – to save critically-endangered animals.
For more information, please visit zoossa.com.au/dont-palm-us-off/.
