Siberian Tiger Cubs Make Zoo Debut

POSTED: 6:54 pm CDT October 1, 2009
UPDATED: 8:38 pm CDT October 1, 2009

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County Zoo is celebrating the birth of two new babies.

The Siberian tiger cubs that were born this past July will be making their debut.

The two cubs are now 12 weeks old and are healthy and active in their indoor area.

The cubs are eager to get out into the world, but first-time mother Amba stays watchful and close.

“There is a little bit of a learning curve for first-time mothers, but she’s been doing quite a good job,” said Neil Dretzka, Milwaukee County Zoo.

Amba was paired with the zoo’s male tiger. After two years of trying to conceive, the cubs finally made their entrance into the world.

Siberian tigers are an endangered species. There are an estimated 500 in the wild and another 500 in captivity.

So the new cubs are helping to promote the survival of the species.

“This is important to the population and it will just help to strengthen it and ensure their longevity,” Dretzka said.

The best time to see the cubs is daily between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. They will be in the big cat house for the next year and a half.

Zoo officials said they’ll be keeping the cubs inside until the spring.

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