A tiger mother, called Mi by the Hanoi Zoo staff, has given birth to four cubs, two males and two females, after a full pregnancy of 100 days.
The litter is the second generation of the Indochinese species raised in the Hanoi Zoo. Their “Grandmother” was rescued by rangers in Thua Thien Hue province after being recovered from a ring of poachers on July 19, 1998 and was brought to the zoo. It was warmly cared by the staff. Her name, Lam Nhi (Forest Child), was the inspiration of a secondary school girl, Nguyen Thi Chinh, from the midland province of Vinh Phu, who beat over 10,000 contestants in a competition to name the wild tiger launched by Hoa Hoc Tro (School Children Flowers) magazine.
On April 20, 2003, Lam Nhi gave birth to four cubs but sadly only one survived. It was this cub, Mi, which three and a half year later delivered a four-strong litter, each with a weight of around 1 kg.
All Mi’s cubs are doing well now, said Nguyen Danh Cuong, a veterinarian for the zoo.
He added that two months after their birth, all the tiger cubs will be released to an outdoor enclosure regulated at 20 Degree Celcius to play with toys weighing up to three kg and eat will minced meat.
With the four new-borns, the Hanoi Zoo is now home to a total of 13 tigers. (VNA)
Last updated: 16:40 – March 3, 2007
http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/life/030307/life_ha.htm
