By Urdu Report Editorial Team
Three rare Sumatran tiger cubs have been born at a zoo near Athens, Greece, offering fresh hope for the survival of one of the world’s most endangered tiger species.
The three cubs were born about two months ago. On Tuesday, zoo staff fitted them with identification microchips and gave them their first vaccinations.
Sumatran Tigers Face Severe Threat
The Sumatran tiger is considered critically endangered and is found only on Indonesia’s island of Sumatra.
Experts estimate that only around 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild. Rapid deforestation has contributed to the decline of the species.
The South China tiger and Malayan tiger are also among the tiger species facing severe threats.
Zoos Support Conservation Efforts
Theodoros Babalis, an expert at Attica Zoological Park, said Sumatran tigers are being bred under conservation programs at zoos in Europe and other parts of the world.
The aim is to create possibilities for the animals to be reintroduced into the wild in the future.
Despite being the world’s smallest tiger species, male Sumatran tigers can reach 2.55 meters in length and weigh up to 140 kilograms.
They are strong swimmers and can also climb trees. Their black stripes are unique to each tiger, much like human fingerprints.
Cubs Expected to Receive Names From The Odyssey
The three cubs were born in early July to a female tiger named Toba and a male named Argos. Argos later died from cancer.
The litter includes two males and one female. The cubs are expected to be named after characters from Homer’s famous epic poem, The Odyssey.
Handling the cubs during vaccination was not easy. Zoo staff said their claws and teeth were already quite sharp at two months of age.
Experts explained that Sumatran tigers do not tolerate human restraint and handling well. Therefore, the vaccination process was completed quickly to minimize stress on the animals.
All three cubs were fitted with microchips registered in a shared database. They also received a vaccine similar to one used for cats, providing protection against three diseases.
