SUMATRAN TIGER CUBS ARRIVE AT AUSTRALIA ZOO

News Source: Sunshine Coast Daily, page 2, 28 May, 2004

The newest members of Australia Zoo made their debut to the media yesterday – three Sumatran tiger cubs. And “cute” didn’t go far enough to describe the eight-week-old female and two males who are as yet unnamed.

Australia Zoo’s marketing manager Peter Lang said it was a proud day for the Zoo. He said there were only 500 left in the wild worldwide so as well as being a cute edition to the Zoo, they have taken on a more serious role becoming part of the future breeding program and ultimately tiger conservation. With more than 50 Sumatran tigers being killed annually we could witness the species extinction in just a few short years. “We want to introduce people to the Sumatrans and the Bengals so people understand how beautiful and exciting they are and experience them, then help us save them,” Mr Lang said. ”In the future we will be getting more tigers to start the breeding program at Australia Zoo. We are building state-of-the art expansive new tiger habitat and that will part of our Asia Madagascar exhibit opening soon.” Along with the tigers, there will be elephants, otters, urangatangs and many other exotic animals from Asia and Madagascar. “Sure it’s fun and a nice cuddly experience but on the serious side we are committed to wildlife and habitat conservation.” Mr Lang said the money raised through the Australia Zoo tiger experience went to the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation to save the tigers.

The new babies will be on display from 10am to 2pm every day, along with the Bengal tiger kittens which do their tiger walks around the park.