Three Sumatran tiger cubs, among the world's most endangered big cats, have been born at the Attica Zoological Park near Athens, Greece. The cubs, two males and one female, received identification microchips and their first vaccinations on Tuesday as part of a global initiative to establish a backup population for the dwindling species.
The Sumatran tiger is classified as critically endangered by the United Nations and conservation groups, with an estimated 400 remaining in the wild on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Aggressive deforestation is the primary threat to their survival in their natural habitat.
"The Sumatran tiger is one of the most threatened tiger species in the world, and among felines in general," said Theodoros Babilis, head keeper of cats and monkeys at Attica Zoological Park. "Zoos in Europe and elsewhere are maintaining a safety population, so that in the future there can be potential reintroductions of this species into the wild."
Despite their critically endangered status, Sumatran tigers are the smallest of the tiger subspecies. Males can reach up to 2.55 meters (8.4 feet) in length and weigh as much as 140 kilograms (309 pounds). They are skilled swimmers and climbers, using their unique stripe patterns for camouflage as they hunt prey such as deer and wild pigs.
The cubs were born in early July to mother Toba and father Argos, who has since died of cancer. Zoo staff plan to name the cubs after characters from Homer's "The Odyssey." Handling the cubs, even at two months old, presents challenges due to their developing sharp claws and teeth, according to zoo veterinarian Dr. Arsenoi Psaroudaki.
"The tigers don’t like to be handled. They’re very wild," Psaroudaki explained, noting that veterinary staff must work quickly to minimize stress during procedures like vaccinations and microchipping. The microchips are logged in a shared database, and the cubs received a vaccine to protect against common feline diseases.
Veterinary staff require assistance to manage the restless cubs during examinations. The microchipping and vaccination process for the young tigers is a crucial step in safeguarding the future of this rare species. "It’s very humbling to be able to work with the rarest tiger species in the world," Psaroudaki added.