UPDATE: Topeka's Tiger Cubs Outgrow the Baby Scale!
June 15, 2014
Three Sumatan Tiger cubs born on May 4 at the Topeka Zoo have grown so big that they no longer fit on the baby scale for their weigh-ins.
The cubs, all female, are being well-cared for by their mother, Jingga. But when the cubs were about three weeks old, keepers noticed that Jingga’s mammary glands were becoming irritated and she was not providing enough milk for her babies.
To give the babies a boost, keepers give the cubs supplemental bottle feedings three times a day for about 30 minutes each time. Other than at these feeding times, the cubs stay with mom and nurse from her regularly.
Thanks to this extra help and continued maternal care from Jingga, the cubs each weigh more than 10 pounds! They now are placed in a bucket so they’ll remain in one place during their weigh-ins.
See the cubs’ baby pictures when they debuted on ZooBorns in May.
Sumatran Tigers are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with fewer than 500 cats remaining in the rain forests of Sumatra. Intense pressure from the human population, along with unsustainable palm oil plantations, is pushing these cats closer to extinction every day. Palm oil in is hundreds of everyday products, including foods and cosmetics. You can help Tigers by purchasing products made with sustainable palm oil.