New Sumatran Tiger cubs at Perth Zoo will help world conservation efforts: Minister

15/11/00
International efforts to save the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger from extinction have received a major boost with the birth of three cubs at Perth Zoo.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the birth was a first for the zoo and Western Australia, and established Perth Zoo as an important regional breeding centre for the endangered Sumatran Tiger.
It is estimated that there are as few as 400 Sumatran Tigers left in the wild and 250 in zoos around the world.
Mrs Edwardes announced the zoo's latest breeding success today, saying the nine-week-old cubs weighed in at just over 4kg each at their first health check and vaccinations three weeks ago.
"The den door was opened today allowing the cubs and their protective mother, Malu, to venture out into the Asian Rainforest exhibit and on to public display for the first time," she said.
"But it is still early days for the cubs and they may take their time venturing out and exploring the exhibit surrounds."
Mrs Edwardes said the cubs, two males and one female, were born late at night on September 14. Perth Zoo staff were monitoring the birth from an adjoining room via close-circuit television.
Perth Zoo Chief Executive Brian Easton said the textbook arrival of the newborns was a tribute to the dedication and quality of care provided by zoo staff at every stage of Malu's pregnancy.
"Staff have been monitoring Malu closely since the pregnancy was confirmed and this has enabled us to provide her with the privacy, nutrition and extra care needed," Mr Easton said.
"The three cubs have survived their most vulnerable period and are progressing well.
"At the six-week health check, we noticed that the female cub and one of the male cubs had a balance problem which caused them to tilt their heads.
"However, the problem has corrected itself in the female and, likewise, the male has improved significantly.
"This balance problem sometimes occurs in domestic kittens and puppies and there is usually no known cause.
"Zoo staff are very happy with the cubs' progress and are continuing to provide Malu with the best quality care to maintain the good condition of the cubs."
Mr Easton said Malu was brought to Perth from New Zealand last year to join male Calang to form a breeding pair to contribute to the long-term survival of this critically threatened species. Malu and Calang were part of an Australasian breeding program to increase bloodlines and contribute to international breeding efforts.
Mrs Edwardes said as a result of poaching and loss of habitat, the Sumatran Tiger was at a precarious point in its history and that made our breeding program all the more important.
"With the latest precious additions, Perth Zoo now has five Sumatran Tigers," she said.
"Perth people and international visitors will be able to see the cubs for up to two years at the zoo before moving on to new homes to play their role in international breeding programs."
Sumatran Tigers are poached for their body parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Poaching methods include the use of shotguns or rifles, wire snare-traps and baited cages with the use of poisoned animal carcasses becoming increasingly common in recent years.
The other two sub-species of tiger native to Indonesia, the Javan and Balinese Tigers, are now extinct.
Mr Easton urged members of the public to support the zoo's tiger breeding program to help try and save the Sumatran Tiger from extinction.
Media contacts:
Steve Manchee (Minister's office) on 9421 7777
Debra Read (Perth Zoo) on 9474 0383

Background Information
November 2000

Sumatran Tigers

• The Sumatran Tiger ( Panthera tigris sumatrae) is found only in scattered pockets of forest on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

• There are as few as 400 SumatranTigers remaining in the wild and some 250 SumatranTigers in zoos around the world.

• The Sumatran Tiger is one of five surviving sub-species of tiger (Panthera tigris)

• Sumatran Tigers are the smallest of the surviving sub-species.

• The Australasian zoo region (Australia, New Zealand & Papua New Guinea) has focused its tiger-breeding work on the Sumatran sub-species.

• Perth Zoo has a male Sumatran Tiger named Calang who is nearly 10-years-old and a female Sumatran Tiger named Malu who is four-years-old next month. Calang was born at Melbourne Zoo and Malu was born at Wellington Zoo in New Zealand. They are the parents of the cubs.
  
• Tigers can give birth to between one and six cubs, although the average litter is two to three animals.

• An adult male Sumatran Tiger weighs between 100 and 150 kilograms and in the zoo eats five kilograms of meat five times a week.

• Pure-bred Sumatran Tigers have a distinctive 'beard' around their face, distinguishing them from other sub-species.

• Tigers have soft pads on their paws which help them move quietly. Their claws are retractable, long and sharp. Their canine teeth are about 13 centimetres long.

• Although most cats avoid water, tigers are strong swimmers and refresh themselves by bathing in the heat of the day.

• A tiger's roar can be heard for up to two kilometres and they can purr like domestic cats.

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