Three Sumatran tiger cubs arrive at Greek zoo as conservation safety net expands
Three two-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs were micro-chipped and vaccinated at a zoo near Athens, marking a step in a global backup program.
At Attica Zoological Park near Athens, three Sumatran tiger cubs aged two months were fitted with microchips and given their initial vaccinations. The cubs were born in early July to Toba, while their father Argos has since died of cancer. Conservationists stress that the Sumatran tiger, classified as critically endangered, may number as few as 400 in the wild due to extensive habitat loss.
European zoos are building a safety population to preserve genetic diversity and enable possible future releases. The cubs, two males and one female, displayed restless behavior during the procedure, requiring careful handling by veterinary staff. The animals' unique stripe patterns and natural hunting abilities underscore the importance of minimizing stress during care.
