Submitted by Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
It was a milestone moment for the three rare Sumatran tiger triplets, born October 12. They’ve been spending time in outdoor exhibits with their mom, Jaya, for months. But now, at around 100 pounds each, the playful trio has graduated to the much larger space, complete with stands of bamboo, dozens of trees, a lake and a waterfall.
Under the watchful eyes of Jaya, the growing tigers explored the shaded spaces, hiding among stands of trees and then suddenly emerging, running flat out into the sunshine and flopping onto the grass. Dozens of zoo visitors lined viewing railings and oohed and ahhed as the three young sisters played together.
The tiger family is on exhibit every day at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Visitors can expect to see them back in the large “waterfall panorama exhibit” space Saturday and Sunday.
Sumatran tigers are endangered. Only about 300 remain on their native Indonesian island of Sumatra. There are fewer than 80 in North American zoos.
The three cubs’ births were part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, a managed breeding program for endangered species.
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and will be open on the 4th of July.
To learn more about tiger conservation, go to www.pdza.org/save-tigers.
For more information about the zoo, go to www.pdza.org.
