Minnesota Zoo Celebrates the Birth of Two Rare Amur Tiger Cubs

It’s with much excitement the Zoo announces this legacy continues with the birth of two Amur tiger cubs. The cubs were born at the Minnesota Zoo on May 23, 2024, and have been successfully bonding in a behind-the-scenes habitat with their mother, Sundari – or Dari for short.

Birthed under the watchful eye of the Zoo’s Animal Care and Health teams, the two cubs – one male and one female – along with Dari, are doing well and will continue to be closely monitored over the next several weeks.

"As with her past litters, Dari is demonstrating she is a fantastic mom. At this stage it’s a lot of nursing and sleeping,” said Trista Fischer, Minnesota Zoo zoologist and leading coordinator of the Amur tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP). The Amur tiger SSP oversees the husbandry, global management, and genetic diversity of Amur tigers throughout AZA-accredited institutions.

The cubs were sired by Luka, a three-year-old male Amur tiger that arrived at the Minnesota Zoo in 2022.

“These are the first cubs ever sired by Luka and represent an important addition to the global population of Amur tigers,” said Diana Weinhardt, Minnesota Zoo Northern Trail Curator.

Amur tigers are considered endangered, hovering near the brink of extinction in the 1930s and 1940s. Conservation efforts in the wild and throughout accredited zoos have helped increase populations in the decades since. The Minnesota Zoo co-leads the Tiger Conservation Campaign, which has raised millions of dollars for global tiger conservation since its inception.

“It's estimated only about 4,500 tigers remain in the wild, with about 500 of those being Amur tigers. These cubs are significant ambassadors for their wild counterparts,” said Kurt Heizmann, Minnesota Zoo Director of Animal Care.

As with any newborns, these first few months will prove critical for the cubs and their development. During this time, the cubs are heavily reliant on Dari, with the Zoo’s expert Animal Care and Health teams providing regular medical and visual checks.

Follow along as the Minnesota Zoo will be posting updates about Dari and the cubs on social media. We anticipate the cubs will be introduced to their public habitat in late summer to early fall.

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