Associated Press
WASHINGTON – There was no shortage of oohs and aahs at the National Zoo as a 3-month-old Sumatran tiger cub made its public debut Thursday. Named Berani, meaning brave, the cub was hesitant nonetheless to go into the glass enclosure where a large crowd waited.
Now just 23 pounds, the male cub in about 2 1/2years should weigh 300 pounds. That’s about half the size of the more familiar Bengal tiger.
The curious cub was hesitant at first, but with mother Soyona at its side, it soon began exploring the enclosure to the delight of onlookers. It nibbled at the grasses, clawed bark on a tree and playfully attacked its mother’s tail. The father is being kept isolated because he could injure or kill the cub.
Zoo officials said Berani is important to efforts to preserve the extremely endangered species. There are only about 500 left in the wild and 170 in zoos around the world.
Sumatran tigers are the last of Indonesia’s subspecies. The Bali and Javan tigers are already extinct, which is why events such as Thursday’s viewing are important to help build interest in preservation efforts, zoo officials said.
“When you come to the zoo and you see the creature, you’re like ‘Wow! what a beautiful tiger,’ but there’s a lot more. We’re also studying it and helping to protect it,” said Lucy Spelman, the zoo’s director.
Several organizations are working with the Indonesian government to curb poaching and to help ensure the animal’s future survival.
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