MIAMI, Jan. 30 (UPI) — Zoo Miami debuted its rare endangered Sumatran tiger cub to the public on Friday.
The male cub, Satu, was born at the zoo on Nov. 14 and was slowly separated from its mother and given supplemental feedings before being introduced to the exhibit that will later become its home.
“Zoo staff has begun to establish a routine where the cub receives his afternoon feeding in the exhibit and is then given some time to explore some of the area to familiarize himself with it,” Zoo Miami spokesperson Ron Magill told ABC 10.
The zoo said separation from his mother is crucial for Satu’s normal development and the process of learning ho to be a tiger. They also hoped that the mother would continue to tolerate the separation and allow the cub to thrive.
Sumatran tigers have been considered critically endangered since 2008. It is unlikely Satu would have survived in the wild, the zoo said.
