Three Amur tiger cubs born in Safaripark Beekse Bergen

In Safaripark Beekse Bergen, three Amur tiger cubs were born. The birth took place on May 12 in the tigers' outdoor enclosure. They are two males and one female.

The cubs and their mother are doing well and are currently staying in the indoor stay. They are expected to show themselves in the outdoor enclosure in about four weeks. Christian Meurrens, head of animal care at Safaripark Beekse Bergen: "The mother is taking good care of the cubs, despite it being her first litter."

"The birth of these cubs is valuable to the European Management Program," Meurrens says. The European Management Program (EEP) aims, among other things, to keep endangered species genetically healthy within zoos. Zoos therefore work closely together in this program. Each species has a coordinator who determines which animals are allowed to mate with each other.

Endangered species

The Amur tiger is one of the most endangered felines in the world. In the 1940s there were still about twenty in the wild, but various conservation projects have increased the number to about five hundred to six hundred adults. Disappearance of habitat for such things as agriculture and other human development has fragmented their habitat. Tigers are also hunted illegally for their fur, but also because it is believed in many Asian countries that tiger body parts can be used as medicine.

Via Stichting Wildlife Safaripark Beekse Bergen also supports nature conservation in the wild. For example, the foundation supports the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which launched a successful program in 2008 to combat poaching in protected areas. Several illegal logging routes that allowed poachers access to Amur tiger habitat have also been closed.

Raising tiger cubs

Tiger cubs are born blind, opening their eyes only after seven to 10 days. For the first few weeks, they stay close to their mother. From five weeks they start eating meat, in addition they continue to drink milk from the mother until at least three months. Between five and six months, they learn to hunt. Cubs often stay with their mothers for up to two years, allowing them to master all the skills needed to survive independently.

Photos: Milou Meijer