This past spring saw wonderful developments at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and I’m very excited to update you on two very special additions to the zoo family.

Early in the morning on April 29, two cubs were born to Amur tiger Zeya! The cubs, a male and a female, represent the culmination of years-long efforts by the zoo’s tiger care team to introduce Zeya to male Amur tiger Thimbu and help facilitate a bond between these amazing and complex creatures.

Amur tigers are the physically largest feline species on Earth, and also one of the rarest. With an estimated global population of less than 400, the births of these cubs are an important achievement in the conservation of this incredible species.

Since this was Zeya’s first litter of cubs, staff kept a close watch as she gave birth and in the hours that followed, not knowing what to expect. In the wild, tigers can act unexpectedly toward their offspring if they fail to bond. Zeya’s own mother was not interested in raising her or her sister, so Zeya was hand-reared by staff at the Beardsley Zoo. Unlike her mother, Zeya immediately connected with her cubs and has been an exceptional mother in the days since their birth.

The cubs are also the first fathered by Thimbu. Thimbu, one of five siblings, is the first and only to have sired cubs. This means that Thimbu has successfully passed on his rare genetics to a new generation of Amur tigers, significantly enhancing the genetic diversity in their species. Genetic diversity prevents inbreeding and is important to ensure that the next generation of Amur tigers is healthy and strong.

Watching the cubs on the Tiger Cam romp, play, and sleep is incredibly compelling. The male cub is more explorative, while the female cub has a more cautious personality. The cubs are developing at an astonishing rate, and animal care specialists are vaccinating the cubs and conducting routine examinations to ensure the thriving cubs continue to progress. After all their necessary vaccinations are completed, we hope to have them outside on the Wildlife Trail with Zeya in late summer.

The Friends of the Zoo’s mission is to support the zoo’s animal care specialists in protecting these threatened species and reversing their negative population trends. The births of these rare creatures underscore the dedication and success of the zoo’s animal care team, and they could not have accomplished this without the sustained support of the zoo community.

With your generous support, we can continue to provide unparalleled care to these species as we pursue our conservation mission. Thank you for continuing to help the Friends of the Zoo as we work to ensure a future for the vulnerable species with whom we share our planet.

We’ve all been seeing double this season with our miracle twin Asian elephants, our pair of koala guests from San Diego, and now our two tiger cubs — so, we challenge you to help us double the donations!

Each donation made will be matched by The Triad Foundation so we can DOUBLE your support!

2023 Summer Appeal supporting Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo

2023 Summer Appeal

2023 Summer Appeal supporting Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo