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NEWS RELEASE

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Celebrates Public Debut of Two Endangered Sumatran Tiger Cubs

Young Tiger Siblings Explore Outdoor Habitat for First Time 

SAN DIEGO (Oct. 12, 2023) – Two critically endangered Sumatran tiger cubs emerged from their den today at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The cubs, born July 12, stepped out to explore their outdoor habitat, much to the delight of wildlife care staff and volunteers. 

The nonprofit San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance revealed the cubs’ names in September—the female cub is Puteri, (pronounced Poo-tear-e), which means "princess" in Malay; and the male cub is Hutan, (pronounced Hoo-taan), which means "forest." 

They are the offspring of first-time mother Diana and father Dumai and are the first cubs of their species to be born at the Safari Park's Tull Family Tiger Trail habitat in seven years. The births resulted from a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP). Managed by conservationists nationwide, each SSP program aims to ensure genetic diversity and healthy, self-sustaining populations of threatened and endangered wildlife. 

Listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, only an estimated 400 to 600 Sumatran tigers remain on Earth. These recent births are a significant contribution to the global population of this tiger species, and further San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's ongoing conservation efforts. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works with partners in Asia through our Asian Rainforest Conservation Hub to end poaching and wildlife trafficking, while developing long-term plans to protect critically endangered Sumatran tigers. Individuals can support the Alliance’s work with a symbolic tiger adoption, supporting innovative conservation efforts to save tigers and their habitats. For information, visit sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/adopt/sumatran-tiger. 

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About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance   
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships. Through wildlife care, science expertise and collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. Annually, the Alliance reaches over 1 billion people, in person at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and virtually in 150 countries through media channels, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming in children’s hospitals in 13 countries. Wildlife Allies—members, donors and guests—make success possible.