Two adorable Malaysian tiger cubs were born on October 3, 2017 at the zoo in Prague (AFP)
The Prague zoo on Tuesday celebrated the health of two rare Malayan tiger cubs -- a male and a female -- born there six weeks ago.
Zoo officials said that the small size of the female -- belonging to the critically endangered subspecies -- had been a cause for concern after two underweight cubs born this spring died.
"We are monitoring their weight and development very closely," Pavel Brandl, the zoo's mammals curator, told AFP.
On Tuesday, the female weighed in at 3.78 kilos (8.3 pounds) on the scales, while the rambunctious male, who tried hard to escape the procedure, scored 5.16 kilos.
A six-weeks-old Malaysian tiger cub sits on the scales to be weighed at the zoo in Prague (AFP)
"The male is developing very nicely, absolutely in line with veterinary data. The female was born small and she has to catch up. Her initial weight was too low," he added.
The cubs, who have yet to be named by their breeders, were born to Banya and Johann, who have been a couple at Prague zoo for more than a year.
A six-weeks-old Malaysian tiger cub hisses in its exclosure at the zoo in Prague (AFP)
"For Banya, it was literally her last chance to give birth. She's already 11 and tigresses very rarely give birth after 15 years of age," said Brandl.
Banya gave birth to another set of cubs in the spring, but they did not survive because they were too small and Banya was an inexperienced mother.
A long way to goOnly two other zoos in Europe -- including the one in Halle, Germany, in 2013 -- have successfully bred Malayan tigers to date.
"The Malayan tiger is rather rare in European zoos, at present there are 17 adult animals," Brandl said.
Brandl said that Banya's new set of cubs would be safer once they make it to their six-month birthday. They will be weaned at 18 months of age.
"We still have a long way to go," he added.
Tiger numbers worldwide have been falling due to loss of natural habitat and poaching. They are killed for their skins, with their body parts used in traditional Southern Asian medicine.
"At present, some 3,000 tigers are left worldwide and there are only several hundred adult Malayan tigers," Brandl said.
A six-weeks-old Malaysian cub photographed on November 14, 2017 at the zoo in Prague (AFP)
Breeding is also tricky because of the tigers' habits -- couples only stays together during the rutting period as tigers are solitary animals.
"Besides, the males tend to be very aggressive, they attack the females - that's why it has taken us almost a decade to get a couple that is able to breed," Brandl told AFP.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Click for more
trending news