A happy occasion at Frankfurt Zoo: eleven-year-old Sumatran tigress Cinta gave birth to cubs again on February 20. The zoo team has so far only been able to observe the cubs via a monitor that transmits camera images from the whelping box. Initial impressions confirm that the animals are healthy and are receiving excellent care from their mother. To protect the family, the cat jungle will remain closed for the time being.
The new offspring is a special moment for the zoo, as Cinta and her partner Emas only raised their first pair of kittens in June 2023. At that time, the birth of the tiger cubs Raja and Rimba caused great joy, especially as the couple, at eleven years old, are no longer among the younger breeding candidates. After the two cubs moved out in October last year as part of the international breeding program, no one had expected such a quick repeat. But apparently the chemistry between the two tigers is right, which is reflected in the successful offspring.
Ina Hartwig, Head of the Department of Culture and Science, is delighted: "The fact that offspring have been produced so quickly after the two cubs moved out shows how well the tiger pair get on and feel at home in their environment. The successful breeding of an endangered species is a great success - not only for the team, but also for the tigers themselves. I hope the two cubs grow up healthy."
Dr. Christina Geiger, Zoo Director, explains: "As is usual with tigers, Cinta retreated to a protected place during birth - in this case the birthing box, which offers the mother and cubs a quiet and safe environment. The cubs will spend the first few weeks of their lives here. They are not expected to make their first excursions into the enclosure until April. Until then, the sex of the cubs remains unclear. What is already clear, however, is that Cinta and Emas are doing their job as parents with patience and calm. Even with the first litter, they showed excellent care."
The joy of the birth is accompanied by a sad event, however: Cinta gave birth to a total of three cubs on February 20, but the last born tiger cub showed no signs of life. "Cinta kept looking after the dead cub and licking it. However, after it showed no reaction, she ate it during the night," explains Dr. Johannes Köhler, zoo curator. "This behavior is completely natural and serves both hygiene and protection from possible enemies. In the wild, the smell of a dead animal could attract predators."
The offspring of Cinta and Emas is of particular importance to the Sumatran tiger breeding community. Cinta is one of the top breeding candidates, as her genetic line is underrepresented. The offspring will play an important role in preserving the genetic diversity of this endangered tiger species in human care.
Sumatran tigers are one of the rarest tiger subspecies in the world. According to estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a maximum of 400 animals still live in the wild. Frankfurt Zoo has been working intensively to protect these tigers on Sumatra since 1998. In the Bukit Tiga Puluh region - a biodiversity hotspot - the Frankfurt Zoological Society (ZGF) is committed to protecting the lowland rainforests, which are home not only to the tigers but also to many other endangered species such as orangutans and elephants. The zoo's voluntary conservation euro supports the work of the ZGF on site.
The zoo asks for your understanding for the temporary closure of the cat jungle and looks forward to welcoming visitors back soon to experience the fascinating animals in their habitat.
