Two new Sumatran tigers will soon be introduced to Auckland Zoo.
The animals arrived in Auckland earlier this week from the United States and will be paired together in the zoo to encourage breeding.
Four-year-old Zayana came from Topeka Zoo and Conservation Centre in Kansas and five-year-old Ramah came from Oklahoma City Zoo.
Auckland Zoo’s curator of mammals Warren Spencer told RNZ News it was a “really exciting day” for zoo staff.
“International animal transfers like this take an incredible amount of planning and are logistically complex. It’s always an amazing team effort between the participating zoos and relevant authorities to successfully achieve, and Ramah and Zayana’s moves here have been no exception.
“These two young cats come to us with a breeding recommendation from the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Global Species Management Plan for Sumatran tigers and bring valuable new genetics to enhance and sustain the Australasian region’s population.”
The tigers will be living in the new South East Asia Jungle Track at the zoo.
Carnivore team leader Lauren Booth said the tigers had a range of environments in the enclosure.
“They’ve got such a diversity of terrains and habitat features – with the ability to be up high on the bridges and high ridges, cool off in the pool and waterfall and beach areas, or rest and shelter in outdoor dens or in the shade of bamboo stands.”
The tigers will join Sali, a 14-year-old Sumatran tiger who relocated from Hamilton Zoo earlier this year.
