Canada's Calgary Zoo announced that between approximately 4:30
am and 7:00 am on March 30, three Amur tiger cubs were born to
female Katja. Their father is Baikal. For the moment, the mother
and cubs are being allowed to bond in the security of the
birthing area and can only be seen on the webcams (video below).
ZooBorns will post updates - pictures and video - as they grow.
The birth of these tiny cubs, each weighing an estimated 1.6
pounds (750 gms) is potentially great news for this highly-
endangered species. The birth is a result of a breeding
recommendation for eleven-year old Katja and ten-year old Baikal
from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival
Program (SSP) for Amur tigers of which the Calgary Zoo is a
participant. Amur tigers are classified as endangered and at the
last census conducted in the wild it was estimated that only
about 350 - 400 Amur tigers remain. To put into perspective the
truly endangered status of these beautiful animals, these three
tiny cubs are representative o