For the first time in more than 20 years, The Louisville Zoo has welcomed the birth of a Sumatran tiger cub.
Born at 7:40 p.m. on July 23, 2024, the cub is the offspring of 16-year-old male Kami Sambal (kah-me-sahm-ball) and 14-year-old female Jingga (Jean-gah; like the game).
Watch The Cub Grow
The zoo reports that both mother and cub are thriving under the dedicated care of the Zoo’s expert staff.
Jingga is demonstrating all the appropriate behaviors of an experienced mother, grooming, nursing and carrying her neonate cub.
Currently, the newborn is behind the scenes bonding with mom.
Guests are invited to follow updates and watch the tiger cub’s first weeks by viewing the Tiger Cub Cam at louisvillezoo.org/cubcam.
Cub Naming Contest Coming Soon
The last Sumatran tiger cubs born at the Zoo were Leela, Jai, and Mohan in April 2004, followed by two Amur, or Siberian tiger cubs, Irisa and Anya, in October of the same year.
“It’s been a long time since the Zoo has welcomed a tiger cub to our extended family and we are all excited by the arrival of this rare and endangered youngster,” said Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney. “I commend the Islands and Animal Health teams for their efforts and invite our community to come celebrate with us as we watch this precious cub grow and progress.”
A naming contest sponsored by Norton Children’s will be announced in the coming weeks.
For $99, guests can also “adopt” the tiger cub through a special ADOPTS package which includes a mom and cub plushie, an adoption certificate, the adopter’s name listed on the Zoo’s website, a colorful Zoo magnet and two admission passes to visit to the Louisville Zoo.
Plans for public viewing will be announced via the Zoo’s official channels and website soon.
For more information, visit louisvillezoo.org.
