I have let my San Diego Zoo & Safari Park annual pass lapse for a few months. Karen, who has had a membership for decades, offered to take me with the ultimate goal of seeing the new tiger cubs (more about that below).
Since our time was limited, we focused on the felines.Meet the newest lion to the pride: Bo, a 7-year-old male African lion who arrived last May.The African lion is listed as a Vulnerable species, with a total population that is likely less than 40,000. It is estimated that there are only 23,000 to 39,000 mature individuals. African lion populations are declining largely due to habitat loss, issues that threaten human-wildlife coexistence, poaching and wildlife trafficking (illegal wildlife trade).He moved to the Safari Park from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, following a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) for African lions, which is designed to help maintain a healthy, genetically diverse assurance population of this species. Bo will eventually lead his own pride when he is introduced to the three female lions who reside at Lion Camp—Malika, Zuri and Amira. I can't wait to see all four of them together. Wow.Each visit to the Park reveals subtle differences. The raindrops on the foliage were from the recent deluge. What a lovely lingering reminder.The volunteers on staff today were extra awesome. This was the first time we had noticed that their name badges indicate what languages they speak. Paul's read, "Je parle français". This started a fun conversation as Steve and I will be beginning French 101 next week. I plan to return and find him for délicieuse conversation en français.When we arrived at the tigers, the cubs were nowhere to be seen but Majel was out, putting on quite a show.Born October 5, 2010 at the Safari Park, she has one of the most extensive behavioral repertoires of all the tigers, and is very focused when engaged in training.She also doesn't get along with the mother of the new cubs, Diana, hence her solitary presence. We kept hoping she would return to her den and the babies would come out, but no such luck.So this is what I missed (thank you, Karen, for the photos of your previous cub sightings). Two critically endangered Sumatran tiger cubs were born July 12, and given the names Puteri, (pronounced Poo-tear-e), which means "princess" in Malay for the female cub; and the male cub is Hutan, (pronounced Hoo-taan), which means "forest." They are the offspring of first-time mother Diana and father Dumai and are the first cubs of their species to be born at the Safari Park's Tull Family Tiger Trail habitat in seven years..JPG)
Listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, only an estimated 400 to 600 Sumatran tigers remain on Earth. These recent births are a significant contribution to the global population of this tiger species, and further San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's ongoing conservation efforts. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works with partners in Asia through our Asian Rainforest Conservation Hub to end poaching and wildlife trafficking, while developing long-term plans to protect critically endangered Sumatran tigers.
Four hours, 8,800 steps, dozens of photographs, peel your sweater off weather, and the company of a good friend. Does life get any better than that? Fun stuff!
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