APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — Minnesota Twins — but make them tigers!
The Minnesota Zoo announced Thursday that one of its adult Amur tigers, Sundari, gave birth to two cubs on May 23.
Sundari and her babies — one male and one female — are doing well and have since been bonding behind the scenes, according to the zoo.
"As with her past litters, Dari is demonstrating she is a fantastic mom. At this stage it’s a lot of nursing and sleeping,” said Trista Fischer, Minnesota Zoo zoologist and leading coordinator of the Amur tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP), in a statement.
The Minnesota Zoo is known for its efforts toward international tiger conservation, becoming a co-leader of the Tiger Conservation Campaign and a respected partner in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Amur Tiger SSP.
Zoo officials said SSP oversees the husbandry, global management, and genetic diversity of Amur tigers throughout AZA-accredited institutions.
“It's estimated only about 4,500 tigers remain in the wild, with about 500 of those being Amur tigers. These cubs are significant ambassadors for their wild counterparts,” said Kurt Heizmann, Minnesota Zoo director of animal care, in a statement.
With their birth, the cubs gave the zoo's 3-year-old male Amur tiger, Luka, the chance to celebrate his first Father's Day.
“These are the first cubs ever sired by Luka and represent an important addition to the global population of Amur tigers,” said Minnesota Zoo Northern Trail Curator Diana Weinhardt.
The zoo said the cubs are being closely monitored by zoo staff during this "critical time and their development." They're expected to be introduced into their public habitat later this summer or early fall.
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