When Kaitlyn, the Sumatran tiger living at the Australia Zoo became pregnant with cubs, everyone at the zoo was delighted. So was anyone in the world who cares about tigers and endangered species. Kaitlyn is a Sumatran tiger and the population of her wild counterparts is declining, despite efforts to save them.
Unfortunately, it is humans that are causing these majestic animals to disappear from the earth, never to be seen again. But, it is also humans that are doing everything in their power to save them. Captive breeding programs like the one at the Australia Zoo are the last and best hope for Sumatran tigers like Kaitlyn.
According to worldwildlife.org, “Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and are distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. The last of Indonesia’s tigers—as few as 400 today—are holding on for survival in the remaining patches of forests on the island of Sumatra. Accelerating deforestation and rampant poaching mean this noble creature could end up like its extinct Javan and Balinese relatives.
In Indonesia, anyone caught hunting tigers could face jail time and steep fines. But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation—including strengthening law enforcement and anti-poaching capacity—a substantial market remains in Sumatra and the rest of Asia for tiger parts and products. Sumatran tigers are losing their habitat and prey fast, and poaching shows no sign of decline.”
So, when it came time for Kaitlyn to give birth, zookeepers and caretakers were understandably nervous about what might happen. These tiny cubs represent the future of their species and Kaitlyn was a first-time mother. There were a million things that could wrong, and many of them could not be helped by the human caretakers.
When Kaitlyn began to go into labor, everyone watched nervously, and they were holding their breath. They knew that things could go wrong, but they also knew that they were about to witness one of the most amazing things to happen at the zoo.
As if things weren’t hard enough, Kaitlyn was giving birth to twins. She gave birth to the first cub, and everyone was relieved to see a tiny, healthy baby tiger in the straw. But, it wasn’t time to relax just yet. When she gave birth to baby #2, it seemed lifeless as it entered the world. Though the humans were very concerned, they let nature take its course and Kaitlyn’s instincts kicked in — she licked the little cub until his body started to work on its own.
Watch this miracle of life in the video below!
