Three of the four Malayan tiger cubs born at the Little Rock Zoo a year and a half ago have been shipped to Seattle, the zoo announced Thursday.
The cubs' mother, Suhanna, also has left Little Rock. On breeding recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, she was transported Thursday to the Bronx Zoo in New York, where she will be paired with a male tiger living there.
The cubs -- Liem, Olan and Eko -- were taken to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle in mid-March. They will be part of a new Banyan Wilds exhibit that opened there over the weekend.
The moves leave the Little Rock Zoo with two Malayan tigers. Little Rock kept the female cub, Asmara, born in the November 2013 litter and the cubs' father, Liku.
Eventually, Liku will be transferred to another zoo so that Little Rock can receive a mate for Asmara.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has species survival plans for various animals and recommends transfers between their accredited zoos for the benefit of reproduction. The association makes recommendations for the long-term survival of endangered species and for companionship reasons.
Metro on 05/08/2015