Toledo Zoo Introduces Its “Stars of the Stripes”
Toledo Zoo visitors can now see Viktor and Talya, the two critically endangered Amur tiger cubs born earlier this fall.
The male and female cubs were born at the Zoo on September 26, 2011, to first-time mother Marta. They are the second generation of cubs born at the Zoo; Marta was born at the Zoo in 2003. Their father, Strannik, arrived at the Zoo on loan earlier in 2011. He, too, is on exhibit, separate from Marta and the cubs.
The cubs’ names come from the Russian language, recognizing the Amur tiger’s primary habitat in eastern Russia. Viktor’s name means “conqueror” and Talya’s name means “birthday.” Both Viktor and Talya will remain with their mother, 8-year-old Marta, for at least two years.
Dr. Randi Meyerson, curator of mammals, emphasized Marta’s continuing excellent maternal behavior as a key factor in the cubs’ health. “Both cubs continue to gain in weight and mobility, which is a reflection of Marta’s outstanding care so far,” she said. “We are cautiously optimistic about their future progress.”
Currently Marta, Viktor and Talya are scheduled for daily public viewing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Zoo animal care staff will monitor them closely to be sure it is not stressful or tiring for the cubs. Once the animals are ready, they will be on exhibit 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, weather and exhibit conditions, and/or the animals’ continued well-being, may require temporarily moving them from public exhibit.
Amur tigers, formerly known as Siberian tigers, are the largest tiger subspecies, and about 143 Amur tigers live in about 53 AZA-accredited zoos. Originally, eight subspecies existed; three of those subspecies are now extinct. The five remaining subspecies, including the Amur tiger, are critically endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation as well as poaching of both tigers and their prey.