Sumatran tiger cubs due to make public debut at Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Photo by Connor Mallon/Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Male and female Sumatran tiger cubs Bandar and Sukacita, born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on Aug. 5, are expected to make their public debut on Monday. But before meeting the public, the 13-week-old cubs had to pass a swim reliability test. “Tigers are one of the few species of cats that enjoy taking a dip in water,” curator of great cats Craig Saffoe said. The tiger enclosure at the National Zoo is surrounded by a water-filled moat. “The moat exists for the safety of our visitors, but it could present an obstacle for young cats. Our job is to make sure that if the cubs venture into the moat, they know how and where to get out. These cubs represent hope for their critically endangered species’ future, so we need to take every precaution to ensure their survival.”

*Update: Watch a video of the tiger cubs taking their swim test last week: *

The National Zoo’s female Sumatra tiger cub, Sukacita, successfully passed her swim test on Nov. 6. Photo by Connor Mallon/Smithsonian’s National Zoo