TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) — Three months after her birth, a rare Malayan tiger cub emerged from her den on Wednesday (December 14) at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, The cub, named Berisi, was born on September 11 and spent the beginning of her life in the den with her mother, Bzui. The cub raced around the enclosure, pouncing on her mother and climbing rocks.
Zoo officials said there were only about 250 Malayan tigers left in the wild; the cub and her mother are part of the zoo’s participation in the Species Survival Plan.
They said the cub currently weighs about six pounds, but is expected to gain weight rapidly, putting on about ten pounds per month.