Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida has debuted their two news additions, Jeda and Anala, the first tiger cubs ever born there.
The tiger cubs are an incredible blessing, and not just because they are wildly adorable, but because there are only 500 Sumatran tigers left in the world making them a critically endangered species.
Jeda and Anala with their mum. Image: Disney Parks
These two rare tigers are just four-months-old and will be introduced to the public gradually while they adjust to their inclosure located in a section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom known as the Maharajah Jungle Trek.
Animal’s in captivity is always a contentious subject. Disney is part of the Sumatran tigers Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, helping to make sure there is a growing and healthy population of the animals.
Jeda and Anala. Image: Disney Parks
As part of the survival plan, the birth of the cubs was prepared for over three years.
While the names may sound like something out of a Star Wars film, Jeda and his sister, Anala both have names that pay homage to their species’ homeland.
Jeda’s means “pause” in Malay, and his sister, Anala’s name means “fiery” in Hindi.
Rama as a cub.
Sadly, a little closer to home on the Gold Coast, Dreamworld’s Tiger Island lost one their oldest bengal tigers, Rama last week.
Rama was 19-year-old and was put to sleep due to kidney failure.
He is sorely missed by the Dreamworld family.
If you want to find out how you can help save these majestic creatures head to the WWF website.
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