Tiny tiger born at San Diego Zoo receiving around-the-clock care
SAN DIEGO -- An endangered Sumatran tiger cub born last week at the San Diego Zoo is now being hand-reared and cared for around-the-clock, zoo officials say, reports CBS Los Angeles.
The zoo tells CBS LA the tiny cub is the first to be hand-reared at the park since 1984 and the 26th of its kind to be born at Safari Park.
"Our little Sumatran tiger cub here at the care center was born on September the 14th to first-time parents Joanne and Teddy," said Lissa McCaffree the lead keeper of the Mammal department.
Keepers noticed the cub was losing weight after its birth under its mothers care and decided it needed more care.
"He was being taken care of by Joanne for a few days and then it was noticed that he started dropping a little bit of weight and Joanne wasn't paying as much attention to him," McCaffree said.
CBS LA reports that the decision was made to move the cub to the Paul Harter Animal Care Center where it's being fed seven times a day with specially made formula.
"We're very happy with our little cub's progress; he took to the bottle and started nursing right away," McCaffree said.
Officials say the cub now weighs 3.36 pounds and is walking around his nursery.
"He's been gaining weight very consistently each day, and last night he reached a milestone--he opened his eyes for the first time," she said.