Two Sumatran tiger cubs were born at the Smithsonian National Zoo, officials said Thursday.
The cubs were born Monday at about 6:15 p.m. and 8:23 p.m. Their eyes are still closed, but keepers said the pair is climbing on their mother.
It will be some time before animal keepers can get a closer look at the new family, zoo officials said, but judging from cameras trained on the tiger den, mother Damai was spending most of her time nursing and cleaning her cubs.
Zoo officials called the births a “conservation success” because Sumatran tigers are endangered.
Officials said the cub would likely not be on exhibit for several months.
Keepers confirmed the pregnancy in late June via an ultrasound. The cubs’ father is 12-year-old Kavi. The two tigers bred between December and mid-April.
• Meredith Somers can be reached at msomers@washingtontimes.com.
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