Three Sumatran tiger cubs have undergone their first health checks at Attica Zoological Park near Athens, receiving vaccinations and microchips for identification. Born in July, the two-month-old cubs were briefly separated from their mother for the examination.
Veterinary staff checked the cubs’ health, weighed them and gave each a vaccine before returning them to their enclosure. The procedure was carried out quickly to limit stress, as the young tigers are not accustomed to being handled by people.
Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, with only an estimated 400 to 500 believed to remain in the wild. Zoos are helping maintain a safety population that could support future reintroduction efforts. The three cubs are expected to be named after characters from Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’.