Daseep The Tiger Cub: Baby Sumatra Tiger Born To Mother Previously Thought To Be Infertile (PHOTOS)

BERLIN — Surprise! A Sumatra tiger cub born to a mother previously thought to be infertile is in good health at the Frankfurt Zoo in Germany.

Zoo Director Manfred Niekisch says the female cub was born weighing just over two pounds (one kilogram) on Sept. 10 but has gained almost nine pounds (nearly four kilograms) from a steady milk diet.

Niekisch said Wednesday the zoo keepers dubbed the baby Daseep and have been raising her by hand after her mother rejected her at birth – common for first-time tiger moms.

Daseep is the first tiger cub born at the Frankfurt Zoo in 26 years.

• • • • Three and a half week old female tiger baby Daseep is presented at the zoo of Frankfurt, central Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010. The small tiger was born on Sept. 10, and raised by hand. A brother died right after its birth. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Comments

[Red45]

03:22 PM on 10/07/2010

Opps, the cub's a she, not a he as I said. My bad.

[Red45]

03:21 PM on 10/07/2010

What a precious little cub. Hopefully, he will reproduce and contribute to saving tigers. Those tigers still in the wild, and there are very few, will continue to be threatened and may even go extinct within the next few years. If that happens, our only hope for having tigers on the planet at all will be those tigers in captivity. 

[zula dawn]

02:19 PM on 10/07/2010

she is so cute. she's probably thinking "put me down now"

[Happyexpat]

12:45 PM on 10/07/2010

I'm sure there are many film actors who can identify with the frightened litte face in front of the papparazzi. Liam Neeson comes first to mind.

[roshni]

07:18 AM on 10/07/2010

Beautiful!!!

[epiphany24]

06:39 AM on 10/07/2010

Hey Cutie!

[ChicagoBob]

06:33 AM on 10/07/2010

Sounds more like a misdiagnoses regarding mom's infertility than a miracle.

'Miracle' gets tossed around way too much.

[negogato]

11:55 PM on 10/07/2010

every day's a miracle, oops I mean an alarm clock.

[G52]

05:39 AM on 10/07/2010

Big paws and round ears!

Got to play with a pair of baby snow leopards in the 80s They were a little rough and full of mischief, but a session I will never forget!

[Happyexpat]

12:42 PM on 10/07/2010

How fantastic! Playing with a pair of snow leopards. How and where did you do that?

[G52]

12:25 AM on 10/08/2010

A zookeeper friend who worked for the local zoo who gave me a tour after class we shared.

They are very careful and have you step in this pan of antiseptic before entering the house and exhibit grounds.

Their little claws were easily penetrating my jeans! LOL!

[G52]

12:41 AM on 10/08/2010

I believe these were some of the the first if not thee first cubs born in to captivity or a zoo.

Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA.

I no longer live in the area!

[johndpieper]

03:25 AM on 10/07/2010

What a gorgeous animal. I hope we can save these an animals from the brink. Hopefully we can increase their numbers in the wild. Until we get rid of the superstition linked to the tigers and their body parts and pelts, it's going to be a long fight. Hopefully the tigers can hold on until then. 

[I3edlam]

03:02 AM on 10/07/2010

May the gods of NEDM be praise!!!:)

[Elamdri]

01:12 AM on 10/07/2010

Look at the kitty!

[JerseyGirl4Obama]

12:20 AM on 10/07/2010

That is one beautiful animal. Simply gorgeous.

[G52]

05:42 AM on 10/07/2010

HA! She has a big round nose and a frowning mouth!

Very cool!

[SmolderingRuin]

12:11 AM on 10/07/2010

Dang, she's cute. Looks like a handful too.

[TheDreamLivesOn]

11:51 PM on 10/06/2010

What a sweetie!

[dengal]

11:06 PM on 10/06/2010

now theres some news I can relate to - so adorable.
Here's to a new life! cheers