Tiger Cub Triplets Debut At Bronx Zoo (VIDEO)

Two sets of rare tiger triplets recently debuted to the public at the Bronx Zoo.

In this video, CBS got an exclusive first look at the cubs, which were born this past spring. The birth of the six cubs is quite remarkable for the critically endangered species, as only about 27 cubs have been born in U.S. zoos in the last decade, CBS reports.

Three of the cubs are Siberian tigers, which will grow to be around 600 pounds, and the other triplets are smaller Malayan tigers, which will be around 200 pounds when full grown. There is only one female out of the six cubs.

The director of the Bronx Zoo describes the infant tigers as ambassadors for their wild counterparts, of which only 3500 are estimated to remain, and stresses the importance of efforts to preserve the natural environments that are tiger habitats as essential to their survival.

WATCH:

Comments

[LogicCircuit]

12:04 AM on 10/12/2010

Does anyone get sad when looking at these creatures in captivity? I don't go to zoos but imagine I'd be very sad if I went there.

[kareemachan]

12:28 PM on 10/12/2010

It's not a perfect world, but please remember that most zoos these days are in the business of educating people and saving species. It's unfortunate that the best hope for many species is the fact that there are breeding populations in zoos. And educating people is JUST as important, as hopefully so many animals won't be killed just for their horns, their gall bladder, some mythical property that some small part of them have.

[LogicCircuit]

04:00 PM on 10/16/2010

I in general understand what you're saying , and in the back of my mind know you're right. I just don't feel that zoos/parents are doing enough the let kids realize it's not natural for animals to be in captivity. I think most kids and parents look at the zoo as something fun to do, and don't think of what it means for the animals.

[vetxcl]

08:25 PM on 10/11/2010

get your pictures of them while you can. fast forward ten years and you could be watching someone getting a sizeable estimate for one on antiques roadshow.

[Jdaddy1951]

08:53 AM on 10/10/2010

My Russian Blue kitten, Dixie Sugarbelle, says these kittens are cute, but she's cuter. She also thinks more people should adopt cats and feed them tuna.

[CanUFeel2012]

06:12 AM on 10/10/2010

Don't come crying when they decide to act like tigers and mess you up...

[I3edlam]

02:53 AM on 10/09/2010

lol, wtf is Huffpo's obsession with tigers? Every time I look in Green there is some new article on tigers. Does anyone else understand it?

[RButler]

06:44 AM on 10/09/2010

Because 'mama grizzlies' just aren't that lovable.

[kapalabhati]

08:24 AM on 10/09/2010

Cause tigers are awesome?

[DawnLI]

11:41 PM on 10/08/2010

I want one! And I want to name it... Audrey!

[kapalabhati]

08:25 AM on 10/09/2010

Feed me!

[vetxcl]

08:29 PM on 10/11/2010

they want you too - for dinner.

[Shaktiva]

10:25 PM on 10/08/2010

Is this specified for an area? I can't seem to watch it in The Netherlands...

[anney]

09:21 AM on 10/09/2010

I can't watch it either, and I'm in the US. Tried three different browsers, removed ad blocking, still cannot see it.

So, phooey!

[Uproar]

09:45 PM on 10/08/2010

Another successful round of artificial insemination for captive animals who live in cages and are forced to have cubs every year to keep visitors coming and paying their entry fees.

[kapalabhati]

08:25 AM on 10/09/2010

Would you prefer extinction? Yeah, thought so.

[ScapeGoat]

08:42 AM on 10/09/2010

Exactly correct. Zoo's have changed there function (long ago) from just being displays to keeping animals form going extinct.

[Uproar]

12:47 PM on 10/09/2010

No, but they don't need to act like the animals mated voluntarily and gave birth. Every few years, the Bronx Zoo promotes itself with a "babies" campaign all over the city. Pretty much every animal has had a litter, which people can come and see during the summer. Obviously, they are inseminating all the animals just in time to make a profit. They should stop pretending that these animals are living like they do in the wild. THey are in cages.

[Roses]

08:28 PM on 10/08/2010

Sadly, many animals' habitats are being destroyed and they will only exist in zoos.
Extinction of some species is taking place every day.

[G52]

11:37 PM on 10/10/2010

Exactly!

[jeremylh1]

08:13 PM on 10/08/2010

CLOSE ALL ZOOS NOW.

[HBHB]

08:30 PM on 10/08/2010

I'm with you but at the same time the Bronx Zoo is different. I've seen many anti-zoo folks actually enjoy their time spent at this zoo. Some even going to point of not wanting to call it a "zoo".

[jeremylh1]

02:08 AM on 10/09/2010

Well, I haven't been to the Bronx "zoo" so I cannot speak of it, but I have been to the San Diego zoo and the like. It's still animals in cages for our viewing pleasure. We need to close all the zoos and stop captive breeding all together. We can then use those resources to buy the land where the animals are endangered and protect those species. It's the only viable solution in my opinion. Every time "two sets of rare tiger triplets" are born in captivity, it's essentially "tigers born in captivity" which is a completely different species than what they would be in the wild. I understand zoos are fun for kids and entertaining, but we're talking about losing these animals in the wild forever. People need to get a HDTV and watch "Planet Earth", "BBC Life", etc...

[G52]

03:58 AM on 10/09/2010

Its the last refuge for some species!

[jeremylh1]

01:10 PM on 10/10/2010

It doesn't have to be. Close all zoos, generate hundreds of billions worldwide. Buy the land in their habitats and protect the species. Done.

[Elamdri]

07:06 PM on 10/08/2010

BABY KITTIES!!!

[lisakaz2]

06:34 PM on 10/08/2010

Awwwwww, Of course, already even the tiny one can rip your leg off.

[kapalabhati]

08:30 AM on 10/09/2010

And would be adorable doing it. :D

[xlntcat]

04:18 PM on 10/09/2010

That is why it is important to exercise and increase your neurotransmitters so that you can engage your frontal cortex and keep you leg out of their territory.

[Milash]

06:08 PM on 10/08/2010

Watch out Michelle Duggar.

[ErinMae]

06:48 PM on 10/08/2010

Best line of the day!

[kapalabhati]

08:30 AM on 10/09/2010

Ewww. LOL.