Sumatran Tiger Cub 2024

GRRRRRREAT NEWS!

The Louisville Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of a Sumatran tiger cub, marking the Zoo’s first tiger birth in over two decades. The cub, born at 7:40 p.m. on July 23, 2024, is the offspring of 16-year-old male Kami Sambal and 14-year-old female Jingga,. Both mother and cub are doing exceptionally well, with Jingga displaying all the nurturing behaviors of an experienced mother, including grooming, nursing, and carrying her newborn.

Currently, the cub is bonding with Jingga behind the scenes. Stay tuned to our official channels and website for updates on when you can see the cub in person. In the meantime, follow the cub’s early moments via our Tiger Cub Cam below.

And be sure to vote for a new name! (See details below)

support our new cub

TIGER CUB WEBCAM (View #1)

TIGER CUB WEBCAM (View #2)

Watch Jingga and her cub as they bond behind-the-scenes at the Louisville Zoo in their private den. Follow this page or our social media channels for announcements on when mother and cub will be on exhibit.

Please Note:

Jingga needs to take occasional short breaks throughout the day, but will keep monitoring her cub, even if she is not always in view.
Both tigers have access to a larger space outside the maternity den and may not always be visible. Currently, the only active livestream camera is in the den.

MEET THE PARENTS

Mother: Jingga

Jingga arrived at the Louisville Zoo in 2022 from Topeka Zoo in Kansas. Jingga was born in 2011. She is on rotation in the Islands with Kami. How can you tell them apart? According to her keepers, Jingga loves to swim in the water, so if you see a tiger in the streams, it’s probably Jingga!

Dad: Kami Sambal

Kami Sambal, or Kami for short, is a male Sumatran tiger, born in 2008. He is on rotation in the Islands along with Jingga. Kami joined the Louisville Zoo in 2023 from the Oklahoma City Zoo.
The Louisville Zoo is saddened to announce the passing of Kami Sambal on July 23, 2024. Read the media release.

SUPPORT OUR TIGERS

Your support ensures this amazing cub and its parents receive top-notch care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, engaging enrichment activities, and all the essentials they need to thrive. Donations of any amount will help safeguard the future of this critically endangered species.

GIVE TODAY!

NAMING CONTEST

Help us find a name for this adorable cub.

The Louisville Zoo invites the community to participate in a naming contest sponsored by Norton Children’s. Vote daily through October 8, 2024 at 11 p.m. (EST)

Vote today!

ADOPT A TIGER & CUB

In honor of our new tiger cub birth, for a limited time, you or your loved one can become a symbolic parent of both Jingga and her cub for only $99.

Every package will be mailed with the following:

An adoption certificate
An animal fact sheet
A Louisville Zoo magnet
Plush tiger and cub
2 general admission passes
Adoptive parent recognized on website for 1 year

Limited quantities available.

adopt tiger jingga and cub!

SUMATRAN TIGER CUB FAQ

Sumatran Tigers, the smallest of all tiger subspecies, are critically endangered according to the International Union of Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Fewer than 400 individuals are estimated to remain in the wild due to habitat loss from palm oil plantations. These majestic creatures are exclusively found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Adult females typically weigh between 165 and 245 pounds, while males range from 220 to 310 pounds.

What sex is the cub? The health and comfort of mom and cub is of the utmost importance. To ensure that Jingga and her cub are able to bond successfully during this important time, keepers will respect their privacy. It will be several weeks before we know the sex of the cub.
Have you picked a name? A naming contest presented by Norton Children’s will be coming soon. Stay tuned on this page and the Louisville Zoo’s social media for updates at facebook.com/louisvillezoo.
Are they on exhibit and can we visit mom and cub? Jingga and her cub are currently bonding; this critical period will last several weeks. Zoo fans are welcome to watch mom and cub on our Sumatran tiger webcam in the meantime.
Are mom and cub healthy? Jingga presents all the characteristics of a good mother tiger. The cub is nursing successfully and exploring the den even though its eyes will not open for weeks. Keepers will continue to monitor the cub and mom for any changes.

CLICK FOR MORE FAQs

Will the father see the cub? The father lives in the same section the Islands facility but in separate bedrooms near each other with limited visual access. Tigers do not coparent. Lions are the only big cat species where the cats live together in groups.
How big will the cub be? Females can weigh between 165 – 245 pounds and males between 220 – 310 pounds.
Do Jingga or Kami have any other offspring? Jingga and Kami have had offspring with other tigers, combining to a total of 12 cubs overall! These offspring are in a variety of locations including Nashville, Oregon and Memphis. In fact, Jingga and Kami are grandparents already.
What do Sumatran tigers eat? At the Louisville Zoo, our Sumatran tigers eat a feline diet with assorted bones. In the wild, their pray is wild pigs, monkeys, birds, fish, and reptiles.
Are Sumatran tigers endangered? Sumatran tigers are listed as critically endangered. They are included on the International Union of Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species due to habitat loss from the expansion of palm oil plantations. It is estimated that there are fewer than 400 in the remnant wild. Sumatran tigers are the smallest of the tiger subspecies and are found only on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
What can the public do to help protect Sumatran tigers in the wild? Two great ways to help Sumatran tigers are to learn about them and share that information with others! Did you know that just by visiting the Louisville Zoo, a portion of every admission and membership goes to help animals at home and worldwide?

You can read more in our Sumatran tiger Fact Sheet.

More Louisville Zoo Animal Cams

GLACIER RUN WEBCAM

Watch our seals and sea lions splash, jump, zoom and bask in and out of the water. Be sure to log on at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., or 3:45 p.m. to watch a training demonstration with our pinnipeds and their keepers. Animal demonstrations are subject to change based on weather, maintenance and the needs of the animals.

Watch Now…

MEERKAT WEBCAM

Watch the mob explore their exhibit, discover and investigate enrichment items and interact with each other in a unique hierarchical system. On this page you can also learn more about our meerkats and download supporting materials and activities.