The cubs' mother, Zayana. Photo: Supplied via Auckland Zoo / Kathleen Otto
Auckland Zoo's Sumatran tiger habitat is closed to the public, after one of its new cubs was injured during a fall.
The cub is one of two siblings born on 2 January. Both were estimated to weigh a little under 1kg, the zoo said at the time.
In its latest statement, the zoo said the male cub was exploring the enclosure on Saturday, when he took a tumble and was injured.
He was moved to the vet hospital and was reintroduced to his mother and sister yesterday, after showing signs of improvement.
However, the zoo said the tigers' habitat will remain temporarily closed to provide a quiet environment for the cub's recovery and to keep him suckling normally.
Both cubs were born to five-year-old Sumatran tiger Zayana. Last September the first-time mother also gave birth to two cubs, but one of them died during delivery. Left with only one offspring, the tiger killed the cub in an instinctual attack.
The latest birth follows a breeding recommendation from Zoos and Aquariums Association of Australasia Sumatran tiger Species Management Plan for parents Zayana and male Ramah.
The regional programme is part of the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums global species management plan for this critically endangered big cat whose population numbers fewer than 400 in the wild.
Internally within zoos, there are close to another 400 animals, as part of zoos' global breeding and advocacy programme for the species.