Auckland Zoo is the new home for Sumatran tigers Zayana and Ramah. Photo: Kyla F/Supplied
Two new Sumatran tigers who will be paired together to breed will soon be introduced to Auckland Zoo.
The big cats arrived in Auckland on Wednesday morning from the United States, the zoo said in a statement.
Five-year-old Ramah came from Oklahoma City Zoo and 4-year-old Zayana came from Topeka Zoo and Conservation Centre in Kansas.
A mandatory 30-day quarantine period has begun before they will be free to roam the zoo enclosure.
Zayana is a 4-year-old Sumatran tiger from Topeka Zoo and Conservation Centre in Kansas. Photo: Auckland Zoo/Supplied
Auckland Zoo's curator of mammals Warren Spencer said it was a "really exciting day" for zoo staff.
"International animal transfers like this take an incredible amount of planning and are logistically complex. It's always an amazing team effort between the participating zoos and relevant authorities to successfully achieve, and Ramah and Zayana's moves here have been no exception.
"These two young cats come to us with a breeding recommendation from the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Global Species Management Plan for Sumatran tigers and bring valuable new genetics to enhance and sustain the Australasian region's population."
Ramah is a 5-year-old Sumatran tiger from Oklahoma City Zoo. Photo: Andrea J/Supplied
Once part of their quarantine is over, Ramah and Zayana will be moving into the brand new South East Asia Jungle Track at the zoo.
Carnivore team leader Lauren Booth said the tigers had a range of spaces in the habitat.
"They've got such a diversity of terrains and habitat features - with the ability to be up high on the bridges and high ridges, cool off in the pool and waterfall and beach areas, or rest and shelter in outdoor dens or in the shade of bamboo stands."
The pair will join Sali - a 14-year-old Sumatran tiger who relocated from Hamilton Zoo earlier this year.