An Amur Tiger Cub Named Almaz Born in Nordens Ark Zoo in Sweden
Almaz was born in early November. The zoo staff had been waiting for his birth for a long time. He has already opened his eyes, and weighs almost five kilograms, but so far he only eats and sleeps near his mother's tummy. Nearby is an open enclosure, where the cub will go out to meet the world, but he will always be able to return to his “nest” with a lot of hay, where it is warm and safe, and where he can have a tasty lunch and a good night's sleep.
His dad, the tiger Yegor, came to Nordens Ark Zoo from the Swedish Orsa Rovdjursparkin February 2021. And his mother Sparta was brought from Russia, her story is more dramatic. In February 2007, two starving tiger cubs came to the road near a remote Primorye village where lumber men picked them up and called the Inspection Tiger. Four-month-old orphaned tiger cubs were brought back to life by all efforts: one of the inspectors sheltered them in the courtyard, veterinarians from Vladivostok and the Moscow Zoo provided consultations, examination and treatment, charitable organizations including WWF Russia donated funds for medicines and food. Both local villagers and people from other regions were involved in rescuing Constance and Sparta, as the cubs were named. After the striped pets got stronger and recovered, Constance was moved to the Russian Penza zoo, and Sparta went to Sweden. They became part of the Amur Tiger European Breeding Program.
Both tigers had cubs before, but Almaz is their first joint highly-valued “product”. That is why the cub was named Almaz, because he is as precious as this mineral. The son of Sparta and Yegor will stay in the zoo and will become a new breeding animal.
Watch this happy striped couple on live feed from the tiger den:
Here is tiger cub’s medical examination.
(с) Marie Mattsson / Nordens Ark