Columbus Zoo welcomes 3 new tiger cubs

The baby fever that has overtaken the Cincinnati Zoo has now spread to Columbus with the addition of three new tiger cubs.

Columbus Zoo announced on Wednesday the birth of  three Amur tiger cubs. Two of the cubs were born on July 12, and the third was born the following day.

According to the zoo’s website, the newborn cubs appear to be healthy and are nursing in a behind-the-scenes denning area with their mother.

🐯🐯🐯😍 #SavingSpecies pic.twitter.com/0OaeicxmCN— Columbus Zoo (@ColumbusZoo) July 19, 2017

“Tiger cubs are quite fragile at birth, but Mara’s cubs are currently thriving under her care with the assistance of our dedicated animal care staff and veterinarians,” said President/CEO Tom Stalf. “We are pleased to welcome the cubs and to continue being a part of conservation efforts to protect the future of this species.”

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Mother, Mara, is a 10-year-old Amur tiger, who came to the Columbus Zoo in December 2010 and has had a total of three litters since her arrival seven years ago. The father of this new litter is 10-year-old Jupiter, who arrived at the Columbus Zoo in March 2015 from the Czech Republic. Jupiter’s move to the Columbus Zoo was through a partnership with the European Endangered Species Program (EEP) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) in an effort to increase the genetic health and diversity of tigers in human care.

The sex of the cubs will not be known until their check-up in the coming weeks.

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