Gender Reveal Party for Tiger Cubs at Adelaide Zoo

Gender Reveal Party

for Tiger Cubs at

Adelaide Zoo

Image: Zoos SA

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: January 12, 2023 1:00 pm

Adelaide Zoo have announced the gender of their Sumatran tiger cubs with help from dad, Kembali during a gender reveal party. Kembali investigated a pinata hung from a tree in his enclosure and after some impressive leaps at it he broke it open to reveal three packages inside, two pink and one blue.

The genders of the cubs were revealed to zoo staff last week during a health check where keepers got their first look at the cubs since their birth on December 21. Until now the cubs have been tucked away in a den with mother, Delilah. Along with checking the gender of the cubs vets gave their eyes and teeth a once over and checked on their heart and lung condition.

Assistant Curator of Carnivores, Chad Crittle, said the trio were in tip-top health.


“We’re extremely pleased with how they are progressing, all three are healthy and strong, and weighed in at just over 2kg,” he said. "'At eight weeks of age, the little ones will receive their first vaccination and be checked over again.''


“Delilah was amazing throughout the process and continues to show us what an amazing mum she is.''

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Now that zoo staff know the genders of the cubs they can work on determining suitable names for the curious cubs. Different groups will contribute to the naming of the cubs with one to be named in a public competition, the second, hopefully, as part of a corporate sponsorship and the third to be named by some special donors who helped bring Delilah to Adelaide Zoo.

At present the cubs are not on display to Adelaide Zoo visitors. Guests can view them in their den with mother Delilah through a TV set up at the zoos tiger exhibit.

Chad explained, “Tigers are solitary in the wild, however cubs stay with the mum until they are around two years of age. They are getting more and more confident each day and we look forward to seeing them on exhibit when they are around three months old.''


“Once they are out and about, we hope to introduce them to their dad, Kembali, through the mesh.”

Sumatran tigers are critically endangered in the wild with an estimated 400 remaining on the island of Sumatra. Populations of these majestic mammals have been in decline due to poaching for the illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction for the production of unsustainable palm oil.

The tiger cubs at Adelaide Zoo acting as an opportunity to educate guests on the benefits of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil and the need for clear labelling of palm oil.

Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)

Learn more about Sumatran Tigers!

What makes the Sumatran tiger unique among the many tiger subspecies? Find out in our fact file?

Our Favourite Sumatran Tiger Fact

You won't hear a tiger meow like your cat at home. Instead they communicate through a low chuffing noise, roars and snuffs. Roars typically show aggression while the chuff shows that the tiger is content.

Image: Zoos SA

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