North American Sumatran Tiger Population

I’m assuming Raja was transferred out of Point Defiance due to fatally injuring Kirana at PD during an introduction, rather than being re-paired with one her siblings? Unless they’ve noted sustained aggressive behaviour, I feel like his young age and experience played a part - anecdotally, I can name three similar examples.

Badar (Raja’s full brother at Topeka) has just left for an unknown destination, so is the most likely candidate imo; followed by their father, Sanjiv.

 

Raja was sent to Phoenix earlier this year. Phoenix also has a female (Joanne) but I don’t believe this is a breeding pair; Joanne has been retired after her many successful litters at the Safari Park. Raja’s aggressive behaviour may have been deemed to risky for another introduction. He’s still young, so maybe he might be re paired when he’s older, but for now he’s in a non breeding situation.

The two males at Topeka are most likely imo too.

 

Yes, Raja is non breeding at Phoenix.

Had Point Defiance wanted to continue with breeding from Raja, there’d have been no harm in waiting a year or two before resuming introductions to another female. Wellington Zoo did this in the 1990’s after their young male killed his first mate.

I’d assume then that the SSP and/or Point Defiance felt it was an unnecessary risk when Raja has full siblings that could be paired instead within the region/at Point Defiance.

Interestingly, pairings of mother raised tigers with opposite sex siblings are favoured due to their socialisation - so Raja ticked all the boxes with regards to rearing. It was likely just his age/inexperience at the end of the day.

 

@IndianRhino once the recent transfers are completed, would it be possible to please provide an updated list of the current population (like the start of this thread) by location?

 

Of course! I'm planning on posting a full list in early January

 

Another transfer is on the horizon! Kansas City’s other male, Thomas, will be headed to Topeka within the next couple weeks.

Source: Instagram

 

Sparky has sadly passed away today at Zoo Atlanta.

ZOO ATLANTA MOURNS LOSS OF SPARKY THE TIGER | Zoo Atlanta

 

Male, Sanjiv (born 2011 at Zoo Atlanta) is confirmed to have moved from Topeka to Point Defience in December.

Thomas will leave Kansas City for Topeka later this month.

 

OKC - 1.0 “Kami Sambol” has been transferred to another zoo and 1.0 “Badar” has arrived from Topeka Zoo.

 

(1.1) Sumatran tigers named Seattle and Chrissie passed away at the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii on January 5th and January 10th respectively due to the progression of kidney disease.

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A note that Chrissie (1999) was believed to be the oldest living Sumatran tiger in the world prior to her death. The historical record for longevity was set by Djelita (1991-2016), who also lived at Honolulu Zoo.

The oldest living Sumatran tiger in the world is now believed to be Mencari at Hamilton Zoo (New Zealand) - a first cousin of Djelita.

 

I just saw on a Facebook post that "Bandar" is now on habitat at Busch Gardens Tampa, might it be a typo for Bandar? It's highly unusual that Busch would now have "Bengal", Malayan, and Sumatran tigers.
@Zoofan15 ?

 

Bandar transferred out of Point Defiance in December, so it’s possible he’s been moved here ahead of Busch Gardens phasing out either Malayans or generics. White tigers have always been a big crowd puller, so possibly Malayans are on their way out.

That said, they do have three tiger exhibits and could accomodate three groupings with off display dens as well.

 

Yeah, they have a few (or more) generics and only one Malayan IIRC, so assumably phasing out Malayan. I'm OK for that if it's the case, with Zoo Tampa having Malayan it's nice to have something different locally.

 

Quite likely it is Bandar from Point Defiance.

As @PSO said in the news thread:

 

Here's a long overdue update to this thread!

January 2023 Update

Summary of Events

Four cubs were born in 2022 - OKC Zoo welcomed 1.1 cubs (Kami Sambol x Lola) in July 2022 and Wildlife Safari had 0.2 cubs (Dumai x Kemala) in October 2022.

10 (7.3) tigers have unfortunately passed away since the last update (January 2022) - namely Ratu (Memphis), Jai (Phoenix), Heran (Louisville), Marah (Landry's Downtown Aquarium), Leanne (San Francisco), Teddy (SDZSP), Manis (Dallas), Sparky (Atlanta), Seattle (Honolulu), and Christie (Honolulu). Fortunately, all of these tigers were relatively older animals with the youngest of the bunch being 15 years old and the oldest being 23 years old.

A ton of transfers have occurred in the last year or so! Unfortunately, I don't have the time to list out all of them at the moment but I figured I'd get this update posted now since it's already late January and I promised to have it posted in early January itself. However, these transfers will all be reflected in the updated population list, of course.

Updated List

Spoiler

Akron Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Eko (Kami Sambol x Lola) July 8th, 2017 at Oklahoma City Zoo
0.1 Diburu (Teddy x Joanne) January 28th, 2016 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Baton Rouge Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Bimo (Kucing x Maharani) April 19th, 2012 at Cameron Park Zoo

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Bandar (Kavi x Damai) August 5th, 2013 at Smithsonian National Zoo

Cameron Park Zoo - 2.1 (3)
1.0 Kucing (Utan x Delta) November 13th, 2008 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
1.0 Satu (Berani x Leeloo) November 14th, 2015 at Zoo Miami
0.1 Maharani (Rokan x Soyono) May 24th, 2006 at Smithsonian National Zoo

Dallas Zoo - 1.5 (6)
1.0 Kuasa (Manning x Lulu) August 6th, 2011 at Los Angeles Zoo
0.1 Melati (Rokan x Soyono) May 24th, 2006 at Smithsonian National Zoo
0.1 Hadiah (Rakata x Jojo) December 12th, 2006 at Woodland Park Zoo
0.1 Sukacita (Kavi x Damai) August 5th, 2013 at Smithsonian National Zoo
0.1 Sumini (Kuasa x Sukacita) August 2nd, 2021 at Dallas Zoo
0.1 Nety (Kuasa x Sukacita) December 6th, 2021 at Dallas Zoo

Disney’s Animal Kingdom - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Conrad (Utan x Delta) March 5th, 2012 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
0.1 Sohni (Kavi x Chelsea) July 5th, 2011 at Zoo Atlanta

Fort Wayne’s Children’s Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Bugara (Kucing x Maharani) August 16th, 2011 at Cameron Park Zoo
0.1 Indah (Kucing x Maharani) August 15th, 2011 at Cameron Park Zoo

Greensboro Science Center - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Rocky (Berani x Dorcas) November 20th, 2017 at Jacksonville Zoo
0.1 Raza (Rojo x Jingga) May 4th, 2014 at Topeka Zoo

Hattiesburg Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Kipling (Castro x Bahagia) November 26th, 2006 at Sacramento Zoo

Honolulu Zoo - 0.1 (1)
0.1 Anala (Malosi x Sohni) August 17th, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Jackson Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Eko (Emerson x Sari) May 20th, 2014 at Jackson Zoo
0.1 Sari (Utan x Delta) December 5th, 2006 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Jacksonville Zoo - 0.2 (2)
0.1 Dorcas (Raguno x Suriya) July 9th, 2011 at Oklahoma City Zoo
0.1 Kinleigh Rose (Berani x Dorcas) November 19th, 2015 at Jacksonville Zoo

Kansas City Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Bintang (Sanjiv x Jingga) October 15th, 2018 at Topeka Zoo

Landry’s Downtown Aquarium - 3.0 (3)
1.0 Besar (Rokan x Soyono) May 2nd, 2004 at Smithsonian National Zoo
1.0 Luhahn (Dumai x Riya) July 11th, 2021 at Wildlife Safari
1.0 Rudi (Kuasa x Sukacita) December 6th, 2021 at Dallas Zoo

Lincoln Children’s Zoo - 2.0 (2)
1.0 Kumar (Teddy x Joanne) September 14th, 2015 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
1.0 Axl (Teddy x Joanne) January 28th, 2016 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Los Angeles Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 CJ (Castro x Bahagia) March 3rd, 2013 at Sacramento Zoo

Louisville Zoo - 1.2 (3)
1.0 Kami Sambol (George x Leanne) March 6th, 2008 at San Francisco Zoo
0.1 Leela (Masuji x Tabib) April 17th, 2004 at Louisville Zoo
0.1 Jingga (Castro x Bahagia) March 18th, 2010 at Sacramento Zoo

Memphis Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Gusti (Kami Sambol x Lola) July 8th, 2017 at Oklahoma City Zoo
0.1 Dari (Malosi x Jaya) October 8th, 2014 at Point Defiance Zoo

Miller Park Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Rojo (Utan x Delta) December 5th, 2006 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Nashville Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Felix (Berani x Dorcas) November 20th, 2017 at Jacksonville Zoo
0.1 Francis (Rojo x Jingga) May 4th, 2014 at Topeka Zoo

Oklahoma City Zoo - 2.2 (4)
1.0 Badar (Sanjiv x Jingga) October 15th, 2018 at Topeka Zoo
1.0 Bob (Kami Sambol x Lola) July 2nd, 2022 at Oklahoma City Zoo
0.1 Lola (Raguno x Suriya) July 9th, 2011 at Oklahoma City Zoo
0.1 Luna (Kami Sambol x Lola) July 2nd, 2022 at Oklahoma City Zoo

Phoenix Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Raja (Sanjiv x Jingga) October 15th, 2018 at Topeka Zoo
0.1 Joanne (Utan x Delta) October 5th, 2010 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Point Defiance Zoo - 1.2 (3)
1.0 Sanjiv (Kavi x Chelsea) July 5th, 2011 at Zoo Atlanta
0.1 Kali (Malosi x Jaya) April 17th, 2013 at Point Defiance Zoo
0.1 Indah (Malosi x Jaya) October 8th, 2014 at Point Defiance Zoo

San Antonio Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Jeda (Malosi x Sohni) August 17th, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
0.1 Royal Ja’Malle (Raguno x Kemala) August 3rd, 2013 at San Antonio Zoo

San Diego Zoo Safari Park - 1.4 (5)
1.0 Rakan (Sparky x Damai) July 11th, 2017 at Smithsonian National Zoo
0.1 Majel (Utan x Delta) October 5th, 2010 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
0.1 Jillian (Larry x Leanne) February 10th, 2013 at San Francisco Zoo
0.1 Diana (Raguno x Kemala) August 3rd, 2013 at San Antonio Zoo
0.1 Cathy (Teddy x Joanne) January 28th, 2016 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Smithsonian National Zoo - 0.1 (1)
0.1 Damai (Utan x Delta) November 13th, 2008 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Topeka Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Thomas (Utan x Delta) March 5th, 2012 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Toronto Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Harimau Kayu (Utan x Delta) November 13th, 2008 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
0.1 Kemala (Manning x Lulu) June 3rd, 2007 at Los Angeles Zoo

Wildlife Safari - 1.5 (6)
1.0 Dumai (Malosi x Jaya) August 22nd, 2012 at Point Defiance Zoo
0.1 Riya (Kucing x Maharani) April 19th, 2012 at Cameron Park Zoo
0.1 Kemala (Kucing x Maharani) April 19th, 2012 at Cameron Park Zoo
0.1 Phoebe (Dumai x Riya) July 11th, 2021 at Wildlife Safari
0.1 TBD (Dumai x Kemala) October 29th, 2022 at Wildlife Safari
0.1 TBD (Dumai x Kemala) October 29th, 2022 at Wildlife Safari

Zoo Atlanta - 0.1 (1)
0.1 Chelsea (Rengat x Brytne) July 10th, 2003 at Toronto Zoo

Zoo Miami - 1.2 (3)
1.0 Berani (George x Leanne) March 6th, 2008 at San Francisco Zoo
0.1 Leeloo (Raguno x Suriya) July 9th, 2011 at Oklahoma City Zoo
0.1 Ndari (Berani x Leeloo) January 5th, 2021 at Zoo Miami

 

Kinleigh-Rose moved from Jacksonville to Topeka on February 15. Per the articles below, she will be known as Nisha.

Topeka Zoo’s new female tiger arrived

https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/second-new-tiger-arrives-at-topeka-zoo/

 

Great name

 

It’s a name I doubt we’ll ever see used on Sumatran tiger within Australasia again. So iconic was Nisha, it’s not hard to imagine this name has been retired like a jersey number.

Curiously, it’s not an Indonesian name, but rather a Hindi name making it a strange choice for two different Sumatran tigers - but a nice name nonetheless.

 

Does anyone have any info on Woodland Park Zoo's former Sumatran tigers? I am aware that they were held until 2012, and had a decently successful breeding program.