Sumatran tiger

He’s sleek, he’s handsome, and he’s the newest tiger at our zoo.

Bandar, born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo on Aug. 5, 2013, arrived here in January to be a potential mate for Kali and Kirana. We’re hoping he’ll help his endangered species grow in numbers through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.

Born April 17, 2004, Mohan came to Tacoma through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, meant to protect the genetic diversity of tigers in zoos. (We plan to pair him with one of our female tigers via artificial insemination.)

Mohan is mostly a very serious tiger, says senior staff biologist Telena Welsh. He’s very focused on knowing where the other tigers are – especially all the girls – and likes to keep track of Dumai, our other male.

His favorite food is meat cut into chunks, but he also likes chicken breast, and when he’s really excited about his food he can roll all the way over in both directions if keepers ask him to. This isn’t just a trick – it’s a behavior that helps keepers see his belly and the underside of his back feet to make sure they are healthy.

Kirana was born Oct. 8, 2014 here at the Zoo (Kali is her big sister, and Dumai her big brother.)

Kirana has always preferred to watch and learn before interacting with something or someone. As a young cub she would wander off from her mother and sisters every so often, then realize she was alone and cry until her mother found her! Now, thanks to keeper help and training, she’s more confident.

She’s also really good at standing super-still while having an ultrasound taken: tolerating a probe covered with gel and staff members around reading the monitor to check her health. Like  Mohan she loves chunk meat, and her favorite popsicles are cooked and frozen chicken. But she’s also a great hunter, and loves taking advantage of any squirrels that come into her territory!

Kali is the big sister of Kirana, born here April 17, 2013. Because she was hand-raised, she’s very interactive with her keepers. Kali loves attention and will sometimes whine when she thinks she’s not getting enough of it, keepers say! She’s pretty laid back most of the time but will protect what’s important to her – like her dinner.

Unlike most tigers, she isn’t a huge fan of swimming. But she does like hanging out next to her brother Dumai, even vocalizing in long “conversations” when they get the chance. She’s a training rock star, say keepers, lying still as long as they need her to for important health tests. But she does have a lot of energy and likes to play with a weighted ball that comes back up if you push it down.

And of course, being a cat, she loves rabbits and “blood-sicles” for treats!