This Saturday, Sept. 6, Mawar, a 6-year-old female Sumatran tiger whose name means “rose” in Indonesian, will make her public debut at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
Born January 17, 2019, at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, Mawar recently completed a mandatory quarantine period at Memphis Zoo before traveling with keepers on a FedEx plane to Washington.
“Our team was with Mawar every step of the way to ensure her comfort and safety,” said Telena Welsh, curator of Asian animals at Point Defiance Zoo. “Traveling such a long distance can be stressful, but she handled it incredibly well.”
Mawar’s arrival marks the culmination of an international collaboration years in the making—one that involved careful planning, extensive coordination, and the shared commitment of three accredited zoos and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan®.
“International transfers like this are rare and represent a significant achievement in global conservation efforts,” said Welsh.
Mawar is adjusting well to her new home in Tacoma and will begin exploring her outdoor rotating habitats this weekend.
“Mawar is a cautious explorer who likes to thoroughly investigate her surroundings before making herself at home,” said Welsh. “She’s very vocal, often ‘talking’ to her keepers and showing curiosity about the other tigers nearby.”
While it takes time to earn her trust, once she’s comfortable, Mawar becomes playful, brave, and forms strong bonds with her animal care team, Welsh added.
Mawar joins two other female Sumatran tigers at the zoo: Kali, a tiger born at Point Defiance Zoo in 2013 known for her spirited personality and love of keeper attention, and Indah, a mellow and social tiger who returned to Tacoma in 2021 after being born here in 2014. All three rotate through the habitats in the zoo’s Asian Forest Sanctuary, offering guests a chance to observe their distinct personalities and behaviors.
Fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild, facing constant threats from poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. Mawar’s arrival is part of a broader commitment to the care and conservation of Sumatran tigers. While her presence doesn’t directly impact wild populations, she inspires public awareness and support. She also brings valuable genetic diversity to the North American Sumatran tiger population managed through AZA-accredited zoos.
Point Defiance Zoo is a recognized leader in Sumatran tiger conservation. The zoo participates in AZA’s Species Survival Plan®, which works to ensure genetically healthy tiger populations in human care, and partners with international organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society and Tiger Conservation Campaign to support field efforts in Sumatra.
“Animals like Mawar help people connect emotionally with species they may never see in the wild,” said Welsh. “That connection is what inspires action, whether it’s supporting habitat conservation, learning more about wildlife, or simply caring enough to make a difference.”
To learn more about Sumatran tigers and how you can help, visit https://www.pdza.org/care/save-tigers/