National/World

2 Sumatran tiger cubs born at National Zoo

Thursday, August 08, 2013

This black-and-white handout photo provided by the Smithsonian's National Zoo, taken Aug. 7, 2013, shows a pair of Sumatran tiger cubs born Aug. 5, with their 4-year-old mother Damai, at the zoo in Washington. The zoo announced Thursday that the cubs born to 4-year-old Damai on Monday appear to be healthy, and the new mother has been seen grooming and nursing them. (AP Photo/Smithsonian's National Zoo)

Tags:

washington, d.c., animals, national/world

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - August 8, 2013 (WPVI) -- The National Zoo is celebrating the birth of a pair of Sumatran tiger cubs, a critically endangered species.

The zoo announced Thursday that the cubs born to 4-year-old Damai on Monday appear to be healthy and the new mother has been seen grooming and nursing them.

This is Damai's first litter, sired by 12-year-old Kavi. Damai arrived at the zoo in 2011 from the San Diego Zoo and Kavi came a year ago from Zoo Atlanta.

The zoo confirmed Damai's pregnancy in June through an ultrasound after she gained weight and exhibited behaviors indicating she could be pregnant.

Damai is being remotely monitored to allow her to bond with her cubs. The cubs won't be exhibited for several months, but fans can watch them on webcams.