Tacoma tiger cub to get buddy from Oklahoma

Tacoma’s month-old Sumatran tiger cub is getting a little buddy and the news comes on the day of his official Point Defiance Zoo debut.

The cub, Dumai, is being bottle-fed because his mom couldn’t care for him. Zookeepers don’t want him to miss out on developing social skills, so they’ll be bringing in a Malayan cub from the zoo in Tulsa, Okla.

Thanks to a generous donor, Berani will be flown into town on a private jet on Oct. 10.

Both Berani and Dumai will spend time together in the zoo’s tiger den and join the display during regular zoo hours.

“We’re thrilled that this cub is coming to Tacoma and that these two endangered tigers will be able to grow and socialize together,” said Karen Goodrowe Beck, general curator of Point
Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

“It is a privilege for us to take on the responsibility of rearing them and ensuring they will be able to contribute to their respective populations. The recommendation for Berani to come here is a testament to our skilled staff and our facilities.”

Berani and Dumai were both the only cub in a litter, which the zoo said is a rare occurrence. The average litter size for both sub-species is two or three.