Two Amur tiger cubs were born in the afternoon on Nov. 6, making them the newest set of cubs at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo since 2020.
The zoo will be putting together a naming contest for the cubs on their social media, with a campaign starting near the end of the month. The cubs should be named by Valentine’s Day. Travis Vineyard, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's Animal Curator, said the naming of the animals is a special experience and not typically decided by the public.
“It's always kind of a coveted experience to be able to name the animals. We get to experience that in the animal care world, but the public is often very curious about how they [the animals] get their names,” Vineyard says. “So we'd like to share the joy in being able to name something.”
The cubs are set to make their debut near the end of January once they receive their final vaccines at their 12-week checkup.
“They’re doing fantastic,” Vineyard says, “When they were first born, obviously they’re interested in nursing and sleeping, but now they're much more active, coordinated, walking and playing with each other and being a little bit more independent.”
The cubs will remain in the habitat with their mother, Zoya, for around two years while they grow, before they find their new home, which is all the more reason to see them before it’s too late.
The zoo participates in strategic breeding and transfer plans for their animals based on genetics and other various demographics. This means that the cubs will eventually be transferred to another zoo based on the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s partnership with other accredited facilities.
Those interested in participating in the naming contest can follow the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Instagram @clemetzoo for updates.
For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.
