The San Antonio Zoo is celebrating
the debut of twin female Sumatran Tiger cubs. 
Born on August 3, the sisters are healthy and playful.  The photos chronicle their growth, from their
first checkup to playing with pumpkins at Halloween.

Photo Credit:  San Antonio Zoo

The zoo staff waited a few weeks
before announcing the birth because the cubs’ mother, Kemala, was a first-time
mom.  This gave the new family time to
bond in their den – similar to how mothers with newborn cubs behave in the wild
– without disturbances from staff and guests. 
The cubs’ father, Raguno, has been moved to a separate enclosure since
the birth.

Because Sumatran Tigers are
critically endangered, these cubs represent an important contribution to the
future of this species.  The breeding of
Kemala and Raguno was recommended by the Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan,
which seeks to ensure genetic diversity in zoo-managed populations of
threatened species.   

Fewer than 400 Sumatran Tigers
remain on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, where they are threatened with
habitat destruction and poaching for their body parts.

See more photos of the cubs below the fold.