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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tiger gives birth, shocks Tacoma zoo staff

TACOMA – Officials at a Tacoma zoo said a Sumatran tiger named Jaya has given birth to a cub – a surprise since zoo staffers didn’t know the big cat was pregnant.

They said both mom and cub seem healthy.

Point Defiance and Aquarium officials said several ultrasounds had been performed on the tiger in the past few weeks but it’s not easy to get clear images on a standing, moving tiger. Nothing about Jaya’s behavior suggested she was about to give birth.

Veterinarians found the cub in a nest box when they were getting Jaya ready for a physical Wednesday morning.

The 9-year-old tiger has had two previous litters. The father of this cub is Malosi, who moved to Point Defiance from Honolulu Zoo last year.

The cub’s gender wasn’t immediately determined.