In a heartwarming start to February, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo gained a new striped family member — Indrah, a two-month-old Malayan tiger cub from Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. She joins two Amur tiger cubs born at Cleveland in December, instantly stepping into the role of “big sister.”
Since her arrival, Indrah has blended effortlessly with her new companions. “They get along very well,” said Chris Kuhar, the zoo’s executive director. “You never know how it will go—especially with tigers—but they’re acting like they’ve been siblings all along.”
The cubs’ journey to this point hasn’t been without challenges. Both the Amur and Malayan mothers lacked the necessary maternal instincts, leaving their young vulnerable. After consulting with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which manages conservation programs, experts agreed the best chance for all three cubs was to raise them together at Cleveland.
“It helps to raise the cubs in one big group,” Kuhar explained. “Here, we can care for all three and give them the social and behavioral foundation they need.”
Though they belong to different subspecies, the cubs are being hand-reared as siblings. This early socialization is vital — once they’re strong and independent, they will move into the Rosebrough Tiger Passage, their permanent home.
Raising tigers together not only prepares them for life in adulthood but also preserves natural behaviors essential for survival. “They learn ‘tiger behavior’ that way—something humans can’t teach,” Kuhar noted.
Like the Amur tigers, Indrah represents a critically endangered species. Fewer than a few hundred Malayan tigers remain in their native Malay Peninsula. By spring, visitors to “The Passage” will be able to see these cubs up close and learn about the urgent issues threatening their survival, from poaching to habitat loss.
Watch the video of Indrah and her new siblings below.