Auckland City Council
Media release
25 July 2008
Name Auckland Zoo’s tiger cubs
Auckland Zoo is calling on members of the public to submit names for their three six-week-old Sumatran tiger cubs.
The online competition runs until Friday, 29 August, when zookeepers will select the best three names for each cub,
which will then be put to an online vote. The winning names will be announced on Monday 8 September during Conservation
Week.
The three winners will have the honour of naming a critically endangered Sumatran tiger and receive a prize pack that
includes a behind-the-scenes tiger Zoom tour.
The zoo is also asking for a $10 donation for each entry, to help support the cubs’ cousins in the wild.
“With less than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, and the threat of extinction a very real possibility, every name
submitted will contribute towards the zoo’s tiger conservation efforts,” says Auckland Zoo carnivore team leader, Andrew
Coers.
“At six weeks old, the cubs are continuing to do well and Molek appears to be a natural mum, but now we really need some
names for them. We are looking for names with meaning that are easy to pronounce, and we’re especially keen on names
that come from a region of importance to the cubs or their species,” says Mr Coers.
“The cubs will have their first vet check and vaccination in mid August, and at this time we’ll be able to confirm the
sex of the cubs – so until then, we suggest people enter unisex names.”
People wanting to submit names for the cubs can enter online at Auckland Zoo’s website www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/tigers .
Cubcam footage of the cubs in action is also available online and the cubs are expected to be on display in Visa Tiger
Territory in September.
FACT FILE
Sumatran tiger: Panthera tigris sumatrae
Home: the island of Sumatra, Indonesia
Conservation status: critically endangered. Worldwide, there are fewer than 160 Sumatran tigers in captive (zoo)
facilities, 24 of these are in Australasia, and less than 400 are in the wild
Tiger cubs : Born Thursday, 12 June 2008
Molek (mum): Born in New Zealand. Name is Malay for beautiful or elegant
Oz (dad): Born in Israel. Name is Hebrew for strength, courage, power
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