Fota Wildlife Park is delighted to announce the arrival of Dao, a two-year-old male critically endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris), from Zoo Krefeld in Germany as part of a European Endangered species Programme (EEP) for Sumatran tigers.
The Sumatran tiger is one of the rarest species of tiger in the world, classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008, with fewer than 350 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
Lead Ranger Julien Fonteneau said ‘Dao arrived at Fota Wildlife Park earlier in December and he went through a period of gradual introduction to his new habitat. We’re delighted to say that he is settling in really well. To preserve genetic diversity within the EEP breeding programme, tigers may be transferred to other zoological parks to pair with new mates. Dao has been specifically selected to be paired with the resident female tiger, Jambi, who came from Heidelberg Zoo, Germany in February 2023. We hope they will both play a key part in global tiger conservation. The Sumatran tiger is being driven closer to extinction in the wild due to the destruction of its natural habitat, human-wildlife conflicts, and the deadly illegal trade fuelled by poaching.’
Julien explained, “Introducing a new tiger is a highly specialised process that demands expert husbandry. Eventually Dao and Jambi will be gradually acclimatised to each other in preparation for the breeding programme. The last tiger birth at Fota Wildlife Park was the male Dash, born in the summer of 2019 so we are very excited about the prospect of future cubs!’
Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving species of tiger and are distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Kerinci Seblat National Park and the Ulu Masen-Leuser ecosystems are two of the last remaining wild habitats for the Sumatran tiger. Known for having the narrowest stripe patterns among tigers, each Sumatran tiger can be individually identified by its unique stripe pattern, much like zebras. Sumatran tigers also have a white ‘beard’.
The collective noun for tigers is a streak. The streak at Fota Wildlife Park includes the 10-year-old male, Batak, the female Jambi aged three and a half, and now the two-year-old Dao.
Fota Wildlife Park is open daily from 9.30am, entry is available at the gates. For pricing and other details go to www.fotawildlife.ie.
