The tiger cubs born on April 13th can now be seen at the Budapest Zoo. One of the cubs is male and the other is female, and they received their vaccinations a few days ago, now they just need to be named.

The Budapest Zoo is asking for the public's help with naming the cubs. They are waiting for your suggestions in the comments section until midnight on 17 June. The best suggestions will be selected and put to a vote to decide the cubs' names.

The cubs were not seen by the public immediately after their birth because in the first few weeks, both the cubs and the mother need the most complete peace and quiet, especially since Agnes, the mother, has given birth to offspring for the first time.

However, after eight weeks, it was time for them to be introduced to the public. On Thursday morning, during an event open to the press, the zoo staff separated the cubs from their mother for a few minutes. They assessed the condition and health of the cubs during a quick examination. They were able to determine their gender beyond doubt at that time, although the keepers had previously suspected that one was female and the other male. The cubs were also vaccinated and weighed: the female cub weighed 8.4 kg and her brother weighed 9.2 kg. After a few minutes, the cubs were returned to their mother. They were then allowed to go out into the outdoor enclosure, where visitors could also admire them.

All of the tigers on display at the Budapest Zoo belong to the Siberian or Amur tiger subspecies. A total of 277 individuals of this subspecies are kept in 121 European zoos. The European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) has established an international breeding programme to coordinate the reproduction of tigers that are becoming rare in the wild, for conservation purposes. Budapest Zoo is also part of this programme.

Source and photo: Budapest Zoo