LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens has announced the birth and public debut of a trio of Sumatran tiger cubs. The three cubs, two males and a female, were born on June 3 in the Zoo. Sumatran tigers are the smallest of all the world’s tigers, and have more narrow stripes than the other subspecies of tigers.

This critically endangered species is threatened by both poaching and habitat loss. They are only found on the island of Sumatra in western Indonesia. Fewer than 400 of this species exist in the wilds of Sumatra and only 70 of these tigers are currently held in North American zoos.

The cubs’ parents came to the Los Angeles Zoo in 2001 from the San Antonio Zoo and Smithsonian’s National Zoo based on breeding recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). "The Sumatran tiger is a good example of the cooperation between the AZA institutions’ Species Survival Plan Programs (SSP) and how we work together to help manage and preserve species," says Zoo Director John Lewis.

This is the second litter of cubs that have been produced by the Zoo’s adult pair. The first litter, a male and female, were born in mid 2005. Those cubs have since grown and gone to other AZA-accredited zoos to participate in the SSP program. The Zoo’s new tiger cubs will be in their habitat daily between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. They are most active in the morning.