Connecting For Life: The Campaign For Zoo Miami

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ThE wildlifE and its habitat Cannot spEak, so wE must, and wE will.

–Theodore Roosevelt

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A NEw GEnEration

of MiraClEs With fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left on the planet, the birth of a Sumatran tiger is always a cause for great celebration. On December 22, 2020, the veterinary team at Zoo Miami was awestruck when they were doing an ultrasound on Leeloo, our 11-year-old Sumatran tiger. They confirmed that she was pregnant, and this was a sort of miracle pregnancy because the father Berani, who is 14 years old and on the verge of being geriatric, was not believed to be fertile. In fact, our animal science team was just days away from bringing in another male tiger from Disney’s Animal Kingdom to mate with Leeloo in the hopes of producing offspring, as per breeding recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP).

On the idyllic sunny afternoon of January 5, 2021, the miracle at Zoo Miami arrived with the birth of N’dari, the second offspring to Leeloo and Berani. Having celebrated her first birthday in January 2022, N’dari is rapidly becoming a majestic tigress like her mother and providing renewed hope for a species on the brink of extinction. Along with her brother Satu who now lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we are ushering in a new generation of miracles, and we hope you join us on this journey. With our plans to expand the Sumatran tiger habitat, more stories like this will be possible with expanding breeding capabilities. We hope you take part in helping us keep these majestic creatures from disappearing forever.

ABOUT Sumatran

TIGERS COMMON NAME:

Sumatran tiger

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Panthera TYPE:

tigris sumatrae

Mammals

DIET: Carnivore AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD:

15 years

AVERAGE LIFE SPAN UNDER HUMAN CARE: 20 SIZE: Up

to eight feet

WEIGHT:

Up to 310 pounds

years

Found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, these tigers, the smallest tiger subspecies, are instantly recognizable by the “beard” around their faces and dense stripe pattern. Sumatran tigers are solitary, except during courtship. A female is pregnant for about a hundred days before giving birth to a litter of one to six cubs. The cubs stay with their mother for about three years.

Sadly, Sumatran tigers are vanishing due to habitat loss, tiger-human conflict, loss of prey, and other factors. They are listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

It is believed that there are now less than 400 total left in the wild and only 72 living in zoos across the United States including three here at Zoo Miami.

CONSERVATION THREATS TO SUMATRAN TIGERS IN THE WILD Their biggest threats are loss of habitat and poaching. Palm oil, made from the oil palm tree, has become the world’s most widely used vegetable oil in everything from cookies to lipstick and soap. The Sumatran forests are being bulldozed at alarming rates and this deforestation leads to the loss of prey animals which is having a negative effect on Sumatran tigers and puts tigers in direct conflict with humans.

Tiger poaching occurs even in protected areas. Tiger canines are sometimes worn as jewelry, and tiger skin furniture and other products are seen as status symbols among some in Asia. There is a small Asian cohort who use tiger bones to make tiger bone wine. They believe the tiger characteristics will be imparted to the person who drinks this concoction.

WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT CONSERVATION OF SUMATRAN TIGERS?

Losing an iconic species such as Sumatran tigers is a tragedy with broad and long-lasting detrimental impacts to the health of the planet and mankind.

Biodiversity of animals and plants keeps ecosystems functional and allows us to have enough food to survive.

According to World Wildlife Fund, “Reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease, and where fresh water is in irregular or short supply.”

Wildlife conservation also protects human health. Conservation International reports that “more than 50 percent of modern medicines and more than 90 percent of traditional medicines come from wild plants and animals.”

Sumatran tigers are apex predators and a keystone species. When we save them, as an umbrella to the region there is a ripple effect, and you save countless flora and fauna.

A keystone species helps define an entire ecosystem. Without Sumatran tigers, the ecosystem in which they live would be dramatically different or completely disappear. Tiger conservation also has a direct impact in the conservation of all other plants and animals found within tiger habitat.

With so few Sumatran tigers remaining in the wild, efforts have turned to maintaining the populations living in protected areas such as national parks and sustainable management of their habitat.

ICONIC TIGER HABITAT

ZO O M I A M I ’ S

SuCCEssful brEEding pair

The tiger habitat was part of the zoo’s initial footprint when it opened in 1980. This marquis habitat has remained an iconic symbol of the zoo over the years.

The original habitat space was dedicated to Zoo Miami’s famous white Bengal tiger. Years later, the focus shifted to Sumatran tigers to bring public awareness of this critically endangered species to the forefront.

Since 2013, the habitat has been dedicated to Sumatran tigers.

M A LE :

Berani

F E M A LE :

Leeloo

SignifiCant Births

The current habitat is inspired by the 12th century temple Angkor Wat and is situated near the zoo’s entrance. This prime location guarantees that every visitor will see these majestic creatures and have the opportunity to walk away inspired as they will learn how they can make a difference to save the species.

M A LE :

Satu

Born: November 14, 2015

F E M A LE :

N’dari

Born: January 5, 2021

KEy PROJECT FEATUrEs

TO VIEW FLYOVER VIDEO

ThE Zoo Miami TigEr Habitat Expansion Will ProvidE a NEw HopE for SpECiEs on thE Brink of ExtinCtion

At its most essential level, the zoo cultivates a bond between visitors and animals. Zoo Miami has always prided itself on the quality of our exhibits and our ability to bring people closer to the animal kingdom.

We must continue to set new standards for animal care and the visitor experience while highlighting the importance of tiger conservation.

This new endeavor is a critical project to deliver a new generation of miracles for Sumatran tigers.

Please join us in saving critically endangered Sumatran tigers.

ExpandEd footprint Our plans will double the space of our existing habitat, from 16,000 to 30,000 sq ft, introduce an Asian-themed gateway and viewing pavilion, and provide for future expansion, including additional outdoor exercise yards.

Once guests cross a moat and enter the pavilion, they will have a unique opportunity to get nose-to-nose with the tigers, pressing hands against paws with only a layer of glass separation. Visitors also will see zookeepers training, feeding and caring for the tigers and learn about the tigers’ peculiarities from our own experts.

Our current capacity allows us to hold either two adult tigers and their cubs, or up to three adult tigers. Why? Tigers are solitary animals outside of breeding and cub rearing. The current space only allows for one tiger to have access outside at a time, which limits the amount of time each animal can spend out of the dens.

This new space will enable us to increase their overall welfare and well-being as well as enable us to house more tigers long term without compromising on offering them exceptional care by ensuring all animals can spend the entire day outside. It also will provide the option for tigers to rotate which habitat they spend time on, which creates a more novel, stimulating and dynamic environment for the animals by allowing each day to be different.

When the new habitat is complete, our tigers will have more space to roam and explore a world more closely resembling their natural habitat. They will have the freedom to be outside 24 hours a day, which reflects the Zoo’s core philosophy that animal welfare comes first. Giving our animals choices improves their physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing.

BrEEding/ConsErvation OpportunitiEs The new space will allow for additional breeding in support of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP states that any zoo that breeds tigers must be able to hold resulting offspring for a minimum of three years while another zoo placement is secured. Due to current space limitations, this means our zoo experiences a lag time of 3-4 years between litters. Time is not on our side as breeding tigers in their teens become increasingly difficult.

The new habitat will include additional holding spaces for breeding and cubbing dens. We will be able to support the SSP more wholly and serve as a site to either breed or house animals until they can be placed at another institution. This could make the difference in allowing valuable pairs the chance to breed. With less than 400 Sumatran tigers left on this planet, we must do our part to help propagate the species.

How is Zoo Miami SAVING SUMATRAN TIGERS?

Active/Successful Breeding Program

One main reason tigers exist at Zoo Miami and zoos around the US and the world is so that they can serve as an “insurance policy” against extinction (a sort of Noah’s Ark). So even if a species is extinct in the wild, zoos have the ability to repopulate.

To ensure the demographic and genetic integrity of our tigers are maintained in the long term, we participate under a World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Global Species Management Plan (GSMP).

Enhanced Guest Experience Builds a Greater Connection

These animals act as ambassadors for their counterparts in the wild by providing our guests a living, breathing animal they can form lasting connections with. There is no comparison between looking at a tiger picture online and making eye contact with the intense stare of an apex predator, or watching the protective care of a mother tiger, or seeing a cub explore their world.

While we understand that there are species in our own backyard that need help, these critically endangered Sumatran tigers are fighting for survival. We must do our part to protect one of the most iconic species in the world and at Zoo Miami. It is our duty and privilege to be the best possible caretakers of this beautiful species for generations to come.

Supporting Global Conservation Programs

Zoo Miami supports the AZA Tiger Species Survival Plan’s Tiger Conservation Campaign to educate the indigenous people of Indonesia on ways to live harmoniously with Sumatran tigers. The program minimizes tiger-human conflict by responding to reports of problem tigers and educating villagers on methods to protect their livestock. Years ago, we sent zookeepers in the field (in-situ) to concentrate their skills and energy for maximum impact to the tiger population—it is our goal to send them back anew.

Join Us in SAVING SUMATRAN TIGERS A key objective of Zoo Miami’s Connecting for Life capital campaign is to create the world’s finest Sumatran tiger habitat.

To learn more about Zoo Miami and our Connecting for Life capital campaign, visit www.zoomiami.org/ZMF-capital-campaign Sumatran tiger photography by Ron Magill Exhibit renderings by WDM Architects SCAN TO VIEW VIDEO

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TrEat thE Earth wEll: WE do not inhErit thE Earth from our anCEstors, wE borrow it from our ChildrEn.

— Ancient Indian Proverb

Zoo Miami Foundation 12400 SW 152 Street Miami, FL 33177 Phone: 305.255.5551 www.zoomiami.org