Baby Tigers Make Public Debut: Big Pic
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June 01, 2011 --These sleepy Sumatran tiger cubs made their public debut in Frankfurt, Germany on May 25, 2011.
Their mother is the Frankfurt Zoo's Sumatran tiger, Malea, who can be see in the photo below giving one of the cubs a bath. Tiger cubs often stay with their mothers for about a year and a half, before going venturing off on their own.
SEE ALSO: Tiger Cub Video Sparks Calls for Protection
Sumatran tigers are a critically endangered species, with only about 400 remaining in the wild, according to the Sumatran Tiger Trust. About 350 live in captivity. The tiger is named for its home, the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The other two Indonesian tiger sub-species, the Javan and Bali tigers, are both extinct.
WATCH: Rare Sumatran Tigers Caught on Camera
Human impact and deforestation are the main reason for the decline of the Sumatran tiger population, and all tiger populations as a whole.
SEE ALSO: Seeing Tiger Stripes Across Sumatra
Photo credits: Boris Roessler/dpa/Corbis
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