One of world's rarest tiger cubs born at London Zoo
There are only around 300 Sumatran tigers left in the wild
Last updated 4th Jan 2022
London Zoo has captured the first moments after the birth of a new Sumatran tiger cub - a critically endangered subspecies of tiger.
'Cubcam' footage shows the zoo's ten-year-old Sumatran tiger Gaysha cleaning and feeding her tiny cub, just hours after its birth on December 12.
Indonesia's Sumatran tigers are the rarest and smallest subspecies, with latest figures estimating there to be only 300 that remain in the wild.
New-born tigers keep their eyes closed for the first few days post-birth, and the cub will be tucked away in its den until it can be vaccinated by vets, who will also be able to determine sex.
Though it might still be some time before visitors can see the tiger cub in its enclosure, the zoo's hidden 'cubcam' has captured some incredibly cute moments already, including the baby tiger's first wobbly steps.
A boost for protecting the species
Originally expected to be part of a litter of three, the baby cub's two siblings did not survive labour.
But it's still a boost for a global breeding programme working with zoos around the world to protect endangered tiger species.
Born almost exactly a year since Gaysha arrived at London Zoo from Denmark, the baby cub still needs a name.
Keeper Lucy Reed said: "The chunky little cub is doing really well in mum's excellent care, and definitely takes after dad Asim in terms of size and strength.
"We knew Gaysha was nearing full-term as we'd seen her belly grow rapidly over the previous few weeks, so we made her a special cubbing den in anticipation.
"At the moment, while we're still keeping a close eye via cubcam, we're also taking care not to disturb the family so that they can bond together."