JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The three Malayan tiger cubs at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens have graduated from the back pen to the back trail, making this the first time zoo visitors will have the chance to see the 3-month-old cubs in action.
The tigers' transition is the last step before the Malaysian tigers will make their full debut in the exhibit. And the final step isn't up to the zookeepers, it's the cubs' mother that decides when they're ready to live in the main exhibit with her.
"It's a lot of physical exertion running around," Senior Animal Care Specialist Tirzeah Nichols told First Coast News. "You know, their mom would probably be very protective of those next steps in the wild, so we just have to allow Cinta to do those same things in this setting here."
Zookeepers say as long as Cinta gives the okay, the cubs could be running around the main exhibit as early as next month.
