The National Zoo’s great cat program has recently expanded with the arrival of 2 1/2-year-old female Sumatran tiger, Damai, who is now out of quarantine and spending time outside in her exhibit where visitors can see her. The National Zoo plans to bring a male tiger in to breed with Damai later this year, as recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for Sumatran tigers, which matches animals across the country to ensure genetic diversity in the population.
“Every time we get a new animal, it’s a learning experience for us because each animal is different,” said Leigh Pitsko, a tiger keeper at the Zoo. “We can already tell that Damai is a great tiger. She’s sweet, very calm and curious about everything going on around her. Visitors will really enjoy watching her and learning about her species.”
Damai’s genetics are not well represented among tigers in human care in North America, and she is therefore a highly valued animal within the SSP. The SSP opted to send her to the National Zoo because of its success in breeding Sumatran tigers and other cats, such as cheetahs and lions.
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