Adelaide Zoo welcomes female Sumatran Tiger

Female Sumatran Tiger, Delilah, recently arrived at Adelaide Zoo having been transported from Australia Zoo in Queensland. Throughout her overnight journey, Delilah was accompanied by one of her Australia Zoo keepers, Beth Astles.

Delilah will now undertake quarantine in Adelaide Zoo’s specialist facilities with the hope that she will be out in the Immersion tiger exhibits in late January. 

Adelaide Zoo Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Arliah Hayward, said once Delilah has settled in to her new surroundings and bonded with her new keepers, they would start the process of introducing her to seven-year-old male Sumatran Tiger, Kembali.

Hayward advised “it is so exciting for us to have Delilah arrive and make a new home here at Adelaide Zoo.Kembali has been missing Rhani since she passed away, so we are so delighted for him to have some company.

“Hopefully, this will also mean cubs on the horizon, which is such an important part of our conservation efforts for the Sumatran Tiger as a species.”

Hayward recently went to visit Delilah and the team at Australia Zoo to get to know the Sumatran Tiger and her personality noting “she is so energetic and reminds me a lot of Rhani. I’m really looking forward to working with Delilah and for her to be part of the Adelaide Zoo family.”

Five-year-old Delilah was born at Australia Zoo in February, 2016 and the team said she will be dearly missed.

"She is an active and energetic girl, always excited to see her keepers each morning,” an Australia Zoo spokesperson said.

“We are thrilled to see her begin her journey with our friends at Zoos SA where she will be a vital part in ensuring this species' survival into the future."

Tigers are the largest living big cats in the world, with the Sumatran Tiger being the smallest of the six tiger subspecies and inhabiting the tropical rainforests on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

The pattern of tigers’ stripes is unique to each animal, just like fingerprints are to humans. The stripe pattern is found on a tiger’s skin and, if shaved, its distinctive pattern would remain.

Over 100 years ago, it is estimated that there were 100,000 wild tigers – today the number is thought to be as few as 3,200 individuals.

The Sumatran Tiger is the last surviving subspecies of tiger in Indonesia. It is estimated that there is around 300 to 500 wild Sumatran Tigers remaining with a rapidly decreasing trend due to habitat destruction and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.

Zoos SA is proud to be part of the conservation efforts to ensure the survival of such a beautiful species.

Every ticket bought supports this vital conservation work. To book your tickets to Adelaide Zoo visit adelaidezoo.com.au/tickets.  

Visitors aged 16 and older who choose to come to Adelaide Zoo or Monarto Safari Park will be required to show evidence that they have been fully vaccinated (or are exempt from vaccination by order of the Chief Public Health Officer).

For more information please visit, www.zoossa.com.au/covid-19/.