(30 Sep 1999) Voice and effects
VOICED BY: Richard Vaughan
A trio of Sumatran tiger cubs have made their first public appearance at the United States' National Zoo in Washington.
Mike, Eric and Chrissie were born at the zoo on June 24th, and zoo officials say the cubs will play an important part in preserving the Sumatran tiger.
The cubs will stay at the zoo until they're about 18-months-old before being sent to other zoos.
VOICE-OVER:
0.02
Three youngsters make their public debut at the U-S National Zoo in Washington.
Mike, Eric and Chrissie are Sumatran tiger cubs.
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The trio seem a big hit with visitors to the zoo.
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The cubs were born just over three months ago and are the smallest surviving sub-species of tiger.
As they chase one another through the bamboo, their mother keeps a watchful eye.
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Mike is named after the zoo's director, while Eric and Chrissie are named after school children who won a "Save the Tigers" art competition.
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The head keeper recalled the time that they were born.
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SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The most fun part is getting it over with. I mean, it's pretty stressful going up to the birth. I almost felt like it was me having the cubs, or being the daddy, you know."
SUPER CAPTION: Wayne Millner, Animal keeper
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With fewer than five hundred Sumatran tigers alive today, the genes of both mother and cubs are highly prized.
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SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We consider these tigers, first of all, ambassadors to the wild tigers. And we consider them an insurance policy by maintaining the best possible gene lines that we can, and the best maximum genetic diversity that we can."
SUPER CAPTION: John Seidensticker, National Zoo Curator of Mammals
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One day the zoo hopes to introduce the offspring of these Sumatran tiger cubs into the wild.
But for now, these youngsters are just making the most of the moment and enjoying all the attention.
1.25 VISION ENDS
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