Rare tiger species gives birth in Dublin Zoo

One of the world's most endangered species of tiger has given birth at Dublin Zoo. The Sumatran tiger cub, Ratna, was introduced to the public today.

Ratna, the baby Sumatran tiger pictured at her first publicappearance with her keeper Ciaran McMahon at Dublin zoo thismorning.

Ratna is being hand-raised at the zoo, as her mother rejected her, a common occurrence when the species gives birth for the first time.

The three-month old cub weighed just under 600 grams at birth, but is now 11 kilograms. Ratna, which means 'jewel' in Bahasa Indonesian, can be seen at the Sumatran tiger exhibit in the zoo.

Her daily diet comprises milk, and more recently she started experimenting with solid foods such as meat on the bone. She will be fully weaned at about five months.

Director of Dublin Zoo, Mr Leo Oosterweghel said: "The Sumatran tiger is one of the world's most critically endangered species, due to habitat loss and poaching.

"The birth of Ratna marks Dublin Zoo's commitment to the International Zoo Breeding Program for Sumatran Tigers. This really is a welcome birth considering there are only 500 Sumatran tigers remaining in the wild and only 330 remaining in Zoos worldwide."