Zoo’s Sumatran tiger cubs healthy and plump

The zoo's new 7.5 pound female Sumatran tiger cub (Courtesy Smithsonian Zoo Flickr)
The zoo's 3-week-old female Sumatran tiger cub. (Smithsonian Zoo Flickr)
Female cub (Smithsonian Zoo Flickr)
Male cub(Smithsonian Zoo Flickr)
Male cub (Smithsonian Zoo Flickr)
Male cub (Smithsonian Zoo Flickr)
Male cub (Smithsonian Zoo Flickr)
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WASHINGTON — The National Zoo’s two new tiger cubs are healthy, plump and growing quickly, the zoo says.

The cubs, three weeks old, had their first veterinarian exam on Monday and they “passed with roaring colors,” according to a news release.

The cubs are a male and female, 8 pounds and 7.5 pounds, respectively. Veterinarians took blood and fecal samples from the cubs and outfitted them with transponder microchips.

The cubs mother, a Sumatran tiger called Damai, gave birth to the cubs on Aug. 5 and has been caring for them since, says the release. The new family will not be on exhibit for several months, needing a series of four health exams and vaccinations before.

The boy and girl cubs are the zoo’s first since 2006 and the first litter for Damai. Their dad is the zoo’s male tiger, Kavi.

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