CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo publicly introduced two new tiger cubs on Wednesday, and it's looking for the public's help in naming them.
The two Amur tiger cubs were born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Nov. 6, 2023, to mom, Zoya, and dad, Hector.
After sharing private time in a maternity den with mom, the male and female cubs are ready to venture outside at Rosebrough Tiger Passage, according to the zoo's website. While tigers are solitary animals, mother tigers typically raise their cubs for their first two years.
The selection of names are culturally significant to the communities where Amur tigers live.
For the female cub, name options include:
- Mila
- Karina
- Anoushka
For the male cub, name options include:
- Ivan
- Boris
- Sergei
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is asking the public to donate to choose the name of the cubs. The names with the largest donation total by midnight on Feb. 12 will determine the winning names, according to the website.
The donations made during this campaign will support efforts in conservation and combating illegal wildlife trade, according to the zoo.
Amur tigers are an endangered species, with an estimated population of only 400 to 500 remaining in their native range in the far eastern side of Russia and northeastern China. Visitors to Rosebrough Tiger Passage at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo can learn about the threats Amur tigers face, including habitat loss and poaching, according to the website.