Tiger Cub Triplets at a Tokyo Zoo Mesmerize Visitors
- 14 years ago
Like many other cities around the world this summer, Tokyo is baking in the heat, with the mercury topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit almost every day.
But the sweltering heat is not deterring Japanese animal lovers from walking up the hill at Tokyo's Tama Zoo to get a glimpse of tiger triplets, which were exactly a month old on Saturday.
Although the three Siberian tiger cubs spent most of the day sleeping and resting in their private cage out of public view, they appeared before the visitors for a few minutes, mesmerizing fans, young and old, some of whom had been waiting for hours.
[Shinji Suzuki, Visitor]:
"I was able to see them – just a little."
Born at the Tama Zoo on July 7, the two females and one male tigers have not yet been named. The public will get a chance to vote on their names later this month.
The cubs can barely walk straight and look more like cuddly kittens than the ferocious tigers they will become as adults.
[Masao Uechi, Visitor]:
"I wish the cubs had been a little more active and playful."
Zookeepers say that this year's summer heat, which has sent more than 15,000 Japanese people to hospital and killed dozens, is also proving hard for the animals.
But the cubs are doing well.
[Gaku Kumagai, Zookeeper]:
"The tiger cubs often leave their mouths open and take deep breaths, but they are sound and healthy. I'm sure they'll survive the summer heat."
But the sweltering heat is not deterring Japanese animal lovers from walking up the hill at Tokyo's Tama Zoo to get a glimpse of tiger triplets, which were exactly a month old on Saturday.
Although the three Siberian tiger cubs spent most of the day sleeping and resting in their private cage out of public view, they appeared before the visitors for a few minutes, mesmerizing fans, young and old, some of whom had been waiting for hours.
[Shinji Suzuki, Visitor]:
"I was able to see them – just a little."
Born at the Tama Zoo on July 7, the two females and one male tigers have not yet been named. The public will get a chance to vote on their names later this month.
The cubs can barely walk straight and look more like cuddly kittens than the ferocious tigers they will become as adults.
[Masao Uechi, Visitor]:
"I wish the cubs had been a little more active and playful."
Zookeepers say that this year's summer heat, which has sent more than 15,000 Japanese people to hospital and killed dozens, is also proving hard for the animals.
But the cubs are doing well.
[Gaku Kumagai, Zookeeper]:
"The tiger cubs often leave their mouths open and take deep breaths, but they are sound and healthy. I'm sure they'll survive the summer heat."