ST. LOUIS — There are three adorable new members of the Saint Louis Zoo family.
Reka, the Amur tiger, gave birth to three cubs on Nov. 13. The zoo said the animal care team is monitoring Reka and the cubs, and they said Reka is feeding, cleaning and keeping them warm.
The zoo does not know the sex of the cats because they have been with their mother since birth. The animal care team will perform their first well-baby check in the coming weeks.
Amur tigers are the largest of the wild cats and are considered one of the most endangered big cats in the world. The zoo said fewer than 500 exist in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching and other factor. They used to be called Siberian Tigers, but since they no longer roam the area, they were renamed after the Amur River in Russia.
Last week's birth was the first successful tiger birth at the zoo in more than 10 years and will provide a significant boost to the Amur tiger population in North American zoos.
It will still be a few months before the cubs can move out into the outdoor habitat for public viewing, but their father, Maxim, can be seen at Big Cat County right now.
Reka came to the Saint Louis Zoo in 2021 and Maxim arrived in 2022. They were brought together as part of a breeding recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV or the Apple TV app store.