NZ tigers to call Australia home

One of Auckland Zoo's Sumatran tigers moving to Symbio Wildlife Park south of Sydney. Photo / The Aucklander

Two young Sumatran tigers born in Auckland will fly to Australia today as a part of an international breeding programme for the endangered big cat species.

Two males, Jalur and Berani, and their female sibling, Cinta, became the first tigers to be bred at Auckland Zoo when they were born in June 2008.

Jalur and Cinta are moving across the Tasman and their new home will be the Symbio Wildife Park, south of Sydney.

They will be quarantined at Mogo Zoo for 30 days before their move to the park.

Keeper Sandra Rice, who will travel across the Tasman with them, said it was tough seeing the pair leave Auckland Zoo.

"They're both great natured animals," she said.

"Along with all those zoo visitors who have followed them closely growing up, we are really going to miss them."

However, the bigger picture was having the pair go on to breed and continue their role in support of tigers in the wild, she said.

"It's hugely satisfying to have reached this milestone."

Auckland Zoo conservation officer Peter Fraser said there were fewer than 160 Sumatran tigers in zoos and fewer than 400 remaining in the wild worldwide.

He said the captive population had never been more important as conservationists and officials struggled to protect the few remaining wild animals and their habitat, which continued to be deforested to meet the unsustainable demand for both the palm oil and paper industries.

- NZPA