KEY POINTS:
After announcing the surprise find of a second endangered Sumatran tiger cub yesterday, a third cub has now been found at Auckland Zoo.
The mother, Molek, gave birth on Thursday and zoo keepers immediately saw one cub. Yesterday, they said a second cub had been seen and today, a third.
Staff at the zoo wanted to allow Molek to bond with the cubs and so had stayed away.
Carnivore keeper Sandra Rice observed Molek lying back, with one cub suckling from her, and two others cuddled into her.
"For a first-time mum with what we now know are triplets to care for, she's very in control and confident, and doing all the right things, including eating well to ensure she keeps her strength up," Ms Rice said.
Elephant and carnivore section team leader Andrew Coers said the staff were "absolutely ecstatic".
"In light of the fact that there are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers in the wild, and just 160 in captive facilities, the birth of these cubs really is a huge deal, not just for New Zealand, but internationally.
"Through dad Oz's genes, they'll be contributing valuable new genetic bloodlines to the world's captive population."
- NZPA
