There are few things more miraculous than creating new life and welcoming a child into this world.
While many animals give birth to healthy newborns, things do not always go as planned for some mothers. The Sumatran tiger is a critically endangered species, and birth in itself is miraculous in a way.
When a pregnant Sumatran tiger gave birth to two male cubs in Aug. 2013 at Australia Zoo, it was a very exciting event. However, since one of the cubs was perilously close to death, the near-tragedy would have been heartbreaking for the mother tiger as well as for her entire species. Thankfully, her motherly instincts jolted her into action at just the right time, and you can watch this tearful moment yourself in the video below. The clip proved to be a hit online, with the world getting to enjoy a breathtaking moment …
The birth took place at an Australian zoo, where zookeepers had been monitoring the mom for some time.
In the video, Kaitlyn – a Sumatran tiger – can be see delivering two male cubs.
Obviously with things like this, a big emphasis is placed on ensuring the survival of the mother, as well as being on the lookout for complications that can arise throughout the delivery process. In this instance, the zoo’s staff were watching keenly to make sure everything went to plan.
As you can see shortly after Kaitlyn delivers her first cub, there’s a thin layer of film around its body. This is to help with the birthing process – providing a smoother exit from the mother’s womb – and tiger moms will then lick the film off in the seconds following the birth.
Despite rolling onto her side in exhaustion, Kaitlyn’s task wasn’t quite done with just yet. She had another baby to deliver, though this one proved far easier.
In fact, the second cub was already kicking his legs before he was even fully out of the womb, proceeding to breathe perfectly mere moments after coming into the world.
As it was, two healthy new cubs were introduced, marking an important step regarding the conservation efforts in place to keep these tigers safe.
Sumatran tigers like Kaitlyn are on the critically endangered list, with their numbers thought to stand between 400 and 600. Two might not seem like such a significant number, but it’s two more that will hopefully go on to breed and produce their own children.
Conservation for animals such as Kaitlyn is of the utmost importance moving forward!
