Female Sumatran tiger comes to Phoenix Zoo for breeding program
Jul 1, 2021, 4:05 AM | Updated: 6:17 am
(Phoenix Zoo Screenshot)
(Phoenix Zoo Screenshot)
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Zoo has a new female Sumatran tiger as part of a breeding program.
Joanne, who is 10 years old, was brought from the San Diego Safari Park as part of the Species Survival Plan breeding recommendation.
She joins 16-year-old male Jai and is the offspring of former Phoenix Zoo male tiger Utan, who was born in 1990.
The two tigers can be found at their habitat at the Isle of the Tiger along the zoo’s Tropics Trail from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.
RELATED STORIES
The tigers typically spend most of their days lounging and napping in the shade.
The last female Sumatran tiger to grace the zoo was Suriya, who died in 2019 after spending years of dealing with various health issues.
Suriya had been dealing with a chronic inflammatory eye condition, a serious skin infection and kidney failure.
The median life expectancy for Sumatran tigers is 18.4 years of age, according to the zoo.
