Rolling Hills Zoo proudly introduces its newest resident, Viktoria, a spirited and spunky female Amur tiger born in March 2022 at the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, North Dakota.
Displaying a zest for life evident in her playful interactions, Viktoria has already won the hearts of her keepers. Enthusiastically participating in target training, she exhibits a fondness for bones and diverse enrichments, including scents, spices, boxes, paper, and pumpkins. A distinctive feature that adds to her charm and individuality is the speckling on her lower legs.
Viktoria, along with her siblings Luka and Dmitri, is part of a trio of cubs on the brink of adulthood, a time when fully grown cubs find their independence. While she won't reach sexual maturity until the age of three or four, Viktoria's move to Rolling Hills Zoo aligns with a breeding recommendation as part of the Species Survival Program. Preceding her arrival, Dhenuka, the Zoo’s male Amur tiger, moved to another facility on a similar breeding recommendation. Upon Viktoria's reaching sexual maturity, RHZ will welcome a male Amur tiger as part of the SSP’s breeding plan.
The urgency of such breeding programs is underscored by the critical status of tigers in the wild. Over a century ago, 100,000 wild tigers roamed Asia; today, fewer than 3,900 exist in a mere 4% of their historic range. The Amur tiger, with an estimated population of 265-486 remaining in the wild, is among the most endangered carnivores on Earth. Poaching and deforestation, resulting in habitat loss, contribute to their dwindling numbers.
Rolling Hills Zoo invites visitors to witness Viktoria's captivating presence and spirited antics as she settles into her new home, providing an opportunity to engage with the critical conservation efforts aimed at preserving these majestic creatures.
