Goodbye, little tigers! Tujuh and Marwar on a big adventure trip!

Goodbye, little tigers! Tujuh and Marwar on a big adventure trip!

On June 1, 2025, the two Sumatran tigers Tujuh and Marwar say goodbye to Heidelberg Zoo. As part of the European Endangered Species Program (EEP), the siblings are moving to new zoos: Tujuh is going to England, while Marwar will travel on to Denmark. After almost two years at Heidelberg Zoo, the move is a significant step towards preserving the genetic diversity of this endangered species.

The tigers were raised by their parents Karis and Tebo. Animal keepers at the zoo feel both sadness and pride about the impending move of the two tiger hearts. Tujuh has already moved into his new home, while Marwar will follow at the beginning of June. The parental couple, Karis and Tebo, remain at the zoo. Tebo, who is 16 years old, continues to show interest in reproduction, which means Karis could expect to have offspring again in the future.

Important development in species protection

The breeding of Tujuh and Marwar is part of a larger initiative to protect Sumatran tigers. On August 10, 2023, Karis gave birth to a total of three cubs at Heidelberg Zoo. Unfortunately, one of the tiger cubs was stillborn, however the remaining two are healthy. Breeding is crucial because Sumatran tigers are critically endangered. Currently only a few hundred of these animals live on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The zookeepers monitor the tiger family via cameras so as not to disturb the animals. Karis takes intensive care of her two living boys, who are still blind at this point and seek closeness to their mother. Tebo remains separated from Karis and the boys, but has contact with them via a security gate. These measures are part of responsible breeding practices that aim to protect and promote the animals in the best possible way.

A look into the future

The first cub was born in the early hours of the morning at 12:30 a.m., while the other two were born around 6:30 a.m. Contact with veterinarians is also important, as the gender of the young animals is determined during an initial examination. The live tiger cubs are expected to move to other zoos when they are around two years old - another step to ensure genetic diversity within the European population.

There are currently 121 Sumatran tigers housed in 56 zoos in Europe, all part of the European Conservation Breeding Program. Heidelberg Zoo plays an important role in this overarching plan, which is being undertaken to protect the endangered species.

With Tujuh and Marwar's move, the two tigers begin a new phase in their lives, while their habitat at Heidelberg Zoo remains temporarily empty. The zookeepers hope that Karis' next litter will soon provide new, exciting moments in the zoo.

For more information about the Sumatran tigers and current developments at Heidelberg Zoo, read Leimenblog and Heidelberg Zoo.