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

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

Heidelberg, Deutschland - On June 1, 2025, the two Sumatra-Tier Tujuh and Marwar say goodbye to the Heidelberg Zoo. As part of the European conservation breeding program (EEP), the siblings move to new zoos: Tujuh goes to England, while Marwar will continue to Denmark. After almost two years in the Heidelberg Zoo, the move is a significant step to preserve the genetic variety of this endangered animal species.

The tigers were raised by their parents Karis and Tebo. Animal keeper in the zoo feel both melancholy and pride of the upcoming move of the two tiger hearts. Tujuh has already moved into his new place to stay while Marwar will follow in early June. The parental couple, Karis and Tebo, stay in the zoo. Tebo, who is 16 years old, continues to show interest in reproduction, which means that Karis could expect young people again in the future.

important development in species protection

The rearing of Tujuh and Marwar is part of a larger initiative to protect the Sumatra tiger. On August 10, 2023, Karis gave birth to a total of three boys at Heidelberg Zoo. Unfortunately one of the tiger babies was born dead, but the remaining two are healthy. The breeding is crucial because the Sumatra tiger are very threatened with extinction. Currently only a few hundred of these animals live on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The zookeepers watch the tiger family via cameras so as not to disturb the animals. Karis takes care of her two living boys, who are still blind at that time and are looking for the proximity of her mother. Tebo remains separate from Karis and the boy, but is in contact with them via a cuddly. These measures are part of a responsible breeding practice that aims to protect and promote the animals in the best possible way.

A look into the future

The first young animal was born in the early morning at 00:30 a.m., while the two were born around 6:30 a.m. Contact with the veterinarians is also important because the gender of the young animals is determined during a first examination. The living tiger babies are expected to move to other zoos at about two years - another step to secure the genetic diversity within the European population.

currently 121 Sumatra tiger are housed in 56 zoos in Europe, all part of the European conservation breeding program. The Heidelberg Zoo plays an important role in this overarching plan, which is undertaken to protect the type of existence.

With the move of Tujuh and Marwar, a new phase begins in their life for the two tiger, while their habitat in the Heidelberg Zoo is temporarily empty. The zookeepers hope that the next litter of Karis will soon take care of new, exciting moments in the zoo.

For more information about the Sumatra tiger and current developments in the Heidelberg Zoo, read Leimenblog and Zoo Heidelberg .