Miller Park Zoo adds Sumatran tiger

A Sumatran tiger named Heran arrived at Miller Park Zoo on April 18. (Photo courtesy Miller Park Zoo)
A Sumatran tiger named Heran arrived at Miller Park Zoo on April 18. (Photo courtesy Miller Park Zoo)

By WJBC Staff

BLOOMINGTON – A critically endangered Sumatran tiger is the latest arrival at Miller Park Zoo.

A male with the name of Heran arrived on April 18 from Landry’s Downtown Aquarium-Denver. He will be 10 years old in June.

Sumatran Tigers are the smallest of the tiger subspecies. They are found only on the island of Sumatra. Destruction of natural habitat and encroachment has caused the wild population to decrease dramatically.

Tigers are solitary except for when a pair comes together for breeding and mothers with cubs. Heran is the only tiger at the Miller Park Zoo. Although not in a breeding situation in this circumstance, the Miller Park Zoo participates in the SSP by providing space for the program for Sumatran Tigers that may not be high on the breeding list.

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