Sensation at Magdeburg Zoo: Five tiger cubs from Stormi” born!

Sensation at Magdeburg Zoo: Five tiger cubs from Stormi” born!

An extraordinary event happened at Magdeburg Zoo: On May 20, 2025, the Siberian tigress “Stormi” gave birth to five cubs. This birth is a rarity as Siberian tigers usually only give birth to two to four offspring in the wild. After an uncomplicated birth, the first few days of the little tigers are positive. Stormi takes intensive care of her offspring, which is currently in a protected area of ​​the tiger house, where the first important weeks of life can take place undisturbed reports Thuringia24.

The father of the tiger cubs, “Kratz”, continues to be an eye-catcher for zoo visitors as he can be seen in the outdoor enclosure. The breeding success is not only biologically important, but also relevant to species conservation, as Siberian tigers are considered highly endangered. Magdeburg Zoo is part of a Europe-wide conservation program that is actively committed to the conservation of this endangered species and participates in 67 “EAZA Ex-situ Programs” (EEPs), which deal with the protection and breeding of animal species in human care.

Protection and rearing of young animals

The first time after birth is crucial for the tiger quintuplets. In order to promote the animals' development, only trusted zoo animal care staff and the veterinary department have access to Stormi's area. After three days, the first important hurdle in rearing was overcome: Stormi took good care of her newborns. Veterinarian Anna Hauffe emphasizes that the close relationship between mother and young animals is of utmost importance in these first weeks of life informs the Magdeburg Zoo.

The young animals are blind for the first two weeks and have not yet opened their eyes. During this sensitive phase, the offspring initially stays in the back area of ​​the tiger house. As soon as they are stable enough, they will explore the outdoor area with their mother. According to estimates, there are only around 5,600 wild tigers left in the world, which highlights the urgency of species protection.

A long road to breeding success

Magdeburg Zoo has a long history of breeding Siberian tigers. These majestic animals have been part of the zoo for 51 years, and the first breeding took place in 1980. The current breeding success is the result of a targeted breeding strategy based on recommendations from the European Zoo Association (EAZA). In 2022, Stormi received the tiger cat Kratz from Sweden as a partner, and in 2023 a breeding recommendation followed, which laid the foundation for the birth of the five cubs.

The zoo is pleased with this success and plans to introduce the young animals to the public as soon as possible. For now, however, the focus is on their stable development , according to the message from Thüringen24.