Adelaide Zoo welcomes female Sumatran Tiger

January 3, 2022

Female Sumatran Tiger, Delilah, recently arrived at Adelaide Zoo having been transported from Australia Zoo in Queensland. Throughout her overnight journey, Delilah was accompanied by one of her Australia Zoo keepers, Beth Astles.

Delilah will now undertake quarantine in Adelaide Zoo’s specialist facilities with the hope that she will be out in the Immersion tiger exhibits in late January.

Adelaide Zoo Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Arliah Hayward, said once Delilah has settled in to her new surroundings and bonded with her new keepers, they would start the process of introducing her to seven-year-old male Sumatran Tiger, Kembali.

Hayward advised “it is so exciting for us to have Delilah arrive and make a new home here at Adelaide Zoo.Kembali has been missing Rhani since she passed away, so we are so delighted for him to have some company.

“Hopefully, this will also mean cubs on the horizon, which is such an important part of our conservation efforts for the Sumatran Tiger as a species.”

Hayward recently went to visit Delilah and the team at Australia Zoo to get to know the Sumatran Tiger and her personality noting “she is so energetic and reminds me a lot of Rhani. I’m really looking forward to working with Delilah and for her to be part of the Adelaide Zoo family.”

Five-year-old Delilah was born at Australia Zoo in February, 2016 and the team said she will be dearly missed.

"She is an active and energetic girl, always excited to see her keepers each morning,” an Australia Zoo spokesperson said.

“We are thrilled to see her begin her journey with our friends at Zoos SA where she will be a vital part in ensuring this species' survival into the future."

Tigers are the largest living big cats in the world, with the Sumatran Tiger being the smallest of the six tiger subspecies and inhabiting the tropical rainforests on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

The pattern of tigers’ stripes is unique to each animal, just like fingerprints are to humans. The stripe pattern is found on a tiger’s skin and, if shaved, its distinctive pattern would remain.

Over 100 years ago, it is estimated that there were 100,000 wild tigers – today the number is thought to be as few as 3,200 individuals.

The Sumatran Tiger is the last surviving subspecies of tiger in Indonesia. It is estimated that there is around 300 to 500 wild Sumatran Tigers remaining with a rapidly decreasing trend due to habitat destruction and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.

Zoos SA is proud to be part of the conservation efforts to ensure the survival of such a beautiful species.

Every ticket bought supports this vital conservation work. To book your tickets to Adelaide Zoo visit adelaidezoo.com.au/tickets.

Visitors aged 16 and older who choose to come to Adelaide Zoo or Monarto Safari Park will be required to show evidence that they have been fully vaccinated (or are exempt from vaccination by order of the Chief Public Health Officer).

For more information please visit, www.zoossa.com.au/covid-19/.

2nd April 2019 - Taronga Zoo rare Sumatran Tiger cubs make public debut

30th June 2017 - Australia’s oldest Sumatran tiger Kemiri euthanased at Adelaide Zoo

19th June 2015 - Taronga Zoo reveals plans for $16 million Sumatran Tiger exhibit

21st April 2015 - Canberra Zoo mourns the death of Sumatran tiger Berani

4th July 2014 - Female Sumatran Tiger arrives at Wellington Zoo

26th October 2010 - Auckland Zoo’s young Sumatran tigers cross the Tasman

11th August 2021 - Adelaide Zoo has plans to expand its giraffe area over the next few years

29th July 2021 - Zoos SA reopens Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park and extends Illuminate Adelaide

6th May 2021 - Adelaide Zoo welcomes Desert dingo pups

9th December 2020 - Adelaide Zoo offers inaugural Summer ‘Zoo Nights’ events

15th June 2020 - Zoos SA announce reopening of Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park

27th May 2020 - Adelaide zoo otter pups pass first health check on World Otter Day

7th April 2020 - Adelaide Zoo announces birth of three otter pups

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