Sumatran tigers are the smallest and most brightly coloured of the six subspecies of tiger - they're also one of the most endangered with fewer than 400 left in the wild.
Their stripes provide camouflage against the shadows of their forest habitat. They use their excellent night-time vision and move slowly and quietly to stalk their prey.
Our tigers eat chicken, horse, venison, wallaby, rabbit, beef and goat and each meaty meal contains bone and hide (fur and hair) so they can gnaw on the bones and keep their digestive systems healthy.
For many years Auckland Zoo has supported the Wild Cats Conservation Alliance whose work monitoring and protecting wild tiger populations is crucial to preventing the extinction of these remarkable big cats. The Zoo also supports the Sumatran Ranger Project (SRP). SRP’s rangers work in collaboration with local communities, to protect the wildlife (including tigers) and habitats of Gunung Leuser National Park in North Sumatra – part of the Leuser Ecosystem, one of the most diverse habitats on Earth. Learn more about Sumatran tiger conservation here.
