We have two Sumatran tigers here at Edinburgh Zoo - a female named Dharma and a male called Lucu.

Dharma was born in May 2017 and arrived in Edinburgh from Fota Wildlife Park in April 2019.

Lucu was born in 2016 and arrived from Paignton Zoo in November 2020.

FACT FILE

• Tigers are the largest of all big cats and one of the largest carnivorous land mammals in the world. Sumatran tigers are the smallest tiger subspecies
• Sumatran tigers are the rarest species of tiger, classified as Critically Endangered. It is estimated there are as few as 300 remaining in the wild
• Their stripes stripes are closer together and their fur is a darker orange than other subspecies. This allows them to better blend into their tropical rainforest habitat. They also have a distinctive bearded and maned appearance, especially the males
• Unlike other big cats, tigers love swimming!
• Tigers are excellent jumpers. Even when sitting down, a tiger can leap forward 10 metres
• They can run up to nearly 40mph, but only in short bursts. That’s why they’re ambush predators, slowly and silently stalking their prey until they’re ready to pounce
• Sumatran tigers are solitary, except during courtship, when a male and female will spend several days together

HOW WE'RE HELPING

Sumatran tigers are fast losing ground to many threats and estimates of wild populations are discouraging. A study in 2004 placed the number of Sumatran tigers in the wild at around 340 – 500. 

Habitat loss, fragmentation and destruction are pushing tigers into smaller areas closer to human habitations, making human-tiger conflicts more common. Habitat loss and fragmentation also makes the tigers’ prey food sources scarcer.

Poaching of tigers for illegal trade and traditional medicine is also rife due to the strong demand for tiger products. Although there are some protected areas, and conservation efforts are continuing, many tigers are killed by poachers even within the protected zones.

The RZSS WildGenes team have been developing a genetic test to identify what wild tigers are eating. This ground-breaking knowledge will help inform conservation efforts helping to reduce the amount of human-tiger conflict in Nepal.

Find out more about RZSS WildGenes

Here at RZSS, our Sumatran tigers are part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) which ensures a healthy and genetically diverse population.

Like all the animals in our care, our tigers are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.

As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the zoo and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.

Find out more about RZSS conservation