Fota Wildlife Park is delighted to announce the arrival of Dao, a two-year-old male critically endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris), from Zoo Krefeld in Germany as part of a European Endangered species Programme (EEP) for Sumatran tigers. The Sumatran tiger is one of the rarest species of tiger in the world, classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008, with fewer than 350 individuals estimated to remain in the wild. Lead Ranger Julien Fonteneau said ‘Dao arrived at Fota Wildlife Park earlier in December and he went through a period of gradual introduction to his new habitat. We’re delighted to say that he is settling in really well. To preserve genetic diversity within the EEP breeding programme, tigers may be transferred to other zoological parks to pair with new mates. Dao has been specifically selected to be paired with the resident female tiger, Jambi, who came from Heidelberg Zoo, Germany in February 2023. We hope they will both play a key part in global tiger conservation. The Sumatran tiger is being driven closer to extinction in the wild due to the destruction of its natural habitat, human-wildlife conflicts, and the deadly illegal trade fuelled by poaching.’ Full story - https://www.fotawildlife.ie/blogs/news/fota-wildlife-park-announces-new-critically-endangered-sumatran-tiger-dao