Loro Parque in Tenerife is strengthening its commitment to big cat conservation with the arrival of a new pair of Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae), the world’s most endangered tiger subspecies. The two-year-old female Zaza and the eight-year-old male Lucu have arrived from two different zoological parks in the United Kingdom and have been paired through the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
The aim is to help safeguard a population that now numbers only 300 to 400 individuals in the wild, all restricted to the tropical forests of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
A pair chosen by genetics, not by chance
The formation of the pair is the result of extensive scientific work. Every tiger included in the EEP has a detailed genealogical profile containing its date of birth, ancestry, family relationships, previous transfers and breeding history.
Based on these data, the programme coordinators identify the pairings best suited to maintaining high genetic diversity within the population while reducing the risk of inbreeding. In addition to genetics, age, health, temperament, animal welfare and the practical feasibility of transfers between institutions are also carefully assessed.
“The arrival of Zaza and Lucu reinforces our commitment to the conservation of the Sumatran tiger. Every transfer within a coordinated programme such as the EEP follows extremely rigorous scientific criteria and demonstrates the importance of cooperation between modern zoos to protect species that are in an extremely vulnerable situation in the wild,” said Wolfgang Kiessling, president of Loro Parque.
The last surviving island tiger
The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of all living tiger subspecies and has a darker coat, an adaptation that allows it to move through and camouflage itself within the island’s dense tropical forests.
Its survival is, however, seriously threatened by the ongoing loss and fragmentation of its habitat, the expansion of human activities and poaching. According to current estimates, the wild population continues to decline by around 40 individuals every decade.
The situation is even more critical considering that the other two island tiger subspecies—the Javan tiger and the Bali tiger—are already extinct. This precedent highlights the importance of coordinated conservation programmes in accredited zoos, which are tasked with maintaining a genetically healthy backup population while raising public awareness about the protection of tropical forests.
A long-term commitment
For the zoological team at Loro Parque, the arrival of the new pair marks the beginning of a long-term process that will require time and continuous monitoring.
“This is a very important moment for Loro Parque and for everyone involved in the care of these extraordinary animals. Welcoming a new pair of Sumatran tigers means making a long-term commitment, and our priority is to ensure that both animals have the time, space and specialised care they need while adapting to their new home,” explained Mike Jordan, Zoological Director of Loro Parque.
Over the coming weeks, Zaza and Lucu will be closely monitored by the keepers as they settle into their new environment. Any future breeding will depend entirely on the welfare of both animals, their compatibility as a pair and the recommendations of the European conservation programme.
With this new arrival, Loro Parque further strengthens its role within the international network working to prevent the extinction of the Sumatran tiger, while giving visitors the opportunity to see one of the rarest and most threatened big cats on Earth and better understand the importance of conserving the tropical forests on which its future depends.
 coordinated by EAZA. The subspecies){kind=link}