Springfield's Dickerson Park Zoo welcomes Malayan tiger as part of species survival plan
A 9-year-old Malayan tiger is joining Dickerson Park Zoo, according to a press release.
Cinta, who was born in California in 2015, came to the Springfield zoo based on the recommendations of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Malayan Tiger Species Survival Plan. The species is considered critically endangered, with only 100 to 250 Malayan tigers in the wild.
The species survival plan is meant to "ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied AZA population," according to AZA. Cinta and the zoo's female tiger, Berisi, will potentially be part of that.
Cinta is not yet on exhibit to the public as he is acclimating to his surroundings.
Dickerson Park Zoo, 3043 N. Fort Ave., is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests may stay in the park one hour after the admission gate closes. For more information, visit DickersonParkZoo.org.
More: Here's how animals cope with the cold at Springfield's Dickerson Park Zoo
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield's Dickerson Park Zoo welcomes critically endangered tiger
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