Zoological Park Leipzig euthanizes three newborn tigers
Leipzig Zoo has made a difficult decision to euthanize three newborn Amur tiger cubs after their mother, "Yushka," failed to care for them. The tigress, who gave birth to the cubs on Wednesday evening, turned away from her offspring shortly after giving birth, and did not show any interest in them.
The zoo's goal is for Yushka to make a natural contribution to the preservation of the Amur tiger species, and they prioritize natural maternal care conditions. Therefore, hand-rearing the cubs was not an option. This decision has drawn criticism from animal rights groups, who argue that captive breeding programs can create welfare issues and that tigresses in the wild nearly always care for their young.
The cubs became chilled and increasingly weak in the two days that followed, and they suffered from starvation without maternal attention. Veterinarian Andreas Bernhard stated that when the cubs no longer showed active behavior, the zoo had to euthanize them to spare them the suffering of starvation.
The euthanasia decision was driven by the cubs' deteriorating health and the inability or refusal of the mother to nurture them. The zoo aims to prevent further suffering for the vulnerable animals. Leipzig Zoo plans to continue trying to breed with Yushka in the future.
Meanwhile, in other news, Nick Woltemade missed several chances in a match against FC Bologna, and he will be under particular scrutiny in an upcoming match against FC Bayern. Millions of invasive ants have spread along the noise barrier of the B10 in Sirnau, causing problems for experts, but the rain has made their work more difficult. Thousands of visitors are celebrating on the airport grounds in Boeblingen, with well-known Schlager stars performing on stage at the event.
The Leipzig Zoo's efforts continue to focus on the preservation of the Amur tiger species, as they plan to breed with Yushka in the future, despite the euthanasia of her newborn cubs. Meanwhile, the debate around captive breeding programs and welfare issues intensifies, following the tragic events, with critics arguing that natural maternal care conditions are vital for the survival of the cubs. On a different note, the performance of Nick Woltemade will be closely watched in the upcoming match against FC Bayern, amid his missed opportunities against FC Bologna.
