HONOLULU — Five-year-old Anala, a female Sumatran tiger, arrived at the Honolulu Zoo on Thursday. She was born on Aug. 17, 2017 and raised in Central Florida. She joins 15-year-old Seattle, who arrived at the zoo in mid-June.

What You Need To Know

  • Five-year-old Anala joins 15-year-old Seattle and her grandmother, Chrissie, at the Honolulu Zoo

  • Listed as a critically endangered species, Anala and Seattle were paired in the hopes that they will breed

  • Poaching is a major threat to their survival, as well as expanding palm oil and acacia plantations

  • The Honolulu Zoo’s Aloha Aina Conservation Fund has provided longtime support for conservation efforts of Sumatran tigers in the wild through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan’s Tiger Conservation Campaign

Anala has come full circle as her father, Malosi, was born at Honolulu Zoo in 2008 to parents Chrissie and Berani. Malosi was transferred to Washington in 2012 on a “breeding loan” program, then to Central Florida in 2014. While there, he sired two cubs, Anala and brother Jeda, in 2017.

An exhibit will be the new abode for Anala and her new mate, Seattle, next to Honolulu Zoo’s resident female tiger, 23-year-old Chrissie, Anala’s grandmother. Berani, Anala’s grandfather and Chrissie’s mate, was the last male tiger at the zoo; he passed in 2017.

“With the assistance of the Honolulu Police Department’s solo bike escort team once again, we are happy to announce our new Sumatran tiger arrived safely at the Honolulu Zoo,” said Honolulu Zoo Director Linda Santos. “We are very fortunate that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan identified Anala as a genetically suitable match for Seattle, our male tiger, and are very excited about this being a special homecoming event. We look forward to Anala meeting her grandmother, and are crossing our fingers that Anala and Seattle will successfully breed and produce great-grandchildren for Chrissie.”

Sumatran tigers are the only surviving tiger population from the Sunda Islands, where the Bali and Javan tigers have gone extinct. The smallest species in the world, Sumatran tigers are known for their heavy black strips on an orange coat and shy demeanor.

Poaching is one of the major threats to their survival. Another is the expansion of palm oil (an ingredient in many products such as peanut butter) and acacia plantations that have taken over much of their natural habitat.

The Sumatran tiger is listed as critically endangered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Just 400 individuals are believed to be remaining on the planet.

Sarah Yamanaka is a digital journalist for Spectrum News Hawaii.